A Structured Approach to Address the Storage Location Assignment Problem: A VIKOR-Based Solution

Abstract

The allocation of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) within warehouses is a crucial factor influencing a company’s logistical efficiency. Identifying the best location for each SKU is a tricky task for warehouse managers, as it directly affects key operational factors such as picking speed, travel distances, and internal flow. The allocation strategy depends on the company’s specific needs, as well as the characteristics of the SKUs. This problem is widely recognized in the literature as the Storage Location Assignment Problem (SLAP). Given the multi-criteria nature of this problem, the VIKOR decision-making method is proposed to address it in a two-dimensional context. The methodology was developed in collaboration with a Sicilian logistics serving the Italian market. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.