A heuristic approach to warehouse layout with class-based storage

This paper presents a procedure for warehouse layout. It employs the principles of class-based storage to increase floor space utilization and decrease material handling. Three phases of the procedure are outlined: (1) determination of aisle layout and storage zone dimensions, (2) assignment of material to a storage medium, and (3) allocation of floor space. An industrial case study illustrates the procedure for a warehouse required to store 739 different products totaling more than 10 000 pallets of material. An improved layout was developed and compared with the existing alternative. The proposed layout offered savings of more than 20 000 square feet of floor space and an approximately 45% reduction in material handling distance.