FastFetch Optimized Batch Picking and Box Size Selection Based on Cube Data

Batch Picking with Optimization Greatly Increases Efficiency!

Batch Picking is a picking method whereby multiple orders can be picked wth a single trip through the picking area.  FastFetch can use batches created by a WMS/ERP or can automatically create batches in a way that optimizes picking performance by selecting a set of orders to minimize travel time and maximize opportunities to pick common items in those orders.  Once batches have been created, FastFetch can automatically determine the best box size(s) required to pick each order in those batches.

Example
if a wave contains 200 orders and each cart has a capacity of 10 orders, then 20 batches must be created to pick the entire wave.  The problem is to determine the best 20 batches, of 10 orders each, so that picking time is minimized for the entire set of batches.  Sometimes creating a batch of orders that can all be picked in the same section of the picking area is better than creating one that requires the picker to travel through the entire picking area - but not always!  

A "greedy" approach that finds the first "best" batch, and finds the next "best" batch, and so on, might result in a terrible total solution if some of the later  batches are sufficiently poor in terms of relative proximity of items to be picked. 

Rather than using a "greedy" algorithm, FastFetch creates batches in a way that minimizes the total work to pick the entire wave of orders.  Solutions to this problem that include waves with many orders, many SKUs and many carts cannot be created by computing all combinations of orders on carts because the time required would exceed the allowable time to find a solution.  Because the problem is intractable, the FastFetch Optimizer PC uses advanced biologically inspired algorithms to quickly create near-optimal solutions.  Find more information on FastFetch Optimization by clicking here.

Optimized Batching Travel Paths

Arrival Order Batching Travel Paths