The stub aisle strategy is a proven method in order picking systems based on the Person-to-Goods principle, which aims to reduce the amount of walking required by personnel and increase efficiency in order processing. In this strategy, the central question is how to minimize the walking distances of personnel in order to reduce the processing time per order item.

Walking distances in the picking system depend on various factors, including the item assortment and its size, the arrangement of the picking racks, and the frequency with which the items are accessed. To optimize these paths, various heuristics have proven effective, including the meander heuristic and, in particular, the stub aisle strategy.

In the stub aisle strategy, the picker begins his path from a cross aisle. From there, the individual picking aisles are visited according to the specifications of the pick list. The item units are assigned to the respective aisle side on the way there and back and collected. This method allows multiple order items to be processed in an efficient sequence and minimizes walking distances.

Another advantage of the stub aisle strategy is that it is well suited for picking systems with larger item assortments and expanded picking areas. By cleverly planning and allocating picking aisles, the picker can collect items in a logical and time-saving pattern, which significantly reduces the processing time per order item.

The stub aisle strategy has proven to be extremely effective in increasing productivity and accuracy in order picking. The targeted optimization of walkways not only speeds up overall processing, but also minimizes the risk of errors.

Source: logipedia / Fraunhofer IML