| 1. |
- Calzavara, Martina, et al.
(author)
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Picking from pallet and picking from boxes: a time and ergonomic study
- 2017
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In: IFAC-PapersOnLine. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-8963. ; 50:1, s. 6888-6893
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The paper aims at studying different storing configurations and presentation strategies for the parts in a manual assembly system. Based on an experiment, the paper gives insight into how both picking time and ergonomic effort relate to the storing configuration, considering whether parts are stored on pallets or in smaller boxes, and considering whether or not the containers are tilted towards the picker.
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| 2. |
- Fager, Patrik, 1988, et al.
(author)
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Kit preparation for mixed model assembly – efficiency impact of the picking information system
- 2019
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In: Computers and Industrial Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 0360-8352. ; 129, s. 169-178
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Kitting is an increasingly common materials supply principle in mixed-model assembly. Several types of picking information systems are available for supporting kit preparation, but there is no consensus in the literature or in the industry about which type should be used. Furthermore, to prevent errors, industrial applications typically require a confirmation when components are picked from storage and placed in kits, but previous research that considers confirmations is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to establish the extent to which the type of picking information system impacts the time-efficiency of kit preparation when confirmations are required, considering the two cases of single-kit and batch preparation as well as the picking density of the picking area. In the paper, a realistic laboratory experiment is used to compare the time-efficiency associated with four types of picking information systems – pick-by-paper, pick-by-light, pick-by-voice and pick-by-HUD (Head-Up Display) – when applied in kit preparation. In the comparison, the type of picking information system used is found crucial for the time-efficiency of both single-kit and batch preparation. Pick-by-light and pick-by-HUD applied with single-kit preparation show to be more efficient than when applied with batch preparation, likely owing to the extra time for performing placement confirmations with batching. The visually intuitive information provided by pick-by-light and pick-HUD show to be efficient when applied with single-kit preparation. Applying pick-by-paper – with which one confirmation is made for every order line – with batch preparation gives superior efficiency over the other systems for which each storage location and kit-container is confirmed. Pick-by-HUD seems to benefit more than the other systems from higher picking density, while pick-by-light seems to benefit more from the improved overview associated with lower picking density. Pick-by-voice is found associated with low efficiency overall, likely owing to the short walking distances – and hence less time in between picks to administer the voice dialogue – normally associated with kit preparation. The paper suggests further research to study how the graphical interface in pick-by-HUD systems should be designed. Moreover, combinations of information conveyance and confirmation methods other than those typically used in industry should be studied.
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| 3. |
- Fager, Patrik, 1988, et al.
(author)
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Order picking in dense areas – productivity impact of confirmation methods
- 2018
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In: 25th International EurOMA Conference.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Confirmation methods are applied in supply chain order picking to increase picking quality, but research is lacking about how various confirmation methods affect picking productivity. This paper’s purpose is to identify the extent by which the type of confirmation method affects picking productivity in dense areas. Four confirmation methods (button-presses, barcode-scans, voice-commands, and RFID-wristbands) are studied in an experiment. The placement confirmation method is found to greater impact productivity than the picking confirmation method, and RFID-wristbands and button-presses display higher productivity than barcode-scans and voice-commands. The findings are relevant for practitioners and academics involved with designing order picking systems.
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| 4. |
- Fredriksson, Anna M K, 1979, et al.
(author)
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A structured procedure for materials planning during production transfer
- 2015
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In: Production Planning and Control. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0953-7287 .- 1366-5871. ; 26:9, s. 738-752
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper explores materials planning procedures to ensure the materials’ availability during production transfers. The paper defines a production transfer as the preparation, physical transfer, and start-up of relocated production. A structured procedure of materials planning during production transfer is developed based on theory, and then validated and refined based on the analysis of four case studies. The paper shows that there is a need for a structured procedure of materials planning during production transfers. It also explains the importance of activities that create prerequisites for the materials’ availability during production transfer, such as updating and adapting documentation, planning and control systems, and describes the activities that ensure the materials’ availability, such as preventive and corrective actions. A valid estimation of the time needed to reach a steady state and a combination of several preventive actions improves the ability to ensure that materials are available. The cases showed differences across company size, because large companies took more and farther-reaching preventive actions.
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| 5. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Aspects influencing man-hour efficiency of kit preparation for mixed-model assembly
- 2016
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In: Procedia CIRP. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-8271. ; 44, s. 353-358
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Materials supply through kitting can enable space-efficient parts presentation that supports flexibility, quality and efficiency at the assemblystations. However, the preparation of kits is generally associated with considerable man-hour consumption and cost. Within industry, no consensus exists regarding how kit preparation should be designed with respect to man-hour consumption, and literature on the topic is scarce. Based on a literature review and utilizing the experience of an expert panel from industry, the paper uses a cross-case analysis of 15 cases from the automotive industry to identify critical design aspects of kit preparation systems and how they affect man-hour consumption.
