The document discusses efforts to make a logistics system less dependent on human judgment and work. It describes an incident where a logistics company lacked enough warehouse staff. To address this, the system was improved by introducing material handling equipment and developing a packing size calculator using machine learning to automate tasks like selecting packing materials. Other initiatives like bin recommendation and order collating automation were also discussed. The goal is to continue using data analysis and simulation to identify areas for increased automation and efficiency improvements, helping the logistics platform scale while reducing human workload.

1. 人の判断と作業に依存した物流システムを、自身で判断
と作業ができるシステムに進化させようとしている話
Aug 4th, 2022
Arinobu Fukuhara
EC Logistics Development Department
Rakuten Group, Inc.

2. Agenda
2
1. Introduction
2. Failure and Improvement
3. Summary

3. 3
Self Introduction
福原 有信 Arinobu Fukuhara (Ari)
History
2004 – 2010 : System Engineer at a SIer
2010 : Joined Rakuten as an Engineer (Rakuten Ichiba)
2012 : Moved to the Project team for Logistics
worked for Order Management System development
2014 : Moved to the WMS group in EC Logistics Development Department
(ECLD)
2020 : System Architecture team in ECLD

4. 4
Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL)
https://logistics.rakuten.co.jp/rsl/overview/
2022/07/26 キャプチャ取得
Rakuten Super Logistics is a logistics outsourcing service for Rakuten Ichiba merchants.

5. 5
Scope of Responsibility for Warehouse Management System (WMS)
Receiving (着荷)
≪Receiving (入荷)≫
≪Shipping (出荷)≫
Inbound Data & item Inspection (入荷検
品)
Stowing (棚入れ)
≪Storing (在庫管理)≫
Stock management
(在庫管理)
Collating (バッチ分
け)
Picking (ピッキング)
Packing (梱包
Order Data

6. Agenda
6
1. Introduction
2. Failure and Improvement
3. Summary

7. 7
An incident that occurred several years ago
We could not hire sufficient warehouse staff for year-end Rakuten
Super Sale
As a result, employees from other businesses were asked to perform
warehouse work on as an emergency measure
The major mission was to make the system less dependent on human
judgment and work.

8. 8
Human dependent parts of our WMS
Receiving (着荷)
≪Receiving (入荷)≫
≪Shipping (出荷)≫
Inbound Data & item Inspection (入荷検
品)
Stowing (棚入れ)
≪Storing (在庫管理)≫
Stock management
(在庫管理)
Collating (バッチ分
け)
Picking (ピッキング)
Packing (梱包
Order Data

9. 9
Human dependent parts of our WMS
Receiving (着荷)
≪Receiving (入荷)≫
≪Shipping (出荷)≫
Inbound Data &
item
Inspection (入荷検
品)
Stowing (棚入れ)
≪Storing (在庫管理)≫
Stock management
(在庫管理)
Collating (バッチ分
け)
Picking (ピッキング)
Packing (梱包
Order Data
- Is there room on the bin?
- Same item should be same place
- Turnover rate of items
- Packing material selection
- Is an order from Rakuten Ichiba?
(can use boxes with Rakuten's logo?)
- We have enough orders?
- Deadline for shipment
- Size of Items to work
- Picking type
- Optional requirements (e.g., gift wrapping, etc.)
- Optimization of picking path
- Packing location of picked items (by size)

10. 10
Introduction of material handling equipment
https://twitter.com/hmikitani/status/1485741876200181760
2022/07/26 キャプチャ取得
Wherever possible, machines are installed in warehouses and businesses where they can be
installed.
Ibaraki warehouse for Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper
(and same Warehouse Management System of Rakuten Super Logistics)

11. 11
Challenges of RSL
Very large variety of products handled by RSL
• Sizes range is very large from accessories to
camping tents
• A wide variety of products
• Apparel (needs hanger)
• Foods (expiration date management) , etc.
• Optional work such as gift packaging
Full mechanization is difficult, but human judgment and work
should be reduced as much as possible.
画像引用元: https://www.irasutoya.com/

