Order allocation to minimize container stops in a distribution center

US7139637B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• William Waddington · Foster City, US
• Patricia C. Grewell · San Mateo, US
• Peter Ham · Palo Alto, US
• Boris Klots · Belmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 10, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2006
• Expiry date: May 10, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/04
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An order allocation algorithm maximizes throughput by reducing the number of stops that a container makes in the process of fulfilling a customer order. This is accomplished by first identifying a pod that stocks the largest number of different items in a customer order. Then, a second pod is identified that stocks the largest number of remaining items in the customer order. Ultimately, all items in the customer order are assigned a pod. The collection of pods defines a container path through the distribution center.