JP3447046B2 - How to set the location for picking work - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is highly efficient in picking and taking in products at a place where a large number of shelves and racks for storing products are arranged in a line like a warehouse or a so-called distribution center. The present invention relates to a setting method of a location suitable for realizing a large omission as well as realization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a warehouse or a distribution center, a product storage location has been set so as to cover a large number of product racks arranged in a line in a so-called one-stroke system. The picking work is also carried out in one way according to the set location.

However, the above conventional method has the following drawbacks. In other words, the product storage positions are set in such a manner that products with a high loading / unloading frequency and a large amount of incoming / outgoing products are arranged in order from low to high. Therefore, in a place where a product with a high order frequency is stored (a product rack or its passage). , Picking workers and carts are concentrated and crowded, and the picking work efficiency decreases, while the product storage place with low order frequency is
Since it is far from the work starting point, the walking distance is inevitably large for picking such products, and the picking work efficiency is also low.

Further, the location setting indicating the product storage position in the conventional method is performed in a form in which, for example, a location number is given to each product when the individual product is stored in each product rack. The width (front width) of the frontage that occupies the rack shelf differs for each, that is, since five types of products are stored in a certain shelf, for example, five location numbers are assigned to each product, When 10 kinds of products are stored in the lower shelves, 10 location numbers are assigned to each product, and the number of locations set for each rack shelf varies. Therefore, if you simply specify the location number, you will not immediately know which rack is in which rack,
Therefore, even if a picking command is received with a certain location number and product name (or its code), it is not possible to immediately go to the storage location of the product.

Since the conventional picking work is performed by tracing the space between racks by a so-called one-stroke writing method, it is necessary to always reach the storage place of the product to be picked even if the storage position of each product is not known. Can, but
This is a major factor that cannot improve picking efficiency. Further, due to the life cycle of goods, or increased order frequency, or when you decrease, but when changing the storage position of the goods in the rack group occurs, the rack by product as above when the width of the frontage occupied on the shelf it is a Kuku, there is simply stored position is also another problem that some may not be able to change the location number to change. In particular, changing the product storage position requires data rewriting of the host computer that manages the data of all the products, but there are cases where the data rewriting cannot be performed uniformly or simply due to the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems associated with location setting, which is the basis of picking work in warehouses and distribution centers. , It is possible to start picking from any product storage unit or from any product, and even if there is a change in the product storage position or the storage quantity, the data can be easily and quickly rewritten. It is an object of the present invention to provide a location setting method relating to.

[0007]

The constitution of the method of the present invention, which was made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, comprises: Warehouse,
The product racks arranged in rows and columns at distribution centers, etc., based on the product grouping related to all the products stored,
In addition to dividing into at least two or more groups, a product storage unit is set to all shelf boards in the product rack group with the same unit width for each rack or shelf board, and the product storage unit is set for all product storage units. Create a shelf label with a location symbol for indicating a position and a code that dataizes the symbol, attach each shelf label to the corresponding product storage unit, and set the location symbol and code of each shelf label in the computer. B. Data concerning the effective volume and distance of the product storage unit such as the front width of each product rack, the depth of the shelf, the effective height, and the unit width of the product storage unit is set in the computer. For each product, occupy one or more of the product storage units and store the required quantity of the product to be stored.
D. When storing each product, and product quantity that each of the products stored in the number and its this commodity storage unit that was occupied, and one of the shelf label code which represents a storage unit that was occupied, and the product code of the products stored By linking, setting and registering this as basic data in the computer, by the operation of the above a, d,
Forming link data in which the product names and quantities of all the products stored in the product storage units of the product racks arranged in warehouses, distribution centers, etc., and data relating to the storage units are linked. 2 for picking on the computer
When the picking data based on the above product name or product code is input, the computer is arranged based on an arbitrary product storage unit as a starting point and the distance from the starting point to the storage unit in which the respective products are stored. It is characterized by forming changed picking data.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, when a specific product occupies a plurality of product storage units, only the leading shelf label in the occupied storage units is turned upside down, It is possible to turn over the shelf labels in the rest of the storage units in which is stored and treat them as rest cards so that one item in one of all the stored products corresponds to one shelf tag. .

In the present invention, all shelf boards in a product rack group arranged in a line in a warehouse, a distribution center, etc. are used as shelf labels necessary for implementing the location setting method having the above-mentioned configuration more rationally and efficiently. , A shelf label that describes a location symbol for indicating the position of a product storage unit having the same unit width set for each rack or shelf and a code in which the symbol is converted to data, and corresponds to each shelf label Another feature is that a picking data shelf is used that is detachably attached to the product storage unit so that the code can be taken into the computer.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a rack arrangement of a distribution center in which a large number of product racks are arranged in a queue in order to explain application of the method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the main part of one of the racks seen from the front.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an example of a shelf label used in the method of the present invention.

In the present invention, first, as preprocessing, the category classification of all the handled products and the number of items of the handled products in the distribution center of FIG. 1 are determined.

