DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR

Discrete Distance Calculator

Introduction
Discrete distance is the time allotted for movement between points on the warehouse
map. This time is based upon engineered standards which take elements such as
travel distance, job code and machine into consideration.
For troubleshooting purposes, the discrete distance calculator lets you quickly
determine the discrete distance between two location points. This may be desired if,
for example, after running the Audit Trail report, you question the discrete travel time
allotted between two location points.
You use Calculate Discrete Distance to calculate the discrete distance between two
location points of the warehouse map.
In This
Chapter

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User Guide

Topic

Page

Calculate Discrete Distance

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DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR

Calculate Discrete Distance

Description

When you use Calculate Discrete Distance, you select

two different Location IDs

an aisle area or pick pattern

a job code or park point, and

a machine ID.

Once you have made these selections, you can find the discrete distance and, in the
grid view, view the

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travel distance, TMUs and type

minimum and maximum walk distances

one-way travel distance

walking and riding park point

constant velocity

X and Y coordinates of source

distance to and from the end of the source aisle

source pick type, and

source and destination aisle areas.

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Example:
Calculate
Discrete
Distance
Window

Workforce Management
User Guide

This image is an example of the Calculate Discrete Distance window.

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Controls:
Calculate
Discrete
Distance
Window

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This table describes the controls on the Calculate Discrete Distance window.
Control

Description

Location From

Starting location point in the warehouse map for the discrete

distance calculation.

Job Code ID

Unique identifier for the job code. A job code represents a standard
for a task being performed in your facility, and it is the basic
component for an assignment.

Aisle Area ID

Unique identifier for the aisle area.

Machine ID

Unique identifier for the machine type. A machine is a gas- or

electric battery-powered material handling unit used for picking,
depositing or transporting product within a warehouse.

Location To

Ending point in the warehouse map for the discrete distance

calculation.

Park Point

Coordinate value used to identify the point at which a machine will

optimally be located whenever a user performs work assigned to this
job code. Park Point is used in distance calculations when traveling
from bay to bay. These are the valid values: Use Bay XY, Use
Location XY and Use Park Point XY.

Pick Pattern

Type of pick pattern used for this Aisle Area ID. These are the valid
values: Cross-Aisle Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a
warehouse where the sequence of location numbers moves back
and forth in the aisle, U Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a
warehouse where the sequence of location numbers forms a "U"
shape, Z Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a warehouse where
the sequence of location numbers forms a "Z" shape.

Warehouse ID

(Display only) Unique identifier associated with the warehouse. In a

multi-warehouse environment, you can select the warehouse(s) for
which you are authorized.

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Procedure

To calculate discrete distance

1. Start Calculate Discrete Distance.

2. In the Location From box, type or look up the point in the warehouse map from
which to calculate a discrete distance.
3. In the Location To box, type or look up the point in the warehouse map to which
to calculate a discrete distance.
4. Take one of these actions:

From the Aisle Area list, select the aisle area that will be used as the default
when none is specified in the host assignment download.

From the Pick Pattern list, select the type of pick pattern used for the Aisle
Area ID.

5. Take one of these actions:

From the Job Code list, select the identifier for the job code.

From the Park Point list, select the value used to identify the point at which
a machine will optimally be located within the bay whenever a user performs
work assigned to this job code.

6. From the Machine ID list, select the identifier of the machine that will be used.
7. Click

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User Guide

, and then in the grid view, view the details.

Column

Description

Travel Distance

Distance, in inches1, between the starting and ending

locations.

Travel TMUs

Distance, in TMUs1, between the starting and ending

locations.

Travel Type

Type of travel. These are the valid values: N = None

(walking). R = Riding.

End Location ID

Unique identifier of the ending location.

One Way Travel

Indicates whether the machine is limited to one-way

travel. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. These
are the valid values: 0 = Machine travel is not limited to
one direction. 1 = Machine travel is limited to one
direction.

Minimum Walk Distance

Minimum distance, in inches1, that a worker is allowed to

walk without the machine in order to get to the next piece
of work. This value is set in Machine Maintenance.

Maximum Walk Distance

Maximum distance, in inches1, that a worker is allowed to

walk without the machine in order to get to the next piece
of work. This value is set in Machine Maintenance.

Walking Park Point

Constant

Time constant, in TMUs1, that is applied to each machine

move in which the distance between locations is greater
than the Minimum Walk Distance. This value is set in
Machine Maintenance.

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Column

Description

Riding Park Point

Constant

Time constant, in TMUs1, that is applied to each machine

move in which the distance between locations is greater
than the Maximum Walk Distance. This value is set in
Machine Maintenance.

Constant Velocity

Constant loaded velocity, in TMUs per inch1, for the

machine that the worker is using. The value must be
greater than or equal to zero. This value is set in Machine
Maintenance.

X Coordinate of Source

X warehouse coordinate for the starting location.

Y Coordinate of Source

Y warehouse coordinate for the starting location.

Distance to End of
Source Aisle

Distance, in inches1, between the starting location and

the end of the source aisle.

Distance from End of

Source Aisle

Distance, in inches1, between the end of the source aisle

and the ending location.

Source Pick Type

Type of pick for the starting location.

Source Aisle Area

Identifier for the aisle area in which the starting location is

located.

Destination Aisle Area

Identifier for the aisle area in which the ending location is

located.

This is the default measurement unit. Your system configuration may be different.

8. Analyze the displayed information and, if there is a problem, contact an industrial

engineer to check whether the warehouse map has been built properly.

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