Biography
René (M.) B.M. de Koster is a professor of logistics and operations management at the Department of Technology and Operations Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). After completing his PhD at Eindhoven University of Technology (1988) he worked as a consultant. He joined Erasmus University in 1995. Professor De Koster's research interests are warehousing, material handling, container terminal operations, behavioural operations and sustainable logistics. He is the author and editor of eight books and over 250 papers published in books and journals such as OR, POM, JOM, TS, IISE T, EJOR, and Interfaces. He is in the editorial boards of eight academic journals, a fellow of two reseach schools, chairman of Stichting Logistica, and founder of the Material Handling Forum. Professor De Koster is involved in teaching at RSM at all levels: bachelor, master, post-experience, and executive development. He held the honorary Francqui chair for Hasselt University in 2018 and was recently mentioned as “the most influential researcher” in material handling.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Full professor | Department of Technology and Operations Management
- rkoster@rsm.nl
More information
Work
- Zhongqiang Ma, Rene de Koster, Debjit Roy & Guohua Wu (2025) - Trading off travel distance and fatigue. The effect of storage, order batching, and pod selection in robotic mobile fulfillment systems - International Journal of Production Research - doi: 10.1080/00207543.2025.2472038
- Alexandros Pasparakis, Jelle de Vries, Rene de Koster & Debjit Roy (2025) - In the driver’s seat: the role of transformational leadership in safe and productive truck cargo transport - Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, 37 (1), 1-28 - doi: 10.1007/s10696-024-09539-9 - [link]
- Rene de Koster (2025) - AI ontwikkelingen in het magazijn - [link]
- Nils Boysen & Rene de Koster (2025) - 50 years of warehousing research—An operations research perspective - European Journal of Operational Research, 320 (3), 449-464 - doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2024.03.026 - [link]
- Yuerong Chen, Xianhao Xu, Bipan Zou, Rene de Koster & Y (Yeming) Gong (2025) - Assigning parcel destinations to drop-off points in a congested robotic sorting system - Naval Research Logistics (NRL), 72 (2), 220-241 - doi: 10.1002/nav.22220 - [link]
- Yuan Fang, Rene de Koster, Debjit Roy & Yugang (Yugang) Yu (2025) - Dynamic Robot Routing and Destination Assignment Policies for Robotic Sorting Systems - Transportation Science - doi: 10.1287/trsc.2023.0458 - [link]
- Thomas De Lombaert, Kris Braekers, Rene de Koster & Katrien Ramaekers (2025) - Is it good to have a choice?: The value of participatory order assignments in warehousing - International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 45 (3), 783-806 - doi: 10.1108/IJOPM-11-2023-0882 - [link]
- Negin Jamili, Pieter L. van den Berg & Rene de Koster (2025) - The impact of resource sharing on the design of multi-client warehouses - IISE Transactions, 57 (3), 336-350 - doi: 10.1080/24725854.2024.2322097 - [link]
- Kaveh Azadeh, Debjit Roy, Rene de Koster & Mahdi Ghorashi Khalilabadi (2025) - Zoning Strategies for Human-Robot Collaborative Picking - Decision Sciences, 56 (1), 50-70 - doi: 10.1111/deci.12620 - [link]
- Mahdi Ghorashi Khalilabadi, Debjit Roy & Rene de Koster (2024) - Exploiting travel sequences to optimise facility layouts with multiple input/output points - International Journal of Production Research - doi: 10.1080/00207543.2024.2443798 - [link]
- Rene de Koster (2024) - Robots moeten zich meer schikken naar wat goed is voor mensen - [link]
- Mahmut Tutam & Rene de Koster (2024) - To Walk or Not to Walk?: Designing Intelligent Order Picking Warehouses with Collaborative Robots - Transportation Research, Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 190 - doi: 10.1016/j.tre.2024.103696
- Zhizhen Qin, Peng Yang, Yeming Gong & Ren B.M. de Koster (2024) - Performance Analysis of Multi-Tote Storage and Retrieval Autonomous Mobile Robot Systems - Transportation Science, 58 (5), 1033-1055 - doi: 10.1287/trsc.2023.0397 - [link]
- Gyanesh Raj, Debjit Roy, Rene de Koster & Vishal Bansal (2024) - Stochastic modeling of integrated order fulfillment processes with delivery time promise: Order picking, batching, and last-mile delivery - European Journal of Operational Research, 316 (3), 1114-1128 - doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2024.03.003 - [link]