For the confirmed product, for example, two or three classes based on the analysis of shipping frequency and shipping amount, here, A,
It is divided into three classes, B and C, and the maximum stock quantity for each product belonging to that class is determined for each class.

All the commodity racks R are classified into classes based on the number of commodities and the classification, and the commodity arrangement for each rack R of each class is roughly determined.

For each passage Y formed between the product racks R, the location number for each rack R is set, for example, for a row of racks, a row of shelves B, and a booth on the shelf B of each row, and used. Select the location code system to use.

With respect to the shelves B of all the racks R, the commodity storage units S are appropriately set with the same minimum width (frontage) for each rack R or the shelves B, and the figure is displayed at the center of the frontage of each storage unit S. The shelf label P illustrated in 3 is attached so as to be attachable and detachable. In this state, the products to be stored are arranged in each passage Y. In the present invention, the product storage unit S is
Rather than making all racks or all shelves B of one rack the same size, for example, a rack R that stores large (large capacity) products and a rack R that exclusively stores small (small capacity) products And, the sizes of the storage sections S are the same in one rack, and / or the same rack is a large product. And small commodities are mixed, it is intended to make the frontage of the storage section S the same for each shelf B, and not the uniform storage section S throughout all racks or shelves.

All the products are stored in the racks R in order from the one end of the product storage unit S, and a partition member (not shown) is installed at the end of the stored products. To store. At this time, when the stored products occupy a plurality of product storage units S, for example, only the shelf label P of the storage unit S located at the side edge is turned upside-down, the other shelf labels P are turned over, and the rest tag is placed. And

Here, for each of the stored products, the number of stored products is appropriately recorded on paper or the like and attached to the product, all the products are stored in the rack group as described above, and the shelf label P for each product is stored. Complete the settings. Regarding the configuration of the shelf label P,
This will be explained later.

In the present invention, each rack R is arranged as described above.
For all commodities stored in the shelf B, data concerning the storage position, quantity, etc. is formed, data based on this is formed as location master data, and this master data is supplied to the host computer and stored there.
This point will be described below.

First, since the volume data of the product storage S is created in the location terminal equipment (terminal equipment such as a personal computer) as the data that is the basis of the location setting for each product, the depth amount of the rack R and the shelf B are set. , The width of the reference product storage unit S set on the shelf B (front width,
Alternatively, the frontage width) and the height of the shelf B are input in an appropriate unit, for example, cm. The volume data is used when determining the number of products to be stored and the number of storage units S required in that case, depending on the size and form of the products to be stored.

By the reader attached to the terminal device, the product code of the product stored in the product storage S of each rack R and the code (location recorded on the shelf label P at the position where the product is stored (location Code) and each of the read codes is linked (combined), and link data is formed by superimposing data indicating the storage quantity of this product on this link data. Perform on a product.

When the above-mentioned link data is formed, the data of the number of product storage units occupied by each product for all products is hung on the above-mentioned link data of each product, and this data is supplied to the host computer. , Save it there.

In the host computer, the supplied data is used as location master data, and the number of products stored in each rack R is increased / decreased, the storage position is changed, and the number of product storage units to be occupied is changed. Alternatively, the master data is corrected or rewritten, such as the revision or abolition of the products to be stored, based on the location code of the shelf label P described above.

As described above, in the present invention, with respect to all the products stored in the product rack R in the distribution center, locations are set in all the product storage units S of a single standard for each rack or shelf set in each rack R. Since the master data is set based on the set product storage S as a reference, each product storage S and the product stored therein can be directly linked by their respective codes, and therefore the product name If (or its code) is known, it is possible to immediately know in which storage section S of which rack B of which rack R it is located.

Therefore, in a distribution center or the like where the location is set by the method of the present invention,
Regardless of the picking method such as simultaneous picking for multiple stores or picking for each store, when the picking instruction data is supplied to the terminal device of the worker, for example, the end point of the picking work completed immediately before the instruction data is supplied. As the starting point of the next picking work, the storage section for the products to be picked located closest to the picking instruction data is arranged so that the supplied picking instruction data are arranged in the order of products that are closer to the products to be picked one after another. The picking instruction data supplied in step 1 can be rearranged to be used as the instruction data of the picking work order of this time. Note that, for example, the starting point in the first picking work on the day is based on a command from the controller, but in this case also, the picking instruction data is rearranged so that the total walking distance becomes the shortest. As described above, in the present invention, no matter where the picking work is started, the command data of the picking work order can be easily formed so that the total walking distance from the starting point is the shortest.

By setting the location according to the present invention, when the products are sequentially picked, the linked product code and location code and the picked quantity data are sent from the work terminal to the host computer each time the picking is performed. Since it is returned to, the upper computer can always grasp the current inventory quantity of each product. Further, by adopting the location setting method of the present invention, in the host computer or the terminal device, so-called matching verification between the picking instruction data and the picked data (result) is performed for each picked product, and even if an error occurs. If so, it is possible to display that fact on the work terminal in real time, so it is possible to collate the picking command and the picking result in real time, and therefore, it is possible to prevent shipping without picking mistakes. .

