DES/ABS approach to simulate warehouse operations

Abstract

The paper presents the results of research performed in the area of modeling and simulation of warehouse operations in a supply chain. Author defines in details main problems concerning warehousing. "Old" and "new" approaches to modeling and simulating are compared based on available simulation programs on the market. Main goal of the paper is to answer the question how to prepare in a very short time the motion of forklifts in a defined simulation model based on picking lists. Author proposes a method based on mixing DES (Discrete Event) and ABS (Agent Based Simulation). As result the library of agents objects (LogABS) is described and explained.