In this article we explain to you exactly what a picking warehouse is. We also give you some tips on the topic of picking and the supporting picking systems.
What is a picking warehouse?
A picking warehouse is defined as a bin in which pickers pick partial quantities of the assortment of goods from the storage bins. Picking devices or picking systems optimize the picking time of the activity. The goods are divided into storage sections and assigned to a storage bin. The assortment is then cleared from the supply warehouse. Pick-by systems support the picker.
Which picking systems support a picking warehouse?
In order to optimize picking times, to process orders quickly and to support the employee(picker) ergonomically (travel times, routes), different picking devices and picking systems with a database are used. The investments pay off quickly for large assortments and partial quantities. To be stored: Pallets, boxes, cartons, sacks, barrels, devices and machines. If the goods are not sufficiently available in the picking warehouse, they are replenished from the supply warehouse, replenishment warehouse or high-bay warehouse using loading aids.
One of the best manual picking methods ("man to goods") in a picking warehouse: Pick-to-Light, Voice Picking, Pick-by-Point, Pick-by-Frame, Pick-by-Cartetc. This is intended to provide the picker with optimum support for picking in his storage areas.
In an automatic picking warehouse, machines are used that work according to the "goods to man" principle. The articles are made available at the picking location automatically by the warehouse system (e.g. Hänel paternoster). The goods are moved by internal transfer using conveyor technology. The investment involved is considerably greater than with manual picking methods.
Picking performance in a picking warehouse
A picking warehouse must provide picking orders for shipping or production quickly with the lowest possible error rate. For this purpose, a company uses equipment technology such as: forklift trucks, flow racks, shelving racks, load units, containers, conveyor technology, etc. are used for picking. All these solutions and systems serve to optimise the performance and quality of the employees in the warehouse (picking warehouse) and in the entire logistics. The shortage should be kept as small as possible. The aim is to process the picking list quickly. The global definition of picking performance in a picking warehouse is not possible and depends on many factors (article spectrum) in each area.
The entire process, from the recording in the incoming goods department to the removal, must be fast and ergonomic for the employee with minimum stocking, taking into account the space and technical requirements. Order picking is fully automatic or manual. Depending on how the goods are stored. Stock transfers often help to optimise.
A picking warehouse often operates on a FIFO principle, whereby the orders are often connected with further processing in a unit store. The fast-moving items in a picking warehouse play a major role for the operators and quality assurance. The excessive reserves in a picking warehouse bring more disadvantages than advantages. The tasks of the picking warehouse do not include return deliveries or returns processing.
Conclusion
A picking warehouse is used for direct picking of articles for shipping, production or manufacturing. The pickers (pickers) work in the different storage areas and pick the assortment. Each area often processes its own orders (as serial picking or parallel picking). The picking warehouse is supplied with partial quantities from other warehouses. Different systems are used to support the picker.
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