Warehouse management often refers to picking. In this process, goods in warehouse logistics are put together individually for the customer. Usually, the order of the different goods takes place online, whereupon the different articles are compiled as a single consignment and then go into the dispatch. The picking tasks can be done automatically or through robot are carried out by employees, depending on the store. The picking in very large department stores is usually automatic since only one computer can know the individual storage locations. The picking takes place at LUFAPAK through advanced picking methods and therefore achieves excellent picking times.
Picking – what is meant by it?
Picking is the process of selecting specific objects from a larger collection. Picking can be done manually or with mechanical techniques, depending on the objective. Picking activities are commonly found in retail stores and warehouses, where individual products must be selected quickly and accurately to fill customer orders or restock shelves. Picking is also used in combination with other processes, such as packing and sorting items for shipment or security procedures. Picking helps save time and money by ensuring that all needed items are assembled quickly, efficiently and properly.
These are the different picking methods
Knowing the picking methods available is a great way to maximize efficiency when picking items in warehouses, retail stores and other storage locations.
Whether you need to pick fewer than a hundred items or tens of thousands, there are several picking methods available to meet your needs, including single & two-step picking, batch picking, order-oriented serial picking, pick & pack methods, and voice picking.
Depending on the size of the order and other factors such as where it needs to be picked (aisles or floor areas), each picking method has its advantages when it comes to meeting customer requirements for speed and accuracy. The right method, optimized for your situation, will ensure that orders are processed quickly while maintaining quality control standards.
These are the most common picking methods
One-step picking
Single-step picking is an efficient and cost-effective order fulfillment method used by many modern retailers. With this method, a single employee handles the entire process of selecting, packing, and shipping the product. This one-step approach significantly reduces labor in the warehouse, saving time and resources. Because single-stage picking requires only a single worker to process orders, a company can serve more customers in less time – making single-stage picking an attractive option for companies that need to maximize resources or handle a high volume of orders.
Two-stage picking
Two-stage picking is a highly efficient warehouse process that involves two distinct steps.
In the first stage, orders are grouped into batches where multiple orders can be picked together. This reduces the time spent moving around the warehouse and increases overall throughput.
In the second stage, each order is separated into two parts: an “order header,” which contains items that most customers buy together, and an “order detail,” which contains items that are specific to the individual order.
By separating these two stages, two-stage picking allows for higher productivity and better accuracy in order fulfillment – making two-stage picking one of the best solutions available for warehouses to optimize their production.
Batch picking
Batch picking is an efficient and versatile warehouse process that is perfect for companies that need a pick-and-deliver system. By grouping similar goods from the same order in this method, batch picking reduces the need to handle individual goods separately each time an order is called off – saving time and money. This popular arrangement also eliminates the possibility of errors from human error due to repetitive motion, which can eventually be automated. Batch picking is a great solution for companies looking to optimize their warehouse operations and improve both cost effectiveness and efficiency.
Order-oriented serial picking
Order-oriented serial picking is a process in which the entire picking warehouse is divided into several zones. Each zone is then equipped with a specific number of items. Orders are processed as the picker executes the orders in the order in which they arrived. This process saves time and energy because only those items that are needed need to be picked.
Service-oriented parallel picking
In service-oriented parallel picking, the picker creates separate pallets for each sales order and mixes items from different sales orders into the same pallet. It is considered a more efficient process because it saves time and energy and optimizes material flow. The main disadvantage of this approach is that a great many problems can occur, for example, incorrect deliveries or different prices for the same products.
Order-oriented parallel picking
In order-oriented parallel picking, the picker works on several pallets at the same time. He has to process several order requests at once and deliver the right products to the same pallet immediately. Here, too, some risks remain: for example, the risk of wrong deliveries or missing information about special requests from the customer.
Logistics picking – the importance of picking in logistics
Logistics picking is an essential part of logistics operations that involves the selection and collection of goods from different areas of a warehouse. In manual or robotic logistics picking, product accuracy and precision are important prerequisites for satisfied customers.
In addition, logistics picking ultimately affects the speed of the logistics chain and its efficiency. For the logistics chain to be successful, logistics picking must be carried out carefully and with great attention to detail. With timely and accurate logistics picking, logistics teams are better able to run a profitable and successful business.