Software for replenishment with put-to-light

Replenishment of goods in a picking warehouse and the software

Each time goods are removed from a picking warehouse, the stock is changed and the warehouse management system is notified of the removal. If the minimum stock level in a storage compartment is reached, the goods must be replenished. This process is known as replenishment.

A storage location can be a rack with shelves, a channel in a flow channel or a pallet. There are certainly other types of storage locations, but these are not relevant here.

The importance of correct replenishment

Order picking is a chain of different activities. Each step in the chain must be as precise and error-free as possible. When we hear the term "picking", we often only have picking and the picker in mind. They are often also referred to as pickers.

However, picking cannot function correctly without precise and error-free replenishment of goods. For this reason, its quality is just as important as the picking itself. Of course, the performance of the picking side depends heavily on the performance and timing of replenishment.

Software for system-side support

Almost nobody works here today with a piece of paper and a ballpoint pen. Technically, there are various methods to support the filling of the shelves. One of the most common solutions is a handheld scanner terminal, which is used to store the goods. The article number is scanned, the storage compartment is searched for and the barcode on the storage compartment is scanned as confirmation.

The other option is to support the replenishment of goods with a put-to-light system.

Put-to-Light software as optimum support for replenishment

The put-to-light shelf displays are particularly suitable for use on flow racks. In this case, shelf displays with simple LEDs and buttons, without quantity displays, are installed at the rear.

When the employee scans the replenishment item, the software activates the appropriate LED.

The placement of the item in the storage compartment is confirmed at the acknowledgement button and immediately reported to the warehouse management system via the software. As an option, the put-to-light compartment display can also be fitted with an additional sensor. The sensor automatically confirms the activity.

Conclusion

Goods replenishment with Put-to-Light and the appropriate software make it easier for employees to search for storage compartments and simplify the acknowledgement of storage. The annoying hand scanner no longer needs to be carried around all the time.

Advantages: The main advantages of the put-to-light solution include the great precision and quality of the activities, high performance and direct stock correction through immediate feedback of the filing. Disadvantage: The main disadvantage is the price. You have to reckon with hardware costs of around €100 per storage compartment for the equipment with put-to-light technology. This solution is not very cost-effective for a large number of storage compartments.

You can find out more about another use of put-to-light in sorting in a separate article.