TY - JOUR T1 - Correlated SKU assignment in warehouses using the joint demand probability distribution: a metaheuristic algorithm approach AU - Dündar, Bayram PY - 2025 DA - September Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.17798/bitlisfen.1714876 JF - Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi PB - Bitlis Eren University WT - DergiPark SN - 2147-3129 SP - 1772 EP - 1786 VL - 14 IS - 3 LA - en AB - In warehouse management, picking orders from storage locations quickly and in the shortest time has become even more important with the development of e-commerce. Thus, efficiently assigning affined products to storage locations within the warehouses is crucial in reducing operational costs and preserving product quality. In this study, a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model (MILP) is developed to minimize in-warehouse picking distances. Based on demand data, inter-product relationships are analyzed, and correlation coefficients are estimated for product pairs with a high tendency to be ordered together. These correlation values are then integrated into the objective function to optimize storage location decisions. To obtain faster and near-optimal solutions from the MILP model on large-scale data sets, a genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach has been developed. A set of computational experiments conducted on medium and large-scale instances compares the performance of the proposed GA approach with the Random-Based Correlated Skus Assignment Model (RBC-SAM). The GA approach under different scenarios shows an improvement of up to 22%. KW - SKUs assignment problem KW - demand correlation KW - genetic algorithm KW - mathematical modeling CR - M. Ansari and J. S. Smith, "Gravity clustering: A correlated storage location assignment problem approach," in *Proc. 2020 Winter Simulation Conf. (WSC)*, 2020, pp. 1288–1299. CR - J. J. Bartholdi and S. T. Hackman, *Warehouse & Distribution Science: Release 0.96*. Atlanta, GA:The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, 2014. [Online]. Available: https://www.warehouse-science.com CR - E. Bottani, M. Cecconi, G. Vignali, and R. Montanari, "Optimisation of storage allocation in order picking operations through a genetic algorithm," *Int. J. Logist. Res. Appl.*, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 127–146, 2012. CR - M. Gabellini, F. Calabrese, A. Regattieri, D. Loske, and M. Klumpp, "A hybrid approach integrating genetic algorithm and machine learning to solve the order picking batch assignment problem considering learning and fatigue of pickers," *Comput. Ind. Eng.*, vol. 191, p. 110175, 2024 CR - S. Islam and K. Uddin, "Correlated storage assignment approach in warehouses: A systematic literature review," *J. Ind. Eng. Manag.*, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 294–318, 2023. CR - B. S. Kim and J. S. Smith, "Slotting methodology using correlated improvement for a zone-based carton picking distribution system," *Comput. Ind. Eng.*, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 286–295, 2012. CR - J. Kim, F. Méndez, and J. Jimenez, "Storage location assignment heuristics based on slot selection and frequent itemset grouping for large distribution centers," *IEEE Access*, vol. 8, pp. 189025–189035, 2020. CR - I. G. Lee, S. H. Chung, and S. W. Yoon, "Two-stage storage assignment to minimize travel time and congestion for warehouse order picking operations," *Comput. Ind. Eng.*, vol. 139, p. 106129, 2020. CR - J. Li, M. Moghaddam, and S. Y. Nof, "Dynamic storage assignment with product affinity and ABC classification—a case study," *Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol.*, vol. 84, pp. 2179–2194, 2016. CR - M. Mirzaei, N. Zaerpour, and R. B. de Koster, "How to benefit from order data: Correlated dispersed storage assignment in robotic warehouses," *Int. J. Prod. Res.*, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 549–568, 2022. CR - M. Squires, X. Tao, S. Elangovan, R. Gururajan, X. Zhou, and U. R. Acharya, "A novel genetic algorithm based system for the scheduling of medical treatments," *Expert Syst. Appl.*, vol. 195, p. 116464, 2022. CR - W. Wisittipanich and C. Kasemset, "Metaheuristics for warehouse storage location assignment problems," *Chiang Mai Univ. J. Nat. Sci.*, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 361–377, 2015. CR - J. Xiao and L. Zheng, "Correlated storage assignment to minimize zone visits for BOM picking," Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol.*, vol. 61, pp. 797–807, 2012. CR - R.-Q. Zhang, M. Wang, and X. Pan, "New model of the storage location assignment problem considering demand correlation pattern," *Comput. Ind. Eng.*, vol. 129, pp. 210–219, 2019. CR - Dündar, B. (2025). A robust optimization approach to address correlation uncertainty in stock keeping unit assignment in warehouses. Alphanumeric Journal, 13(1), 1-12. UR - https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1714876 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4938499 ER -