- Thomas De Lombaert, Kris Braekers, René De Koster & Katrien Ramaekers (2024) - What makes order picking so physically demanding?-Ergonomic evidence from a large-scale lab experiment using subjective metrics - IFAC-PapersOnLine, 58 (19), 181-186 - doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2024.09.139 - [link]
- Rene de Koster & Debjit Roy (2024) - Research: Warehouse and Logistics Automation Works Better with Human Partners - [link]
- Ran Chen, Rene de Koster, Yugang (Yugang) Yu, X (Xiaolong) Guo & Hu Yu (2024) - Blockage-Free Storage Assignment and Storage/Retrieval Scheduling in Autonomous Vehicle Storage and Retrieval Systems - Naval Research Logistics, 71 (4), 575-594 - doi: 10.1002/nav.22166 - [link]
- Rene de Koster (2024) - How to sort your parcels? Insights from research - [link]
- Giuseppe Fragapane, Rene de Koster & Fabio Sgarbossa (2024) - Autonomous Mobile Robots for Material Handling in Intralogistics - doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-50273-6_10 - [link]
- Rene de Koster (8 augustus 2022) - Constraints are strong drivers for automation
- Rob van Tulder & Rene de Koster (12 april 2021) - SDG business logistics case wins 2020 EFMD case writing competition
- Marta Szymanowska, Rob van Tulder, Rene de Koster, Erik van Raaij, Dirk Schoenmaker, Steef van de Velde, Steve Kennedy, Gabriele Jacobs, Yashar Ghiassi-Farrokhfal, Ferdinand Jaspers, Michaéla Schippers & Frank Wijen (11 juni 2019) - New online course: Driving Business Towards The SDGs
- Rene Koster (1 januari 2003) - Logistieke knelpunten weer in kaart gebracht
- Rene Koster (1 januari 1997) - Logistiek op maat, magazijn op maat
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2020) - Production and Operations Management (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - MBM (Rene) de Koster (2019) - Service Science (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - MBM (Rene) de Koster (2017) - Transportation Research, Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - MBM (Rene) de Koster (2017) - Transportation Science (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - Rene Koster (2015) - International Journal of Production Research (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - Rene Koster (2014) - Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - Rene Koster (2013) - International Journal of Operations and Production Management (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - Rene Koster, K Gue & IFA Vis (2013) - Transportation Science (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Publication Peer-review › Academic - Rene Koster (2012) - Transportation Science (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic - Rene Koster (2012) - Operations Research (Journal) (Editor)
Activiteit: Editorial work › Academic
- Lu Zhen, Zheyi Tan, Rene de Koster & Shuhaian Wang (2024) - Transportation Science paper of the year award 2023, for the paper "How to Deploy Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems"
- Mahdi Ghorashi Khalilabadi, Debjit Roy & Rene de Koster (2024) - IISE Annual Conference best student paper award 2024 for the paper “Human-Robot Matching Policies in Order Picking Systems using Queuing Models”
- Giuseppe Fragapane, Rene de Koster & Fabio Sgarbossa (2023) - EJOR Best Paper Award 2023 for the paper "Planning and control of autonomous mobile robots for intralogistics: Literature review and research"
- Rene de Koster, Nils Boysen & Felix Weidinger (2022) - Best European Journal of Operational Research Review Paper
- Rene de Koster, Mahdi Ghorashi Khalilabadi & Debjit Roy (2022) - POMS OPEX best paper finalist
- Mahdi Ghorashi Khalilabadi, Debjit Roy & Rene de Koster (2022) - POMS OPEX best paper finalist for the paper "A Data-driven Approach to Enhance Worker Productivity by Optimizing Facility Layout"
- Mahmut Tutam & Rene de Koster (2022) - Best paper award finalist for the paper “To Walk or Not to Walk? Designing Intelligent Order Picking Warehouses with Collaborative Robots”
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2021) - EFMD Case Writing Competition Award 2020, for the case "Managing Lean Success: A Warehouse Balancing Act (A) & (B)”
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2021) - First prize in Humanities and Social Sciences of MOE (Ministry or Education of the PRC) for the paper “Class-based storage with a finite number of items. More classes is not always better”, Production and Operations Management, 2015.
