Contents<\/p>\n
- \n
- Selecting The Right Picking Method<\/a>\n
- \n
- Order Based Picking<\/a><\/li>\n
- Cluster Picking<\/a><\/li>\n
- Batch Picking & Put Wall<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Put Wall – Batch Pick Then Sort<\/a><\/li>\n
- Flexible U Shape Cell Approach<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
WHEN YOU ARE AT THE NEXT LEVEL , YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR OLD PROCESSES TO FACILITATE YOUR BUSINESS<\/strong>. In high volume operations such as 20 – 30K order shipments daily, then the companies start using various levels of warehouse automation<\/a> such as sorters.<\/p>\n
For a company to decide whether to implement a sorter depends on primarily the ROI calculations<\/a>. If it results with a meaningful ROI, then companies invest in sorters. The ROI for a sorter directly depends on its hourly sorting capacity. If there is a fluctuation with the demand, then a sorter may not make sense for the operation.<\/p>\n
Selecting The Right Picking Method<\/h2>\n
In our guide, Order Picking Methods<\/a>, we talked about different order picking strategies that can be applied for different operations. The guide mainly talks about order based picking, cluster picking and batch picking & put walls<\/a>. One of the main differences between these methods is the process that follows the picking which is the sorting process.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a01.Order Based Picking<\/h3>\n
Order based picking already picks each order separately, so the picked orders can directly be packed, there is no need for the sorting process. This method is often used in B2B order fulfillment<\/a> or for big, bulky items picking. Otherwise it would be so slow picking regular ecommerce orders<\/a> with this method.<\/p>\n
An average picker walks approximately 6-8 miles in a day. Selecting the right picking method may result up to 80% productivity improvements.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a02. Cluster Picking<\/h3>\n
Cluster picking can be also called pick & sort operation. Because the orders are picked into totes in picking carts, there is no need for the sorting process. This method is so effective in small scale operations.<\/p>\n
![\"Cluster](\"https:\/\/f.hubspotusercontent30.net\/hubfs\/3469233\/Website%20Assets\/Blog\/bigstock-Inventory-Rack-21760016.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a03. Batch Picking & Put Wall<\/h3>\n
Whereas in batch picking, all orders are picked in one or more\u00a0 picking carts in batches and they need to be sorted into orders. That\u2019s where the \u201cautomated sorter\u201d comes into the picture in high volume operations. However, if the order volume is not large enough to implement a sorter, then the businesses implement a put-to-wall process to do sorting of orders. That\u2019s where we are talking about a transition spot. The business is not small enough to implement cluster picking and the business is not large enough to implement an automated sorting system.<\/p>\n
Automated sorters are used in high volume, streamlined fulfillment operations such as no big fluctuations in demand. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get ROI.<\/span><\/p>\n
Put Wall – Batch Pick Then Sort<\/h2>\n
The reason the batch picking process is preferred to cluster picking in that transition spot is picking is executed much faster. Eg. when we consider a 200 orders batch, cluster picking provides approximately 20x more trip time compared to batch picking. Consider cluster picking is executed with picking carts of 10 totes, then we need to do 20 trips to complete the picking of 200 orders. Whereas with batch picking, we can pick all 200 orders in 1 trip. Upon the sorting process is completed the orders are packed at the packing stations.<\/p>\n
In put-to-wall operation, most businesses assign a fixed and straight wall that consists of a certain number of sorting totes – such as 500s of totes\/bins. Each tote is assigned to an order at the beginning of the operation within the WMS automatically. Once the batch picking cart is brought into the sorting wall, the sorting employee starts scanning the products. The WMS software<\/a> tells the sorter which tote he should put the product into. Most of the times, multiple sorting employees work in the same sorting wall concurrently. Nowadays, with the social distancing guideline due to Covid-19, this method brings a disease transmission risk. Other than this risk, a straight fixed put-to-wall operation may represent some inefficiencies and lack of flexibility to the put-to-wall operation.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”auto” custom_margin=”15px|auto|15px|auto|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”.hbspt-form .legal-consent-container a {|| color: white !important;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” global_module=”26788″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#481a96 0%|#200741 100%” custom_padding=”15px|35px|15px|35px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_3_font_size_phone=”20px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Request a free demo to learn more about Logiwa WMS.<\/h3>\n
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- Cluster Picking<\/a><\/li>\n
- Order Based Picking<\/a><\/li>\n