Impact of steering parameters in mushroom-picker heuristics for optimizing shelf space allocation with combined vertical and horizontal product categorization

The shelf space allocation problem in distribution centres focuses on efficiently organizing products on racks to enhance warehouse operations. The study aimed to investigate the impact of steering parameters embedded in a new heuristic-based algorithm for product organization to improve space utilization and operational efficiency. This research addresses both vertical and horizontal categorization of products based on various attributes, such as packaging, compatibility, and storage requirements. We propose mushroom-picker heuristics, guided by 13 steering parameters, to optimize shelf allocation, product orientation, and category organization, ultimately improving overall warehouse performance. The experiments assess the impact of two grouping steering parameters on the number of generated product allocations and, consequently, on space utilization, accessibility, and operational efficiency. By applying appropriate steering parameters, the proposed heuristics consistently achieve nearly identical profit ratios across all scenarios, approaching 100%.