Food industry: Validating a picking concept for fruit processing
Initial situation: Complex interplay between warehouse, conveyor technology and Power+Free
A company in the fruit processing sector required a simulation of its picking process that would jointly model the high-bay warehouse, the pallet conveyor system and a Power+Free system for the fruit trolleys.
Objective: To develop and test order fulfilment strategies
The aim was to validate the planned facility and to develop and test order fulfilment strategies for fruit preparation. In addition, the routing for the Power+Free fruit fulfilment process was to be tested and optimised.
Solution: Detailed model from warehouse to fruit preparation
SimPlan accurately modelled the high-bay warehouse and simulated the order dispatch process as well as the pallet conveyor system with pulse conveyor sections. The fruit preparation process, comprising manual workstations, pallet preparation stations and buffers for the fruit trolleys, was modelled, as was the Power+Free system for transporting the fruit trolleys.
Results: Picking concept validated, routing optimised
The simulation validated the picking concept and provided concrete guidelines for the dispatching strategy. In addition, the routing within the Power+Free system was optimised.
Simulation as validation for a complex logistics system
The case study demonstrates how several interlinked systems, from the high-bay warehouse to the Power+Free conveyor technology, can be validated and coordinated together within a single model.
