Intelligent warehousing management systems using multi-agent

This paper presents an agent-driven with automatic data capturing approach to support warehousing management that involves issuing shipping schedules, allocating the storage spaces, and arranging the order-picking routes. Some heuristic working rules based on class-based allocation principles in accordance with the bill of materials (BOM) are applied to guide multi-agent processing the warehousing transactions. A two-dimensional (2D) barcode systems, PDF417, is set up to identify the storage spaces and the stocks such that the picker can use a notebook with barcode reader to diagram the picking routes and automatic capture the data of picking parts. That makes the picking tasks much easier as it does not rely on the dedicated picker. A WEB-based information system is constructed to exchange the related messages. The purchasing orders and shipping lists are formed as XML/EDI formats and interchanged through the internet; and internal data are transacted via intranet under a client server system. By using the presented approaches, data transaction will be more accurate and real-timed. Moreover, warehouse spaces are used flexibly and efficiently, logistics costs are reduced, and services for customers are responded to quickly.

[1]  Meir J. Rosenblatt,et al.  ESTABLISHING ZONES IN SINGLE-COMMAND CLASS-BASED RECTANGULAR AS/RS , 1994 .

[2]  Graham K. Rand,et al.  Decision Systems for Inventory Management and Production Planning , 1979 .

[3]  Kenth Lumsden,et al.  The use of automatic data capture systems in inventory management , 1999 .

[4]  Ron McLachlin,et al.  Management initiatives and just-in-time manufacturing , 1997 .

[5]  Willem H.M. Zijm,et al.  Models for warehouse management: Classification and examples , 1999 .

[6]  Ilias P. Tatsiopoulos,et al.  On the unification of bills of materials and routings , 1996 .

[7]  Sabah U. Randhawa,et al.  Simulation-based design evaluation of unit load automated storage/retrieval systems , 1995 .

[8]  Henry C. W. Lau,et al.  Development of an intelligent task management system in a manufacturing information network , 1998 .

[9]  Mark Marriott.  PDF417 portable data files a new dimension in barcodes , 1995 .

[10]  Heungsoon Felix Lee,et al.  Sequencing methods for automated storage and retrieval systems with dedicated storage , 1997 .

[11]  Gilles Cormier,et al.  A review of warehouse models , 1992 .

[12]  Mats I. Johansson,et al.  Design and performance of kitting and order picking systems , 1995 .

[13]  Marco Cantamessa,et al.  Agent-based modeling and management of manufacturing systems , 1997 .

[14]  Richard L. Daniels,et al.  A model for warehouse order picking , 1998, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[15]  Amit Mitra,et al.  A multiple criteria approach to the location-allocation problem , 1986 .

[16]  Robert J. Glushko,et al.  An XML framework for agent-based E-commerce , 1999, CACM.

[17]  Vlad Ionesco.  Using an Intranet for Real-Time Production Management: Experiences and Effects , 1998, Comput. Networks.

[18]  Meir J. Rosenblatt,et al.  Note-Deriving the Optimal Boundaries for Class-Based Automatic Storage/Retrieval Systems , 1989 .

[19]  Christina A. Fader,et al.  Assessing the impact of JIT using economic theory , 1997 .

[20]  Mats I. Johansson,et al.  Storage Location Assignment: Using the Product Structure to Reduce Order Picking Times , 1996 .

[21]  Bill Karakostas,et al.  A workflow management system based on intelligent collaborative objects , 1999, Inf. Softw. Technol..

[22]  Anders Kristensen.  Template Resolution in XML/HTML , 1998, Comput. Networks.

[23]  Somendra Pant,et al.  Business on the Web: Strategies and Economics , 1996, Comput. Networks.

[24]  PAMELA MCCAULEY-BELL.  Intelligent agent characterization and uncertainty management with fuzzy set theory: a tool to support early supplier integration , 1999 .

[25]  Chiun-Ming Liu,et al.  Clustering techniques for stock location and order-picking in a distribution center , 1999, Comput. Oper. Res..

[26]  Kenji Takahashi,et al.  Analysis and Design of Web-based Information Systems , 1997, Comput. Networks.