Optimal product and server locations in one-dimensional storage racks

This paper treats several problems of product storage and server locations in one-dimensional linear and circular storage racks under anticipatory operation of the retrieval unit. Simultaneous optima are obtained fo the server's home base and the products' locations within the rack. The optimal policies are highly intuitive and can be implemented without extensive computation. They require merely that the products be sorted in descending demand order and then be allocated to the storage shelves in either a sequential or alternating manner. The optimal server base is either at the highest demand bin or at the median of the demand profile.