The shelf label P used in the above-mentioned present invention
Is formed into a card shape by using an appropriate material such as metal or plastic as illustrated in FIG. 3, and each product storage section S such as a row of racks, shelves, steps of the shelves, and a booth is formed on the surface. The location display shown and the location code are displayed and recorded, and the back side is plain (not shown). The shelf label P formed in this way is used for each rack R.
At the center front end face of each of the standard-width product storage units S formed on the shelf B in FIG.
The front surface of the shelf label P is inserted into and held by the bill receiver H.

Here, when a product occupies a plurality of product storage units S, only the shelf label P at the leading end of the occupied storage units is turned upside down, and the remaining storage units S in which the product is stored. The shelf label P of is turned over and treated as a resting label. As a result, one item in all the stored products and one shelf label correspond to each other in a 1: 1 relationship, so that the storage unit S occupies depending on the quantity or size (volume) of the stored products. Even if the number of items is different, if the product name (or product code) is known, the storage position of the product can be immediately known from the location code by the shelf label P linked to it.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention is as described above, and the product storage section is set with the same unit width for each rack or shelf on all shelf boards in the product rack group arranged in a queue in a warehouse, a distribution center, or the like. At the same time, create a shelf label to which a location symbol for indicating the position and a code in which the symbol is converted into a data are attached to all the product storing sections, and attach each shelf label to the corresponding product storing section to attach each shelf. The location symbol and code of the tag are set in the computer, and when each product is stored, the number of product storage units occupied by each product and its storage quantity, and one shelf label code representing the occupied storage unit, Since the product code of the stored product is linked and the master data based on this is set and registered in the computer, in the distribution center, etc. It is possible to start picking work from any product or from any product storage unit or from any product, and rewrite the data even if the product storage location or storage quantity is changed. Can be easily and quickly dealt with.

In particular, due to the shortening of the product life cycle reflecting recent consumption trends, the frequency of product replacement at distribution centers and the like is increasing, but the conventional so-called one-stroke writing route is used for picking work. As described above, the product storage form in the distribution center on the premise is hardly compatible with the above-mentioned frequent product replacement and rewriting of the master data of the computer accompanying this replacement. In other words, even if the location code is undetermined, or even if it is attached, the product data that is unclear is stored in the computer as master data, so that such picking work of products is almost efficient. They are forced to do picking work in a state where they don't climb. However, according to the method of the present invention, even if the replacement frequency of the products is high, the shelf label at the place where the replacement products are stored corresponds to the product at a ratio of 1: 1, so that both codes are read by a scanner or the like. Master data can be easily and quickly rewritten with a simple operation.
The situation where product data without a location code is stored in a computer cannot occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a rack arrangement of a distribution center in which a large number of product racks are arranged in a matrix for explaining application of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a main part of one of the racks as seen from the front.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an example of a shelf label used in the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

R rack B shelf S product storage P shelf label H bill receiver Y passage

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-2-12453 (JP, A) JP-A-12-34004 (JP, A) JP-A-3-73703 (JP, A) JP-A-59-182103 (JP , A) JP-A-6-271019 (JP, A) JP-A-9-124117 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 7-15622 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) B65G 1/137

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A. The product racks arranged in rows and columns in warehouses, distribution centers, etc. are divided into at least two or more groups based on the grouping of products related to all the stored products, and all shelf boards in the product racks are grouped. A shelf label in which a product storage unit is set with the same unit width for each rack or shelf board, and a location symbol for indicating the position of all the product storage units and a code in which the symbol is converted into a data are added. Create each item, attach each shelf label to the corresponding product storage section, and set the location symbol and code of each shelf label in the computer. B. Front width of each product rack, shelf depth, effective height,
Setting data relating to the effective volume and distance of the product storage unit, such as the unit width of the product storage unit, in the computer. C. For each product, occupy one or more of the product storage units and store the required quantity of the product to be stored. D. When storing each product, and product quantity that each of the products stored in the number and its this commodity storage unit that was occupied, and one of the shelf label code which represents a storage unit that was occupied, and the product code of the products stored By linking and setting and registering this in the computer as basic data, the product names of all the products stored in the product storage section of the product rack arranged in the warehouse, distribution center, etc. by the above operations Form linked data in which the quantity and the data related to its storage are linked. When picking data of two or more product names or product codes is input to the computer for picking, the distance from the starting point to the storage unit in which the respective products are stored starts from an arbitrary product storage section by the computer. Forming a picking data rearranged based on the size of a location setting method for a picking operation. 2. The shelf label, when a specific product occupies a plurality of product storage units, only the leading shelf label in the occupied storage units is turned upside down, and the rest of the storage units storing the product are stored. The shelf label of the department is turned over and treated as a rest tag, and one item and one shelf tag in all the stored products are 1: 1.
The location setting method for the picking work according to claim 1, wherein the location setting method corresponds to the relationship.