Patent ID: 8275480

Claim:
A method for management of first in, first out stores, the method comprising: producing parts at a primary process; processing the parts at a secondary process; providing a storage region including at least one store lane pair including a first store lane and a second store lane, the first store lane including a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side, the second store lane including a pick side, a drop side and a plurality of receiving volumes extending from the pick side to the drop side; and filling the receiving volumes of the first store lane with the parts in the order they are produced at the primary process in a first in, first out fashion from the pick side of the first store lane to the drop side of the first store lane using an automated guided vehicle sized and configured to pass through each of the plurality of receiving volumes, wherein after a last receiving volume nearest the drop side of the first store lane is filled, filling the receiving volumes of the second store lane using the automated guided vehicle.