SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR DETERMINING PRODUCTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH RETRIEVING ITEMS IN A WAREHOUSE

• US 20110035247A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service of America (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Perry, Andy L., Hughes, Jacqueline
• Application Number:
  US12/535,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for managing productivity associated with retrieval of items in real-time according to various embodiments. The apparatus includes a memory and a processor configured to generate a first time for traveling to one or more locations in which the items are located. The processor is also configured to generate a second time for retrieving the items from the locations and a third time for accessing one or more access points corresponding to each location. The third time is based on a respective height of each access point. The processor is also configured to add the first, second, and third times to generate a fourth time representing a target pick time for retrieving the items. Corresponding computer program products and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer program product for managing productivity associated with the retrieval of items, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion configured to generate a first time for traveling to one or more locations at which one or more items to be retrieved are located;

a second executable portion configured to generate a second time for retrieving the one or more items from the one or more locations;

a third executable portion configured to generate a third time for accessing one or more access points corresponding to each location, the third time being based on a respective height of each of the one or more access points; and

a fourth executable portion configured to add the first, second, and third times to generate a fourth time representing a target pick time for retrieving the one or more items.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate a fifth time associated with a time for beginning one or more activities related to the retrieval of the one or more items; and

a sixth executable portion configured to generate a sixth time associated with a time for completing activities related to the retrieval of the one or more items,

wherein the fourth executable portion is further configured to add the fifth and sixth times to the first, second, and third times to generate the fourth time.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second time generated by the second executable portion comprises a base amount of time expected to retrieve the one or more items and any additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the one or more items.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the items is based on a weight of the item.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first time is based in part on a shortest travel distance between each of the one or more locations.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first time is based in part on a length of at least one aisle and an x, y coordinate of each of the one or more locations.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second and third times are based in part on a quantity of the items to be retrieved and accessed, respectively.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to determine an actual amount of time spent by one or more individuals retrieving the one or more items;

a sixth executable portion configured to compare the actual amount of time to the fourth time;

a seventh executable portion configured to identify the one or more individuals as being efficient in response to the actual amount of time being equal to or less than the fourth time; and

an eighth executable portion configured to identify the one or more individuals as being inefficient in response to the actual amount of time being greater than the fourth time.

9. An apparatus for managing productivity associated with the retrieval of items, wherein the apparatus comprises a memory and a computer processor configured to:

generate a first time for traveling to one or more locations in which one or more items to be retrieved are located;

generate a second time for retrieving the one or more items from the one of the locations;

generate a third time for accessing one or more access points corresponding to each location, the third time being based on a respective height of each of the one or more access points; and

add the first, second, and third times to generate a fourth time representing a target pick time for retrieving the one or more items.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a fifth time associated with a time for beginning one or more activities related to the retrieval of the items;

generate a sixth time associated with a time for completing activities related to the retrieval of the items; and

add the fifth and sixth times to the first, second, and third times to generate the fourth time.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second time comprises a base amount of time expected to retrieve the one or more items and any additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the one or more items.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the items is based on a weight of the item.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first time is based in part on a shortest travel distance between each of the one or more locations.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first time is based in part on a length of at least one aisle and an x, y coordinate of each of the one or more locations.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second and third times are based in part on a quantity of the items to be retrieved and accessed, respectively.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an actual amount of time spent by one or more individuals retrieving the one or more items;

compare the actual amount of time to the fourth time;

identify the one or more individuals as efficient in response to the actual amount of time being equal to or less than the fourth time; and

identify the one or more individuals as inefficient in response to the actual amount of time being greater than the fourth time.

17. A method for managing productivity associated with the retrieval of items, comprising:

generating a first time for traveling to one or more locations in which one or more items are located;

generating a second time for retrieving the one or more items from the one or more locations;

generating a third time for accessing one or more access points corresponding to each location, the third time being based on a respective height of each of the one or more access points; and

adding, via a productivity computing device, the first, second, and third times to generate a fourth time representing a target pick time for retrieving the one or more items.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

generating a fifth time associated with a time for beginning one or more activities related to the retrieval of the one or more items, and

generating a sixth time associated with a time for completing activities related to the retrieval of the one or more items,

wherein the step of adding further comprises adding the fifth and sixth times to the first, second, and third times to generate the fourth time.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining that the second time comprises a base amount of time expected to retrieve the one or more items and any additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the one or more items.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the additional amount of time expected for handling at least one of the items is based on a weight of the item.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first time is based in part on a shortest travel distance between each of the one or more locations.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first time is based in part on a length of at least one aisle and an x, y coordinate of each location.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the second and third times are based in part on a quantity of the items to be retrieved and accessed, respectively.