article · The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Rising global population, mass customisation, just-in-time manufacturing, and omnichannel distribution are rapidly driving changes in the logistics sector. Adapting to these shifts requires greater dynamic capabilities and sustainability, leading industry leaders towards smart warehouse systems powered by advanced automation. A review of 111 publications spanning from 1990 to 2022 explores flexible automation within warehousing to establish a foundation for future developments. The findings indicate that the successful creation of a flexible automated warehouse relies on integrating automated machinery, data collection technologies, and comprehensive management systems. Synthesising insights from 32 years of research, a structured framework for flexible automated warehouses is proposed to guide future investigations and support the establishment of conceptual models suitable for warehouse deployment.
Modern retail and supply chains face immense pressure to deliver goods faster and more efficiently. Understanding how automated machinery, data collection tools, and management systems interact allows logistics providers to modernise facilities effectively. This research consolidates decades of evidence into a clear framework, helping practitioners and researchers build smarter, more sustainable, and adaptable warehousing operations.
The framework targets logistics operators, warehouse developers, and automation technology providers seeking to design flexible, smart facilities. Because the work is a literature review culminating in a conceptual framework to guide future academic research, it represents early-stage conceptual development rather than a tested, near-market commercial tool. Real-world application depends on translating the framework into specific operational software and deployment architectures.
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Abstract The just-in-time concept, mass customization, omnichannel distribution, and the rising global population have all fueled the logistics sector. Consequently, using automation inside the warehouses to make them more dynamic and sustainable for the future is one of the crucial components to adapt to this quick shift. Giants in the industry and technology are becoming more interested in the “smart warehouse” system, built with innovative warehousing technologies, as an achievable solution for the development of warehouses in the future. To contextualize the past and provide light on prospective future directions, a study of current articles in the literature is important. This study evaluates works published in the previous 32 years related to flexible automation in warehouses to create a framework that future academics might use to guide them in establishing an original conceptual model that might be implemented at warehouses. One hundred eleven selected, examined, and categorized publications were published between 1990 and 2022 to establish a significant foundation for earlier research. Results indicated that combining automated machinery, collecting data technologies, and management systems are essential to creating a flexible automated warehouse. Finally, based on the examined literature, a flexible automated warehouse framework is suggested to direct future research in this field.
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DOI: 10.1007/s00170-024-14127-0
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