Order picking is the process of fulfilling customer orders by pulling items from inventory in a warehouse. It can be done manually or through automation, and companies can use different methods such as parts picking, case picking, or pallet picking. Computer systems and warehouse design can improve efficiency, and consultants can provide advice on updates.
Order picking is the process of pulling items from inventory to fulfill a customer order. This takes place in a warehouse, and a company can use a variety of means to meet order picking needs. Employees overseeing this process do not need any special qualifications or training as it is usually very straightforward. In some cases, it is fully automated through the use of warehouse robots, and employees are not allowed to step onto the warehouse floor unless there is a problem.
One order-picking method requires sending an employee around the warehouse with a list of orders and a box or container. The picker pulls each item, following the most efficient route. In other warehouses, each worker is responsible for a section and pulls his section to fill incoming orders. The case may move through several sections until the order is complete, usually along a conveyor belt. Inventory robots can also perform picking tasks.
In parts picking, workers pick items from boxes or open crates to fill small customer orders. A company that sells books, for example, orders them by case to stock the warehouse, but very few customers order an entire case of books at once. The company needs to open the cases to fill the orders. Case or case picking involves taking full cases out of inventory to fulfill orders, a common situation for wholesale warehouses shipping merchandise to retailers. Companies can also use pallet picking, where entire pallets are pulled during the picking process for very large orders.
The order picking process includes several steps, from receiving the order to checking the contents before sealing the package and shipping it. Many companies rely on computer systems to streamline the process and also design their warehouses for maximum efficiency. Moving products that tend to be ordered together in the same area of the warehouse, for example, can reduce the time needed to fulfill orders. This will allow the company to fulfill more orders and fulfill them in a timely manner. A quick turnaround is expected by many customers.
Warehouse systems require periodic updates, and when a company prepares to make changes to its warehouse, it may seek advice from a consultant. The consultant can assess standards and practices across the enterprise and provide insight on how to make order picking faster and more reliable. This could include adopting a new computer system, relying on more robots, or changing shelf layouts to make employees’ jobs easier.
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