Stage 1: Results of the 1ST measurement series
The results of the 1st measurement series are reported on Table 1. The time required to complete the
picking cycle is 5.69 min/m3. In terms of the itemized times for travel, search, retrieval and return, we
observe that finding and retrieving the products are the most time-consuming procedures. The search time
is around 36% (2.05 min/m3) of the total OP time. The percentage is quite high and reveals the need for an
automated system to control and monitor the placement of the stock. Tracing the products becomes an
extremely difficult and demanding procedure relaying mainly on the experience of the operator and the
assistant. Many years of work in this particular position and the ability to locate the items using visual
contact are decisive factors. In many cases, finding an item quickly is merely a matter of coincidence or
luck. Our results include cases where locating a stocked product took over 45 minutes of searching and the
product eventually failed to reach the customer on time.