This paper presents a simulation model framework
for unit-load automated storage and retrieval systems
(AS/RS) able to cope with most of the features found in industrial
settings like, for example, multiple aisles, non aisle-captive
cranes or double-deep unit-load AS/RS. Although these
features characterize most of the industrial applications, they
have been simply neglected by most of the previously published
research oriented papers, which explains at least partially
the low impact of the research output in practice. To
help mitigating this drawback, this paper first presents an upto-
date chronological literature survey,which includesworks
that use any form of simulation in the modeling process. It
then proposes an Object-Oriented Simulation Model for unitload
AS/RS developed with a purely generic mindset. In this
model, the physical design decisions are separated from the
operational decisions, which makes it possible, first, to obtain
a better understanding of AS/RS dynamics and, second, to
increase the model’s flexibility and generality, thus allowing
many interesting scenarios to be represented. In particular,
the simulation modeling framework has been used to develop
a simulator and to conduct a preliminary study on a multiaisle
AS/RS.