Pallet Picking Strategy in Food Collecting Center

• Main Authors: Francesco Facchini, Gianluigi De Pascale, Nicola Faccilongo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: food supply chain; sustainable logistic; carbon footprint; material handling equipment; green warehousing
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/9/1503

This study aims to analyze the optimal warehouse layout for agricultural and food collecting centers that help small–medium farms to trade in the short food supply chain, by choosing among longitudinal, transversal, and fishbone layout. The developed model allows for the identification of the warehouse ensuring the least impact through inbound material handling, under both an economic and an environmental perspective. The analysis was carried out by using an analytical model to minimize the travelling time of the goods from picking to delivery area. The model considers the different turnover index from which four hypotheses were formulated to implement the results. The Carbon Footprint (CF) and Management Costs (MCs) were calculated by the picking time performance. Findings: Results show that the optimal warehouse layout can be identified after a careful consideration of the turnover indexes. However, for seasonality, the optimal design might be missed across the seasons. Practical implications: the analysis hereby presented is related to those collecting centers aiming to gather conspicuous amounts of seasonal food.