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| 6. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Man-hour efficiency of manual kit preparation in the materials supply to mass-customised assembly
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Production Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0020-7543 .- 1366-588X. ; 57:11, s. 3735-3747
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Addressing the materials feeding principle of kitting, commonly applied in the materials supply to mass-customised assembly, the current paper has the purpose of exploring how the man-hour efficiency of kit preparation is affected by the design and the context of the kit preparation. The study presented in the paper is based on a comprehensive methodology, comprising several steps and considering a large set of qualitative as well as quantitative data from 15 case studies. It also utilises the expertise of practitioners from the industry. The paper provides a valuable addition to the existing literature where empirical evidence is scarce. From a practical perspective, it offers support to the design of man-hour efficient kit preparation systems. The findings show that the design and the context of the kit preparation system can have a decisive, yet complex, impact on the man-hour efficiency and, thereby, on an assessment of the applicability of kitting. The paper identifies several important aspects of both design and context and indicates how these aspects are linked to the man-hour efficiency of kit preparation.
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| 7. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Manual picking from flat and tilted pallet containers
- 2018
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In: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-8219 .- 0169-8141. ; 64, s. 199-212
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Manual picking operations commonly occur both in distribution settings and within manufacturing industry and may consume large proportions of the working day for operators, with associated potential problems of poor postural ergonomics and low time efficiency. As a remedy to such problems, alternative material layouts like tilted material pallets may be an attractive solution. This study provides quantitative empirical evidence comparing the relative merits and drawbacks of flat and tilted pallet configurations, with regard to physical ergonomic loading and time consumption. This was explored with an experimental setup at the site of an industrial company, where various representative picking operators were observed while emptying flat and tilted pallets. The observation was video recorded and subjected to a time study and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Results showed that there are differences in picking time and physical workload depending on where in the pallet the picking action takes place, and that flat and tilted pallets bring different postural opportunities and challenges for different operator percentiles in the working population. An overview of postural ergonomics consequences and their associated risk levels are shown, and the results serve to further increase the understanding of which factors are affected by choosing between a tilted or flat component presentation. This understanding is highly relevant to industry, where it can contribute to the design of both efficient and ergonomically sound processes for manual picking operations.
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| 8. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Manual Picking from Large Containers – Time Efficiency and Physical Workload
- 2016
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In: IFAC-PapersOnLine. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-8963. ; 49:12, s. 1703-1708
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Picking of components from large containers is common both within trade and industry, but is often associated with poor working conditions in terms of ergonomics, as well as with low time efficiency. Providing quantitative evidence from an actual industrial setting, the paper shows how both the picking time and the physical workload varies depending on the position of each component within the container picked from. It is clear that there are considerable differences between the front and the rear sections of the pallet, as well as between the top and the bottom sections. Moreover, the paper shows that picking from a large container that is tilted is significantly better from a perspective of time efficiency. In contrast, the difference in terms of physical workload between picking from a horizontal and a tilted pallet is relatively small for most pallet sections.
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| 9. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Order batching and time efficiency in kit preparation
- 2015
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In: Assembly Automation. - 0144-5154. ; 35:1, s. 143-148
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether man-hour efficiency of picking is affected by the use of batch preparation, compared to preparation of one kit at a time. This paper focuses on small kit preparation areas.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on two experiments that were performed at a vehicle assembly plant and then analysed quantitatively.Findings – The results provide a strong indication of the advantages associated with batch preparation, in terms of man-hour efficiency.Practical implications – The fact that the effects identified during the experiments are substantial, over 20 per cent reduction of average time per picked component in Experiment 1 and 7 per cent in Experiment 2, indicates that the option of batch picking holds potentials for large cost reduction and should be considered when kit preparation systems are designed.Originality/value – Limited research has dealt with the design of kit preparation systems, thus leaving considerable knowledge gaps. Previous research dealing with batch picking focuses on other environments than kitting and on large picking areas where batching can reduce walking distances. In contrast, the current paper focuses on small picking areas, which are common in industrial kitting applications. This paper provides a considerable contribution by demonstrating improvements in time efficiency that batch preparation can offer to small picking areas in addition to larger areas. The discussion also provides a basis for future research, which could focus on aspects other than time efficiency, such as the quality of kit preparation, and variables that might moderate the effect of batching.
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| 10. |
- Hanson, Robin, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Performance Characteristics of Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems in Order Picking Applications
- 2018
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In: IFAC-PapersOnLine. - : Elsevier BV. - 2405-8963. ; 51:11, s. 1493-1498
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper addresses the application of automation in warehouse order picking. Specifically, the paper deals with Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems (RMFSs). Existing literature has indicated that RMFSs can bring benefits in several performance areas, but research that deals with these benefits in detail is scarce. The purpose of the paper is to identify the performance characteristics of RMFSs and the relations between these performance characteristics and the design of the RMFSs as well as the context in which they are applied. The paper includes a review of existing literature on RMFSs and presents a case study from an application of an RMFS in the order picking of consumer goods in an e-commerce setting.
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