一道面试题

Requirements

 

1          Create a database of 60 products, assign each a stock level and a unique Bin location from the range A1 – F10 (see warehouse floorplan).

 

2          Provide a method for querying a product/bin location which returns the product description, bin location and current stock level.

 

3          Provide a method for creating an order. An order will always consist of 5 different products chosen by the user.

 

4          If there is insufficient stock available to fulfil the order display a warning message, otherwise decrease the relevant stock levels and calculate/display the optimum picking route.

The optimum picking route must start from one of the pick stations (P1, P2, P3), and is the shortest number of steps needed to 'pick' all of the products before returning to the original pick station.

 

5          The picking route, including the chosen starting pick station would usually be included on  the pick sheet so it must be displayed in a way easily interpreted by the picker.

 

6          The user interface must be web based.

 

7          Write a short paragraph about the scalability of your solution, i.e. How would the implementation handle a much bigger warehouse?

 

8          An object oriented approach must be demonstrated.

 

9           The task must be completed using PHP 5 and mySQL 5.

 

 

Scenario

Please refer to diagram 1 for an example of a simple warehouse floor plan.

 

The warehouse consists of 6 racks of product bins A1-F10. Each product bin holds a unique type of product – a product is only accessible by standing directly in front of the product bin.

 

e.g A 'picker' standing at position 'X' can pick from product bins B6 and C6, whereas a picker standing in position 'Y' cannot pick from anywhere.

 

The order picking procedure is as follows:

A 'pick sheet' will print at the packing station P1, P2 or P3 & be collected by a picker. The pick sheet lists all products required for an order, the bin location for each product & the  route the picker should follow.

When all items have been picked, the picker returns to the packing station where they collected the original pick sheet & deposits all items.

 

Note: Pickers can walk directly through the packing stations, but they cannot walk directly through any racking or product bins!

 

		Y
	A10	B10		C10	D10		E10	F10
	A9	B9		C9	D9		E9	F9
	A8	B8		C8	D8		E8	F8
	A7	B7		C7	D7		E7	F7
	A6	B6	X	C6	D6		E6	F6
	A5	B5		C5	D5		E5	F5
	A4	B4		C4	D4		E4	F4
	A3	B3		C3	D3		E3	F3
	A2	B2		C2	D2		E2	F2
	A1	B1		C1	D1		E1	F1
1m	P1			P2			P3

1m

 

       Diagram 1:   Simple warehouse floor plan

       Key:              m is the distance in metres.

                     P1, P2, P3 Picking Station coded purple

                     A1-F10 Product bins coded yellow