A Study of Layout Determination of Mobile Rack Warehouse

Abstract

Labor cost reduction and resourceful space utilization are essential for efficient warehouse operation. In these challenges, mobile rack technology can increase storage space by 75% or more. The mobile racking system is a system where racks are constructed on a mobile base and steered by rails on the floor. Driven by an electrical motor, the mobile base moves along the rails to open one or more access aisles. Moving rack technology eliminates aisle space between racks and increases storage space by synchronizing wheels or rails. Hence, companies can stock and access a high volume of products while enduring space-efficient. Minimizing the cost per pallet is especially critical for cooler and freezer facilities. However, there is no straightforward solution to determining the optimal layout of a mobile rack warehouse. When designing a mobile rack warehouse, you can increase storage space by a minimum of aisles, but it can reduce work efficiency at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the appropriate layout of mobile racks considering both work efficiency and space efficiency. This study proposes a practical layout of a mobile rack warehouse to harmonize work and space efficiency. To validate the model, we examine several numerical examples and analyze the warehouse area, the total amount of rack movement, and working hours. Depending on the operating cost, a different layout is suggested.