Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design of the federal express large package sort facility

  • Published:
Annals of Operations Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, two mixed integer programming models, the Aggregate Bin Assignment Model (ABAM) and Aggregate Rack Assignment Model (ARAM), are developed for the analysis of possible large package sort facility designs for Federal Express Corporation. Applying the ABAM and RAM algorithm on the current topological design of the sort facility reduces the number of forklifts and total forklift travel time for accomplishing the sort by about 20%. Tests on 16 other configurations proposed by Federal Express indicated that savings of 33% with respect to the number of forklifts required and over 50% in the total forklift travel time when compared to the existing operations can be achieved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahuja, R., T. Magnanti, and J. Orlin. (1993). Network Flows: Theory, Algorithms, and Applications. Prentice Hall: Engle Cliffs, NJ.

  • ILOG. (1999). OPL Studio Customer Education Volumes 1 and 2, Mountain View, CA. ILOG.

  • McAree, P. (2001). “Models for the Design and Analysis of a Large Package Sort Facility.” PhD Dissertation, R.H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742.

  • McAree, P., L. Bodin, and M. Ball. (2002). “Models for the Design and Analysis of a Large Package Sort Facility.” Networks, 39(2), 107–120.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Murty, K. (1985). Linear and Combinatorial Programming. R.E. Krieger.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Air Force, Washington, DC, USA

    Paul McAree

  2. Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Lawrence Bodin & Michael Ball

  3. Federal Express Corporation, Memphis, TE, USA

    James Segars

Authors
  1. Paul McAree
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lawrence Bodin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael Ball
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. James Segars
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lawrence Bodin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McAree, P., Bodin, L., Ball, M. et al. Design of the federal express large package sort facility. Ann Oper Res 144, 133–152 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-006-0005-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-006-0005-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation