PICKING WITH PRECISION IN THE WAREHOUSE: PT. 1

Picking efficiency is integral to any warehouse that uses manual picking to complete orders. In fact, the picking process can mean the difference between success and failure. What if you could change the way your warehouse is organized utilizing better picking processes? Better yet, what if you could automate it? Implementing warehouse management software will help do just that. In part one of our picking efficiencies series, we break down four game-changing methods to consider and the benefits of each.

Combined-Bin Picking

Combined bin picking is a warehouse fulfillment method that allows multiple items from multiple orders to be picked into a single bin or container. This method has several features we feel are beneficial over the more traditional order picking methods.

Here is what Combined-Bin Picking can do for you!

1. By grouping multiple items from multiple orders into a single bin, the picker can complete multiple orders at once, reducing travel time and increasing efficiency.
2. Combined bin picking minimizes the chances of picking errors as the picker can easily cross-check items against the order list while picking.
3. By reducing the number of trips required to pick multiple orders, combined bin picking can help to lower labor costs.
4. The combined bin picking process allows for the grouping of similar orders, making it easier for the packing team to manage and break out the orders during the packing process.
5. The combined bin picking process can accommodate changes to the order list or unexpected spikes in demand, making it a highly flexible method of order fulfillment.

Combined bin picking is a highly efficient and cost-effective method of order fulfillment that brings numerous benefits. By reducing travel time, increasing efficiency, improving accuracy, and boosting order management, combined bin picking can help a warehouse operation run more smoothly and efficiently. This method of picking is suitable for small and large warehouse operations and distributors.

Dynamic-Zone Picking

Dynamic zone picking is a flexible and efficient option. With this option, the picker’s zone is assigned based on the concentration of work and the starting position of each picker. By choosing dynamic zone picking you are:

1. Increasing Productivity: By assigning the picker’s zone dynamically, the picker is able to focus on the areas of the warehouse with the highest concentration of work, increasing overall productivity.
2. Reducing Travel Time: This method minimizes the amount of travel time required for pickers, as they are able to pick items from the most efficient locations in the warehouse.
3. Improving Accuracy: Pickers are able to focus on their assigned areas and cross-check their items against the order list, reducing the risk of picking errors.
4. Enhancing Flexibility: Dynamic zone picking allows the picker’s zone to expand or contract based on changes in the concentration of work throughout the day, making it a highly flexible method of order fulfillment.
5. Optimizing Order Fulfillment: By focusing on the areas of the warehouse with the highest concentration of work, dynamic zone picking can help to optimize the order fulfillment process and improve overall efficiency.

Dynamic zone picking is a valuable tool for companies needing to optimize their order fulfillment process. By reducing travel time, increasing productivity, improving accuracy, and enhancing flexibility, dynamic zone picking can help to improve the overall efficiency of your warehouse operations. This option is also suitable for a small operation or a large distribution center making it truly dynamic!

High-Demand Picking

High-demand picking prioritizes the picking of items that are in high demand on multiple orders. By dropping large quantities of these high-demand items, usually in the form of a pallet to the floor for picking, pickers can reduce the risk of stock depletion and increase overall efficiency. How can high-demand picking help you?

1. High-demand picking helps to reduce the risk of stock depletion by ensuring that there is always a large quantity of high-demand items available for picking.
2. By dropping a large quantity of high-demand items to the floor for picking, high-demand picking minimizes the amount of travel time required for pickers and increases overall efficiency.
3. High-demand picking can help to reduce labor costs by reducing the number of trips required to pick multiple orders and by improving the overall efficiency of the picking process.
4. High-demand picking helps to ensure that orders are fulfilled quickly and accurately, improving customer satisfaction and reducing the risk of stockouts.

High-demand picking is a valuable tool for warehouse operations that can optimize the order fulfillment process. By improving inventory management, increasing efficiency, reducing labor costs, enhancing customer satisfaction, and improving order fulfillment, high-demand picking can help to improve the overall efficiency of your warehouse operations.

Cluster-picking

If you’re looking for a highly efficient picking method, cluster picking is a popular go to. Cluster picking involves a single picker compiling multiple orders at a time, usually dealing with a variety of SKUs. The biggest benefit here is speed – but a warehouse would need to integrate certain resources, such as a mobile cart, automated equipment, and voice solutions + a WMS to make it successful.

1. By allowing a picker to pick a cluster of orders at once, the picker can complete multiple orders in a single trip down the aisle, saving time and increasing productivity.
2. Cluster picking reduces the amount of time a picker must spend walking back and forth between pick aisles, as all necessary items for multiple orders are picked in a single trip. This reduces travel time.
3. With cluster picking, the picker has a visual reference of the items required for multiple orders, reducing the risk of picking errors.
4. Cluster picking can help organize the warehouse by grouping similar orders together, making it easier for pickers to find and pick items.
5. Cluster picking helps to ensure that orders are fulfilled more quickly and accurately, leading to happier customers and improved customer satisfaction.

Cluster picking makes order picking more complex, especially in facilities with a wide variety of SKUs, such as an e-commerce center. It is strongly advisable to implement a warehouse management system to coordinate the execution of cluster picking tasks, organize routes, and show pickers how many products to retrieve and which bin to place them in at every turn.

There are several other picking methods to consider when streamlining efficiencies in your warehouse- many of which we will cover in part 2 of our picking efficiencies series. Many companies will even combine two or more methods to better fit the unique needs of their warehouse.

The best news is Twin Oaks WMS automates all of these picking methods and more! If you are having problems picking the right method for your business, you can book a discovery call with our in-house WMS Specialist, Sandeana Totty. Sandeana can outline the various picking procedures our WMS accommodates and give you the needed information to see how our WMS can support your warehousing needs and goals.