Abstract: A systemic method is presented to choose the suitable order picking system between automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) and Carousel system for different types of customer orders. As both batching and zoning, the two frequently-used operational policies, are essentially order clustering, the customer order sheet can be divided into many unit grids. After the time formulation for each system in one-dimensional unit is defined according to the logical movements, a time sequence models for two-dimensional systems is presented. The genetic algorithm is adopted to search the optimal value for each system. In the experimental study, not only the suitability of each system for given orders with the hypothetic value of parameters by comparing the order picking time is established, but also the effect of some key factors on suitability is discussed such as zone number and batch size.

Key words: applicability, intelligence algorithm, order cluster, order picking system, parts-to-picker, selection