Joint Black-Box Optimization of Warehouse Layout and Worker Assignment Using Quantum Annealing and Factorization Machines

As global demand for logistics continues to grow, improving the efficiency of warehouse operations has become increasingly important. While many processes in logistics warehouses have been automated, the receiving area still relies heavily on manual work. Therefore, optimizing this area is essential. When optimizing operations in a logistics warehouse, various problems must be considered, such as layout design and worker assignment. Previous research has typically focused on these problems individually. However, because they are closely related, jointly optimizing them can further improve overall efficiency. In this study, we focus on the receiving area and conduct joint optimization of layout design and worker assignment. Specifically, we extend and apply a black-box optimization method called FMQA, which combines Factorization Machines (FM) with Quantum Annealing (QA). By using Factorization Machine regression, we build an objective function from simulator data. We then use Quantum Annealing to minimize it and improve the receiving area. A comparison with an actual warehouse environment, using the multi-agent simulator, shows that our approach can reduce mean package processing time by up to 22.1%. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of joint optimization of layout design and worker assignment.