Shelf Layout Optimisation Demo

Objective

To generate a good shelf layout satisfying given aesthetic and physical constraints, the Shelf Layout Designer achieves this by:

• Allocating space for commodities in proportion to their sale figures,
• Utilising physical shelf space efficiently, and
• Presenting an aesthetic layout for the customers.

An aesthetic layout is defined as a layout with a rectangular block structure that is:

1. Commodities belonging to the same category form rectangular blocks,
2. Subcategories also form smaller rectangular blocks within larger blocks.

In addition to these requirements:

1. Commodity blocks may be required to be in certain locations on the layout,
2. Commodities may be required to be placed in a number of orientation and stacking patterns, and
3. Bulky commodities may be required to be on lower shelves

How to run the designer

The system requires the following information:

• Commodity Tree (defines the rectangular block structure),
• Commodity details (dimensions, sales figures etc.),
• Shelf equipment details (dimensions),
• Display rules and constraints weighted by the user.

Once these files are prepared run the system.

1 - Press Start button to initialise the GA, and observe how commodities settle into the given shelf space.

2 - In the Shelf Profile view the system displays the shelf layout profile, here initially the commodities stretch wide out of the given shelf space but they gradually settle down to the provided space. In the Commodity Tree view one can notice the sequence of the colours changing as the GA tries out different combinations of commodity (and block) sequences.

3 - The optimisation can be suspended, continued, or stopped by pressing relevant buttons.

4 – Click on commodity boxes (in the Shelf Profile) to see commodity details.