Distributed Simulation Modeling of Warehousing Operations M. Zhou, Y.J. Son, C. Chen, and Q. Zhang Center for System Modeling and simulation Indiana State University Terre haute. Indiana 47809
Distributed Simulation Modeling of Warehousing Operations M. Zhou, Y. J. Son, C. Chen, and Q. Zhang Center for System Modeling and Simulation Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana 47809
Intro to distributed simulation What is adistributed sinu lation?? A super simulation process that contains multiple sub- simulation programs that are independently executing and interacting with each other, and coordinated through the super-simulation process Why distributed simu lation? Composite and complex nature of real world Systems Needs for synchronizing multiple asynchronized software processes/systems Needs for simulating geographically distanced systems(e.g. military applications) Applications
Intro to distributed simulation ◼ What is a “distributed simulation”? A supersimulation process that contains multiple subsimulation programs that are independently executing and interacting with each other, and coordinated through the super-simulation process ◼ Why distributed simulation? – Composite and complex nature of real world systems – Needs for synchronizing multiple asynchronized software processes/systems – Needs for simulating geographically distanced systems (e.g. military applications) – Applications
Intro to Warehousing/DC operations Key operational processes in warehouse- based Distribution Centers(DCs) Truck-docking process: activities to prepare trucks for loading or offloading at a DC In-bound process: receiving operations, e.g offloading, inspecting, sorting and storing Out-bound process: shipping operations, e.g picking, staging, sorting, packing, and loading Cross-docking: breaking bulk, mixing and directly shipping without storage
Intro to Warehousing/DC operations ◼ Key operational processes in warehousebased Distribution Centers (DCs): – Truck-docking process: activities to prepare trucks for loading or offloading at a DC – In-bound process: receiving operations, e.g. offloading, inspecting, sorting and storing. – Out-bound process: shipping operations, e.g. picking, staging, sorting, packing, and loading – Cross-docking: breaking bulk, mixing and directly shipping without storage
Intro to warehousing processes a In real world these processes are considered running separately or independently The activities/operations in the processes are inter-related in terms of resource(e.g, sharing the same crew of labor and equipment)and flow logic(e.g. truck docking affects both inbound and outbound operation, inventory management also affects inbound (replenishment)and outbound flows)
Intro to warehousing processes ◼ In real world these processes are considered running separately or “independently” ◼ The activities/operations in the processes are inter-related in terms of resource (e.g. sharing the same crew of labor and equipment) and flow logic (e.g. truck docking affects both inbound and outbound operation, inventory management also affects inbound (replenishment) and outbound flows)
Exemplary interactions Inbound process assigns resource (e.g. an offloading crew that involves labor and equipment) and starts sorting and put-away storage operation when truck- docking process seizes and finishes connecting to a dock-door When Inbound process finishes off-loading activity the truck will release the door and leave the yard(a waiting or staging space Outbound process initializes picking-sorting-packing jobs as a result of order-processing(an activity of inventory management) Interactions are triggered by the events that are the consequences of the activities belonging to different processes
Exemplary interactions ➢ Inbound process assigns resource (e.g. an offloading crew that involves labor and equipment) and starts sorting and put-away storage operation when truckdocking process seizes and finishes connecting to a dock-door ➢ When Inbound process finishes off-loading activity, the truck will release the door and leave the yard (a waiting or staging space) ➢ Outbound process initializes picking-sorting-packing jobs as a result of order-processing (an activity of inventory management) ➢ Interactions are triggered by the events that are the consequences of the activities belonging to different processes