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2021) - Informs TSL 2021 Facility Logistics SIG Outstanding Paper Award, for the paper “Workforce Scheduling with Order-Picking Assignments in Distribution Facilities”, Transportation Science, 2021
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2020) - Best paper award, Honorary Mention in the IISE Transactions 2020
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2020) - Informs TSL 2020 Facility Logistics SIG Outstanding Paper Award, for the paper “Capacity analysis of sequential zone picking systems”, Operations Research, 2020
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2019) - Best paper award Honorary Mention, IISE Transactions 2018
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2019) - Best paper award, honorable mention, Journal of Operations Management
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2019) - Award of excellence, by the SDG Academy & SDSN Network, for the MOOC 'Driving business towards the SDGs'
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2018) - Honorary Francqui Professorshop Hasselt University
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2018) - Mentioned as "Most influential researcher" in Material Handling
- René de Koster, Daan Stam & Jelle de Vries (2014) - Best student paper award TRAIL2014, "Making the Right Pick: Aligning Order Picking Methods, Incentive Systems and Regulatory Focus to Increase Picking Performance"
- René de Koster & Yeming Gong (2010) - Best paper IIE Transactions 2008-2009
- MBM (Rene) de Koster (2010) - Honorary member, VeLA
- René de Koster, Kees-Jan Roodbergen & Jose Larco Martinelli (2009) - 2nd prize in best student paper award POMS 2009, orlando: "Managing Warehouse Efficiency and Worker Discomfort Through Enhanced Storage Assignment Decisions"
- H. Quak & René de Koster (2008) - Finalist best paper award Journal of Operations Management 2007
- René de Koster, Kees-Jan Roodbergen, Jan Dul & Jose Larco Martinelli (2008) - Best paper award TRAIL 2008
- René de Koster & Yeming Gong (2008) - Best paper award IIE Transactions 2008: ?A polling-based dynamic order picking system for online retailers?, 40(11), 1070-1082
- René de Koster & Hans Quak (2007) - Nominated for the best paper award, Journal of Operations Management 2007: "Exploring retailers' sensitivity to local sustainability policies", 25, 1103-1122
- René de Koster & Mengfei Yu (2007) - 2nd prize in student paper competition IESM 2007, Beijing: 'A fast and flexible tool to design order picking systems'
RSM BV
- Start date approval
- mei 2023
- End date approval
- april 2026
- Place
- ROTTERDAM
Starnus Technology BV
- Start date approval
- mei 2023
- End date approval
- mei 2026
- Place
- EINDHOVEN
- Description
- Technical Advisor robot technologies
Stichting Logistica
- Start date approval
- mei 2023
- End date approval
- mei 2026
- Place
- LEIDSCHENDAM
- Description
- voorzitter bestuur, organisatie vakbeurs
IIM Ahmedabad
- Start date approval
- november 2023
- End date approval
- november 2026
- Place
- AHMEDABAD
- Description
- Research Advisory Committee CTL
Nextgen
- Start date approval
- februari 2025
- End date approval
- oktober 2025
- Place
- AMERSFOORT
- Description
- Lezing
Districon
- Start date approval
- april 2025
- End date approval
- november 2025
- Place
- AMERSFOORT
- Description
- geven van een lezing over warehousing
university Padua
- Start date approval
- april 2025
- End date approval
- november 2025
- Place
- PADUA
- Description
- geven van 1 college
Retail Operations
- Year Level
- Bachelor 3, Bachelor 3, Bachelor 3
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- B3EL108
Supply chain management
- Year Level
- bachelor 2, pre-master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BK2110
Supply Chain Management
- Year Level
- bachelor 2, bachelor 3, pre-master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BT2110
SCM Honours Class
- Level
- master
- Year Level
- master
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BMHONSCM
Primary processes
- Level
- bachelor 1
- Year Level
- bachelor 1
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BK1214
Facility Logistics Management
- Year Level
- master, IM/CEMS, Exchange, ERIM
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BM04SCM
Operations Management
- Year Level
- bachelor 1, bachelor 1
- Year
- 2024
- Course Code
- BT1214
