Patent ID: 6622127
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
A computer implemented method of filling a customer order in a distribution center having a plurality of pods, each of which has multiple inventory locations for stocking a plurality of items, the method comprising:choosing a pod to provide at least some of the items necessary to fulfill the customer order, where the pod is selected based upon a throughput analysis performed by a computer to identify the pod that contains, in comparison to other pods in the distribution center, the most items of the items in the customer order which have not yet been allocated to other pods; identifying a replicated item from the customer order, which replicated item is stocked at atleast two inventory locations in the pod, wherein the at least two inventory locations comprise a first inventory location having a first number of units of the replicated item and a second inventory location having a second number of units of the replicated item, and wherein the first number of units is greater than the second number of units; and choosing to fill the customer order with units of the replicated item stocked in the second inventory location.