Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to determine that a shipment including multiple units is expected to be conveyed from a storage area to a packing station in a materials handling facility. The system may also be configured to evaluate each respective unit of the shipment according to one or more criteria related to physical characteristics of the unit in order to generate an order in which the units of the shipment are to be provided to the packing station. The system may also be configured to generate an instruction to provide the units of the shipment to the packing station according to the generated order.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to determine that a shipment including multiple units is expected to be conveyed from a storage area to a packing station in a materials handling facility. The system may also be configured to evaluate each respective unit of the shipment according to one or more criteria related to physical characteristics of the unit in order to generate an order in which the units of the shipment are to be provided to the packing station. The system may also be configured to generate an instruction to provide the units of the shipment to the packing station according to the generated order.

Abstract: Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling center. A manifest is generated in a computer system that directs a picking of a plurality of items from a plurality of inventory locations in a materials handling center in fulfillment of a plurality of orders for the purchase of the items. Sort bin assignments are generated in the computer system before picking the items. Each sort bin assignment corresponds to a respective one of the items, and each of the sort bin assignments specifies a corresponding one of a plurality of sort bins designated to coalesce together the items associated with respective ones of the orders for packing. The sort bin assignments are stored in memory for use in sorting the items.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for process management in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a process control component configured to generate a model of multiple unit handling processes of a materials handling facility. For each process, the model may indicate a measured throughput rate. The process control component may be configured to, based on at least one target output rate that is a goal for the output rate of a given unit handling process, evaluate the model to generate a particular target throughput rate that is a goal for the respective throughput rate of a particular unit handling process that is performed prior to the given unit handling process. The process control component may be configured to, based on the particular target throughput rate, generate one or more instructions to control the respective throughput rate of units processed by the particular unit handling process.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process are described. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may include a conveyance mechanism including at least one item inducted into the conveyance mechanism. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may also include an item allocation component. The item allocation component may be configured to assign the item to a particular sorting station of a group of multiple sorting stations. The item allocation component may determine the particular sorting station to which the item is assigned based upon a determined quantity of other items located at the particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to the particular sorting station.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing reassignment of units among shipments in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify a first unit of a particular item that has been picked from inventory of a materials handling facility and assigned to a first shipment. The system may also, from multiple candidate shipments, identify a second shipment that requires a given unit of the particular item in order to become a complete shipment. For each candidate shipment, at least one unit of that shipment may be stored within a defined storage area of a materials handling facility. The system may, in response to identifying both shipments, generate an instruction to reassign the first unit of the particular item from the first shipment to the second shipment in order to transform the second shipment from an incomplete shipment to a complete shipment.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process are described. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may include a conveyance mechanism including at least one item inducted into the conveyance mechanism. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may also include an item allocation component. The item allocation component may be configured to assign the item to a particular sorting station of a group of multiple sorting stations. The item allocation component may determine the particular sorting station to which the item is assigned based upon a determined quantity of other items located at the particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to the particular sorting station.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify multiple shipments that each includes one or more units that are eligible to be conveyed from a storage area to a respective packing station in a materials handling facility. The identification of a given shipment may include determining that shipment is compatible with a packing capability of the packing station. The system may be configured to evaluate each respective shipment according to one or more shipment-related criteria to generate a ranking of at least some of the multiple shipments. The system may, in response to determining that a particular shipment is ranked highest relative to other shipments of the ranking, generate an instruction to convey the units of that particular shipment from the storage area to the respective packing station.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing reassignment of units among shipments in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify a first unit of a particular item that has been picked from inventory of a materials handling facility and assigned to a first shipment. The system may also, from multiple candidate shipments, identify a second shipment that requires a given unit of the particular item in order to become a complete shipment. For each candidate shipment, at least one unit of that shipment may be stored within a defined storage area of a materials handling facility. The system may, in response to identifying both shipments, generate an instruction to reassign the first unit of the particular item from the first shipment to the second shipment in order to transform the second shipment from an incomplete shipment to a complete shipment.

Abstract: Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling center. A manifest is generated in a computer system that directs a picking of a plurality of items from a plurality of inventory locations in a materials handling center in fulfillment of a plurality of orders for the purchase of the items. Sort bin assignments are generated in the computer system before picking the items. Each sort bin assignment corresponds to a respective one of the items, and each of the sort bin assignments specifies a corresponding one of a plurality of sort bins designated to coalesce together the items associated with respective ones of the orders for packing. The sort bin assignments are stored in memory for use in sorting the items.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for selectively advancing items in a picking schedule are described. Embodiments may include a pick scheduler configured to determine that available labor exceeds labor needed to perform a picking process during a time period of a picking schedule. From items not scheduled to be picked during that time period, the pick scheduler may identify candidate items that are candidates to be picked during that time period. Each candidate item may improve a performance metric of the picking process. The pick scheduler may, for each of multiple candidate items, determine that advancing that item to the time period is expected to improve a shipping metric. The pick scheduler may, in response to determining that the expected shipping metric improvement of a particular candidate item is greater than that of other candidate items, generate an instruction to pick the particular candidate item during the time period.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for determining the usability of overage units in a sortation process are described. The embodiments described herein may include a control system of an order fulfillment center. For each unit of multiple units picked from inventory in an order fulfillment center, the control system may be configured to determine whether the given unit is designated to be inducted into a sortation system for sorting units of items into shipments. The control system may be configured to determine an overage unit of a particular item. The control system may also be configured to dynamically determine one or more incomplete shipments that each requires at least one unit of the particular item in order to become a completed shipment. Once such incomplete shipments are determined, the control system may generate an instruction to induct the unit into the sortation system.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to determine that a shipment including multiple units is expected to be conveyed from a storage area to a packing station in a materials handling facility. The system may also be configured to evaluate each respective unit of the shipment according to one or more criteria related to physical characteristics of the unit in order to generate an order in which the units of the shipment are to be provided to the packing station. The system may also be configured to generate an instruction to provide the units of the shipment to the packing station according to the generated order.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing shipment release from a storage area in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify multiple shipments that each includes one or more units that are eligible to be conveyed from a storage area to a respective packing station in a materials handling facility. The identification of a given shipment may include determining that shipment is compatible with a packing capability of the packing station. The system may be configured to evaluate each respective shipment according to one or more shipment-related criteria to generate a ranking of at least some of the multiple shipments. The system may, in response to determining that a particular shipment is ranked highest relative to other shipments of the ranking, generate an instruction to convey the units of that particular shipment from the storage area to the respective packing station.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for managing reassignment of units among shipments in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a system configured to identify a first unit of a particular item that has been picked from inventory of a materials handling facility and assigned to a first shipment. The system may also, from multiple candidate shipments, identify a second shipment that requires a given unit of the particular item in order to become a complete shipment. For each candidate shipment, at least one unit of that shipment may be stored within a defined storage area of a materials handling facility. The system may, in response to identifying both shipments, generate an instruction to reassign the first unit of the particular item from the first shipment to the second shipment in order to transform the second shipment from an incomplete shipment to a complete shipment.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for process management in a materials handling facility are described. Embodiments may include a process control component configured to generate a model of multiple unit handling processes of a materials handling facility. For each process, the model may indicate a measured throughput rate. The process control component may be configured to, based on at least one target output rate that is a goal for the output rate of a given unit handling process, evaluate the model to generate a particular target throughput rate that is a goal for the respective throughput rate of a particular unit handling process that is performed prior to the given unit handling process. The process control component may be configured to, based on the particular target throughput rate, generate one or more instructions to control the respective throughput rate of units processed by the particular unit handling process.