Analytic expressions for the optimal dwell point in an automated storage/retrieval system

We consider the problem of selecting the dwell point position of the storage/retrieval (S/R) machine in an automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS). This is the position where the S/R machine resides when the system is idle. Our objective is to minimize the expected travel time to the position of the next operation. We present analytic expressions for the randomized and class-based storage policies. The expressions may be incorporated in a design framework for estimating the system performance. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.