Picking warehouse: what does picking mean and how does a WMS software help you in the picking process?
- What does picking mean in warehouse management activities?
- What is a warehouse picker and what does he do?
- Warehouse picking – the picking process and automation systems
- Importance of optimized picking activities in the warehouse
- How does the picking activity take place with a WMS software system?
- What are the best known picking methods in the warehouse?
- Optimized warehouse picking with the WMS solution from Senior Software
Picking in warehouse management is an extremely important process because it directly influences the order preparation time and therefore the delivery time. In the following lines you will find information about the picking activity and the importance of optimizing it within any company that has storage spaces for products or goods.
What does picking mean in warehouse management activities?
Picking translates into Romanian as culegere, and order picking means order collection and refers to the operation of picking products from warehouse stock in order to prepare one or more orders for delivery.
Picking, or collecting products for orders, is an essential activity in the distribution chain, directly influencing the delivery time of orders to customers. Moreover, it is considered the most expensive and labor intensive operation in the warehouse, as it can represent up to 50% of the operational costs of a distribution center.
What is a warehouse picker and what does he do?
Picker warehouse: what does picker mean and how can you optimize their activity
Picker, a word of English origin meaning collector, refers to the warehouse employee who performs the picking operation in the warehouse. Those who execute picking, or pickers in goods warehouses, are responsible for collecting sales orders or material requests for the production area and preparing them for shipment to the customer or to the production unit, depending on the case.
The operation that the picker must perform in the goods warehouse consists of taking an order list, also called a picking list, which contains the products ordered by the customer or, in the case of orders coming from the production area, the materials that will enter the manufacturing process. Once this list is received, the picker will handle collecting those products or materials from the warehouse. In this sense, the warehouse employee must choose the right cart or pallet to place the collected products, depending on their size and quantity. Next, they will move to the indicated locations to find the products and collect the quantity listed on the picking list.
Warehouse picking process automation
Picking in the warehouse can be done manually the picker receives a printed list with all the orders that must be prepared, or it can be done with the help of automation systems for warehouse activity management, such as WMS (Warehouse Management System) software solutions. In automated warehouses, the picker uses a mobile terminal where the product location is displayed, and the order in which items must be collected is suggested by the system so that the route in the warehouse is the shortest possible.
Warehouse picking – the picking process and automation systems
Picking is a key process in any warehouse, including all operations performed by a picker. The picking process in a goods warehouse starts when the order is assigned to a picker and continues until the goods reach the shipping area.
WMS automation systems (Warehouse Management System) enable an optimized picking process in the warehouse, so everything is carried out in a much shorter time and with increased accuracy. A WMS software solution for logistics successfully covers activities such as packing, inventory and replenishment.
Importance of optimized picking activities in the warehouse
In the absence of warehouse automation systems, the rate of errors is much higher. Because of mistakes caused by human intervention, difficulties may appear in the picking process such as identifying products in the warehouse, preparing goods different from those ordered by customers and more. These issues lead to delays in processing orders or an increase in return rates, which generate additional costs, while also affecting employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and the company reputation in the market.
Warehouse automation and implicitly the picking process significantly reduce human errors in collecting and preparing goods for delivery, allowing activities to be carried out much more efficiently. Therefore, situations such as incomplete orders or wrong product codes appear in a much smaller percentage or are even eliminated. As a result, the additional costs required to solve such issues disappear, the return rate drops, customer satisfaction increases, and the company maintains a strong image in the market.
How does the picking activity take place with a WMS software system?
With the help of WMS software systems, warehouse workers view picking lists using a mobile terminal and are guided to the product location, being shown the shortest route inside the warehouse. Then, by scanning barcodes with the mobile terminal, they can see the characteristics of the products that need to be picked, as well as the quantities ordered by customers.
- Based on delivery orders (real time picking) - among the techniques supported by this method are: Pick by Order - one order at a time; Group Picking - consolidated picking; Pick & Pack - pick and pack; Pick2Container - send to container
- Based on system generated picking lists - supports the techniques used in the order based method (except Blank Order Picking), and additionally: Zone Picking - zone based picking and Multiple Order Picking - picking for multiple orders
What are the best known picking methods in the warehouse?
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Pick-to-Light
Pick-to-Light is an efficient order preparation method guided by light, which enables picking, placing, sorting, and assembling products with minimal effort, while reducing labor costs and new employee integration time. The paperless pick-to-light picking technology uses different colored LED lights, along with letters and numbers. These visual indicators allow faster product identification and collection while ensuring inventory accuracy.
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Pick-to-Cart
Pick-to-Cart is an ideal picking method for warehouses where order handling efficiency can be increased by grouping orders into batches. The Pick-to-Cart system consists of a mobile unit with space for multiple order boxes, each with its own display. The operator takes the cart along during picking and is guided to the picking location via the display on the Pick-to-Cart unit. After scanning the barcode of the location or the item itself, the displays on the cart indicate in which order box or boxes the item must be placed.
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Put-to-Wall
The Put-to-Wall system consists of workstations with individual compartments, where each compartment represents an order. Once batch picking is completed, all units must be sorted by order. The Put-to-Wall solution facilitates this process through Sort-to-Light devices. The operator scans and places items into the compartments indicated by the light system until the order is completed and ready for shipping. Packing operators are notified when an order is ready for packaging by the activation of the light signal on the opposite side of the Put-to-Wall system.
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Sort-to-Light
Sort-to-Light is often used in combination with batch picking. Orders are grouped by an algorithm in order to reduce walking distances during order picking. After each item is scanned, the lights will indicate the correct assigned location.
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Pick-by-Voice
Pick-by-Voice is a paperless picking method in which pickers are guided by voice through wireless or wired headsets connected to a standard pocket PC. The software on the PC provides information to the pickers about the type, quantity, and location of the items that need to be collected.
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Pick-by-Vision
In warehouse logistics, Pick-by-Vision is a picking method performed using data glasses. The picker receives information via WLAN and can see it directly in their field of view. No additional interaction is needed to pick from the storage compartment, as they only scan the item barcode with a scanner, and the stock is updated in real time in the warehouse management system.
Learn more about the WMS software system
Suitable for any industry, the WMS solution from Senior Software enables efficient management of goods, from their receipt to order preparation and delivery to the customer. Learn how the WMS solution fits your business model!
Optimized warehouse picking with the WMS solution from Senior Software
A high performance software for efficient warehouse activity management is the WMS (Warehouse Management System) from Senior Software. The system enables the optimal management of goods and the entire warehouse picking process, from receiving to order preparation and delivery to customers.
Therefore, with the help of the WMS software system, all warehouse operations are optimized, including picking processes.
The WMS system integrates easily with other business software solutions, allowing the streamlining of data flow in the company and increased operational efficiency in daily activities.
Advantages of carrying out warehouse picking activities with a high performance WMS software
- Shorter picking routes in the warehouse and accurate product identification
- Reducing the time spent on picking operations
- Eliminating repetitive manual activities and reducing human errors
- Control and visibility over all warehouse operations
- Shorter training period for new employees
- Increasing productivity for all warehouse staff
- Paperless warehouse picking activities
- Reducing returns by increasing data accuracy
- Access to real time information
- Reducing costs
- Ensuring lot traceability