Order picking is a critical process for any warehouse that stores goods. By optimizing the order picking process, you can significantly increase the productivity and speed of your warehouse.

Order Picking

The preparation of orders in store, or picking, is the operation that consists in picking the goods from the storage areas of the material according to the quantity specified by the order of a customer, both for companies working in distribution or e-commerce and for all those who use a store in their production.

The methods of execution of this operation range from the simplest, with the intervention of an operator crossing the store and bringing together all the units, to the most complex with automated store management systems to optimize the logistics.

The preparation or picking phases of the order are as follows regardless of the method adopted.

In-store Order Picking Phases

Knowing the phases of order preparation or picking is essential for a good organization and management of the store. These phases are as follows:

Phase 1: Pre-planning

Collection of orders and all related data, such as delivery notes. To facilitate this, WMS store management systems have the task of collecting and setting the priority level of purchase orders.

Phase 2: Move to the store

When the “man-commodity” logic is applied to order picking, a lot of time is wasted in preparation and time and resources are wasted. Thanks to systems operating according to the “human good” principle such as the Pallet Lift Modules, SMT Reel Storage or Roller Conveyor systems, this phase is simplified and productivity improved.

Phase 3: Extraction

The picking time may vary depending on whether the item is at the top or bottom of a shelf. It should also be noted that in traditional storage systems, the previous phases (inventory or storage) may not have been performed correctly.

Phase 4: Control and preparation of the order for shipment

This last phase makes it possible to verify that all the previous phases have been correctly executed, as well as the labelling of the products and the completion of the process of preparation or picking of the order.

KenWei Smart Reel Storage System: Automatic Vertical Warehouse for Efficient Picking

Order picking or picking through the KENWEI automated warehouse is much faster and more accurate compared to other more traditional solutions available on the market.

These advantages are also achieved thanks to accessories that can provide a visual indication of the position of the product in the drawer such as a laser pointer and an LED bar or LED bar. In addition, drop-to-light systems can be used to indicate in which container the product should be placed. This makes it easy and error-free to process multiple orders at the same time.

Having an automated store with intelligent software (WMS) means having organized products, efficient logistics and an innovative company.

Would you like to know more about the layout of the warehouse and an optimized picking process? Do you also want to optimally organize your warehouse? With the right storage systems, WMS software, and roller conveyors, you can increase your productivity and efficiency. Request a free audit here to find out how you can always optimize the layout of your warehouse.