Intelligent Algorithms

Smart optimization algorithms as key element in digitalized logistics

The core of digitalization are algorithms. With the help of intelligent algorithms, W2MO has the necessary head start to meet the requirements of increasingly dynamic and complex logistics systems. Optimal and overall control of each process is fundamental for order sequencing, warehouse assignment, replenishment and efficiency in the entire logistics center. Every single element in this process chain must be linked to the other processes in such a manner that the individual tasks are processed in the best possible way and overall productivity is optimized and stabilized at the same time.

EFFICIENCY INCREASE FOR SAP EWM / WM / TM / ERP

Being a SAP Application Development Partner for several years, Logivations supports in implementation of new technologies and in simulation and optimization of structures, product flows and processes by a practical and holistic approach.

Machine learning and mathematical optimization allow an impressive efficiency increase for SAP EWM, WM / LES, TM or ERP.


Advanced Slotting (optimized product placement) and warehouse space allocation strategies
  • Determine the best place for all products, decrease walking / driving times, reduce process costs and increase picking efficiency
  • Directly during putaway - as an extension of the SAP standard logic – and for periodic reorganization as well
  • Many constraints are available in the standard
3D-Package Builder for carton and portfolio optimization
  • Directly integrated in SAP TM, forecast of the required transport capacity and pallet / packing scheme
  • Transport consolidation by optimal loading of shipping containers (pallets, cartons, gitter boxes, containers)
  • Automatic generation of packing schemes for easy and step-by-step pallet and carton building with 3D view in browser / tablet
Camera-based object identification (identification and packing station)
  • Directly in the real time process flow with video documentation, identification gates
  • Automatic identification of products and quantities with and without barcodes
  • Communication with other systems (WMS, SAP) for verification


SAP Application Development Partner



As SAP Application Development Partner, Logivations offers direct compatibility to your SAP systems and a fully standardized integration done by our experts to increase efficiency of IT systems in warehouse and logistics. The needed installations to improve SAP EWM can be set-up short term. On the SAP side, an interface component is implemented in the SAP EWM. This interface is directly available from SAP, Logivations will be happy to provide the needed contacts. W2MO is then installed in the customer's network (or temporary on a laptop) and is connected to SAP EWM via web services. The web services enable a direct data exchange for the relevant standard data files. Customer specific data files can then be added and transferred using the same technology. W2MO covers "White Spaces" (as defined by SAP) for partner solutions.


You are not yet using SAP EWM, but SAP WM/LES or another LVS? W2MO can be successfully implemented to increase efficiency and to be used with individual interfaces in this case as well.

Advanced Slotting – intelligent product placement

  • Increase of picking efficiency
  • Decrease of replenishment efforts
  • Reduction of transport damages
  • Reduction of picking errors
  • Generation of equal workload utilization
  • Operational implementation with optimized changeover lists

Using innovative algorithms, W2MO calculates the optimized warehouse assignment considering various criteria and restrictions. The reduction of the picking route, reduction of needed picking time, equal utilization of workload on different warehouse areas and many other aspects are included as well. A branch sequence can be considered or a significant reduction in product damages can be achieved by locating heavy products at the beginning of the picking tour ahead of fragile products. With help of sophisticated calculation methods, it is also possible to analyze huge amount of data to identify which products are often ordered together. These items will then be placed close to each other in a corresponding "set assignment". In return, by separating the bins with similar products, so-called "look-alikes", a reduction of picking errors is achieved. As a result, W2MO generates changeover lists, sorted according to the efficiency of single changeovers, which suggest an optimized reorganization. Multiple visualization functions of W2MO achieve an easy analysis of the product placement in 2D and 3D.


OPTIMIZED TOUR BUILDING & ROUTING

  • Holistic consideration using combinatorial algorithms
  • Reduction of walking and driving effort
  • Avoidance of traffic jams
  • Equal load balancing
  • Interaction with the methods for product placement

The efficiency of multi-order picking processes depends very much on the right sequence and configuration of the orders. On the one hand, this multi-order picking process has the goal of minimizing the efforts required for order picking. On the other hand, restrictions such as departure times and workload on packing stations have to be considered. Time-consuming optimization runs, possibly even overnight, are things of the past. Despite large amount of data and complex individual restrictions, the situation should still be constantly reassessed in short time. W2MO meets this challenge with state-of-the-art combinatorial optimization technology and algorithms. Resulting are picking tours with shorter distances and no traffic jams due to equal load distribution. Minimizing path lengths for single tours is not sufficient. The total amount of all required picks must be considered always instead, so you do not have to accept one rather long tour as “costs” of another very short one.


Intelligent replenishment

  • Days of inventory calculation
  • Priorization of order sequences for replenishment
  • Forecast of replenishment
  • Reduction of picking efforts
  • Increase of service level and alignment to delivery dates

The biggest challenge comes from the direct interconnection between the picking and replenishment processes when volatile demands lead to temporary peaks of the replenishment, which might exceed the maximum supply chain capacities. Replenishment systems therefore require smart concepts and algorithms which can fulfil the needs of highly dynamic material flows. W2MO comes here into the play with its tailor-made solutions and modern calculation methods to guarantee durable and punctual delivery capacity by range-driven target stock calculation and prioritization of the replenishment order sequences. Replenishment bottlenecks can be smartly avoided when under-load times are being used purposefully for replenishment precautions. W2MO and its intelligent algorithms can identify the relevant articles, which are most certainly demanded in the near future.


Case pack optimization / 3D-Package builder

  • Optimized selection of correct transport container
  • Calculation of transport containers considering product dimensions and outer packaging, material flow, joint packing restrictions as well as many other parameters
  • Consideration of individual orientation, stacking factors and fragility
  • Interactive visualization of packing scheme in 3D
  • Integration with identification workplace

Choosing the correct transport container has a huge impact on the transport costs and on logistics efficiency. Simple precalculation methods consider only volume and weight of the freight and the container itself. This approach where the objects are clearly "liquefied", requires a high safety buffer ("air") in the transport container, since most of the objects that should be packed have certain dimensions and do not fit in a random combination into a container. W2MO Case Pack Optimization / 3D-Package Builder is a powerful system which considers the dimensions of the packed objects and the transport containers and their orientation. Sophisticated mathematical algorithms take into account many other restrictions as e.g. material flow, stackability, fragility or joint packing restrictions. The visualization of the calculated packing scheme with the interactive options in 3D accelerates the packing process in practice. The result can be presented on almost any device such as a tablet or PC. An integration with the identification station allows the direct applicability at the packing station.


Case portfolio optimization

  • Optimal quantity and dimensioning of case types for a given order spectrum
  • Interactive optimization or fully automated approach, supported by algorithms
  • Reduction of material-/ and transport costs
  • Reduction of picking efforts
  • Reduction of transport damages by correct dimensioning

A non-optimized case portfolio leads in practice to a high consumption of filling material, poorly-packed cartons and a high rate of transport damages. This is often caused by a variety of different-sized shipping cartons, which are used without systematic analysis. W2MO Case Portfolio Optimization determines an optimized quantity and dimensioning of transport containers for given order scenarios. There is an algorithmically supported and interactive as well as a fully automated approach that uses the calculation methods of carton and case optimization. In both cases, the goal is to create the conditions for the best order packing possibility and to determine an appropriate case set. Due to the strong parallelization and particularly efficient data structures, the processing of very large amounts of data is possible, so that corresponding longer time periods can be included for a well-founded analysis.


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