A literature review on the level of automation in picker-to-parts order picking system: research opportunities
Vivek Vijayakumar, Fabio Sgarbossa
Abstract
Manual picker-to-parts order picking system had been considered as one of the most labor-intensive tasks in warehouses. These manual tasks might cause a negative impact on the order pickers with musculoskeletal disorders, low back pain, etc. which thereby led to reduced performance of the order picking system. Therefore, large companies have invested to automate the order picking systems, however some companies are not able to automate to the level of large companies because of the huge investment and risk. Thus, partially automated warehouses had come into play. Through a systematic literature review, this paper will introduce the state-of-the-art solutions that have been currently explored in picker-to-parts order picking systems. Thereafter, the paper provides some future research opportunities that could be investigated.