AUTOMATED WAREHOUSE SYSTEM

An automated warehouse system having an improved cycle efficiency of storing and retrieving articles to and from the automated warehouse system includes a storage station, a retrieval station, a plurality of article storage shelves, a stacker crane, and a system controller. An article is brought to the storage station to be stored and retrieved from the retrieval station. The article storage shelves store articles. The stacker crane can move an article between the storage station, the retrieval station, and the article storage shelves. The system controller keeps track of the amount of storage time articles have been stored and, when it determines that an article has been stored on an article storage shelf in a buffer area for a first predetermined amount of time or longer, the system controller controls the stacker crane such that the stacker crane carries the article from an article storage shelf in the buffer area to an article storage shelf in the first storage area.