12. 12
Human dependent parts of our WMS
Receiving (着荷)
≪Receiving (入荷)≫
≪Shipping (出荷)≫
Inbound Data &
item
Inspection (入荷検
品)
Stowing (棚入れ)
≪Storing (在庫管理)≫
Stock management
(在庫管理)
Collating (バッチ分
け)
Picking (ピッキング)
Packing (梱包
Order Data
- Packing material selection
- Is an order from Rakuten Ichiba?
(can use boxes with Rakuten's logo?)
- We have enough orders?
- Deadline for shipment
- Size of Items to work
- Picking type
- Optional requirements (e.g., gift wrapping, etc.)
- Optimization of picking path
- Packing location of picked items (by size)
- Is there room on the bin?
- Same item should be same place
- Turnover rate of items
Improved by Packing Size
Calculator

13. 13
“Before” Packing Size Calculator
Ship # Item Qty
Packing
Box
ship-
0001
Item-
0001
1 Unknown
ship-
0002
Item-
0001
2 Unknown
Item-
0002
1 Unknown
ship-
0003
Item-
0002
1 Unknown
Item-
0003
1 Unknown
ship-
0004
Item-
0002
4 Unknown
ship-
0005
Item-
0003
1 Unknown
Pre-work orders
Mail Size
Packing Area
DB
Working batch list
Mail Box
(S)
Box
(S)
Box (M)
Box (M)
Box (S) Size Packing
Area
Box (M) Size Packing
Area
Mail
Box
(S)
Box
(S) Box (M)
Box (M)
Packing staff
“box-S-001”?
“box-S-002”?
Picking staff

14. 14
“After” Packing Size Calculator
Ship # Item Qty
Packing
Box
ship-
0001
Item-0001 1 Box-S-
001
ship-
1001
Item-0002 2 Box-S-
002
ship-
1113
Item-0003 1 Box-S-
001
Pre-work orders
Mail Size
Packing Area
DB
Working batch list
Box
(S)
Box
(S)
Box (S) Size Packing
Area
Box (M) Size
Packing Area
Box
(S)
Box
(S)
Packing staff
Picking staff
Packing
Size
Calculator
Pre-calculation
Box
(S)
Box
(S)
Box-S-001 is the
best

15. 15
High level system architecture
WMS
(main part)
PSC API
Learning
Model API
Learning
Model
Prediction
Packing
History data
Learning
Predicted
Packing
material
Predicted
3-dimention
size

16. 16
Other initiatives
Receiving (着荷)
≪Receiving (入荷)≫
≪Shipping (出荷)≫
Inspection (入荷検
品)
Stowing (棚入れ)
≪Storing (在庫管理)≫
Stock management
(在庫管理)
Collating (バッチ分
け)
Picking (ピッキング)
Packing (梱包
Storing bin recommendation
Automation of collating
Pick path optimization
Packing Size Calculator
Solutions
- Packing material selection
- Is an order from Rakuten Ichiba?
(can use boxes with Rakuten's logo?)
- We have enough orders?
- Deadline for shipment
- Size of Items to work
- Picking type
- Optional requirements (e.g., gift wrapping, etc.)
- Optimization of picking path
- Packing location of picked items (by size)
- Is there room on the bin?
- Same item should be same place
- Turnover rate of items
Human judgment and work

17. 17
Rakuten Super Logistics is growing very rapidly, but we don’t have same
failure (*).
Growth of Rakuten Super Logistics
Monthly Shipment Volume
2018 Dec. 2019 Dec. 2020 Dec. 2021 Dec.
about x7
Number of RSL Merchants
about
x18
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
* This includes results from improved warehouse operations

18. 18
Current/Future initiatives
Data warehouse
Logistics
systems’
Operation data
Machine log
files
Simulation
Reporting
Demand forecast,
etc.
Data-driven improvements
• Analysis of machine utilization rate
• Warehouse productivity and areas for
improvement
• Prediction of malfunctions, missing items, etc.
Simulation
• Study of optimal layout of the warehouse
• Study of the best operation logic of
machines
画像引用元: https://unsplash.com/photos/KZgKKl7__ww

19. Agenda
19
1. Introduction
2. Failure and Improvement
3. Summary

20. 20
The important mindset
Genchi Genbutsu
現地現物

21. To the No.1 EC Logistics Platform
画像引用元: https://logistics.rakuten.co.jp/