Order picking or order operation one of the processes of a logistic warehouse. Order picking is the method or work process related with the picking, packing and delivering of the stuffed things to a transportation bearer and is a key component of request satisfaction. It involves in taking and receiving articles from the dealers in a specified quantity before shipment.
It is a basic process of warehouse and has an advanced effect on the supply chain. Request preparing activities or offices are usually called “distribution” or “DC’s”. There are wide changes in the degree of robotization partner to the “pick-pack-and-boat” process, running from totally manual and paper-headed to exceptionally computerized and totally mechanical; Computers frameworks supervising this process are designated to as Warehouse Management Systems or “WMS”.
Order picking is a consecutive procedure including:
Picking: before shipment to fulfill clients it comprises in taking and gathering articles in a predefined amount ‘ request
Sorting: the process that distinguishes the items before the delivery
Pre-consolidation or package formation: incorporates weighting, naming, and packing.
Consolidation: gathering bundles into stacking units for transportation, control, and bill of filling.
How does warehouse probability impact by order picking?
It directly affects your warehouse functions and indirectly impacts other areas of your business. The order fulfilment can be kept on track to speed up the order picker service or it fits into your schedule. Your customer satisfaction level also depends upon the result of your order pickers. If the customers received the wrong products or the very few of the products that they ordered, their satisfaction will not be fulfilled. According to a survey of 500 customers, 54% customers said that they had returned the products because it was not the same what they ordered.
The reverse process of workout is already getting the workout. The rate for return should be kept at 20%. You have to lower the cost, to make your business grow healthy.
Common order picking goals
It is true that the goal of order picking should be order fulfillment. But there are some other common internal goals that most managers try to maintain. These goals can be useful because they keep your workers healthy and productive.
They also deal with your picking process. All these goals are directed towards a bigger goal which will help the company to grow more profitable.
1. Minimum travel distance:
As the business indicates that the workers spend half of their time from one place to another. So many managers try to improvise this time with good reason.
Many technologies are related to helping the picker move from one place to another place. Advanced technologies provide the pickers to optimize their algorithms by improving the picker’s walking path. The layout of our warehouse determines the type of path you use.
2. Maximize use of space:
Layout design goes far and optimized the warehouse for improving the efficiency of picking . It flows should be specific throughout. The mapping of the warehouse should be possible.
3. Minimize pick errors and injuries:
To minimize the picking errors means that you cannot put that thing back into place from where you got when the customer returns it. The risk of getting injuries in picking duties is very high.
There will be also a very long uncertainty in daily operations. When there will be more workers absent, fewer people will be obliged to perform the same work.
Order picking methods:
When your business is working on its best, adding more labor is a temporary solution. As the demand for customer increases, maintaining efficient operations should be critical to a well-functioning warehouse.
To keep up with the expectations of customers, avoiding disputes, and making ensure the correct order and the shipment timings will be much easier if you are using the right techniques.
Also, an important tactic to consider is the order placing technique. For small businesses, simplified techniques might work, but as your company starts grooming, you’ll be in a need to think and implement more efficient ways of packing, sorting, packing and delivering your goods. An important thing to consider is to opt for the most advanced idea will not be proved beneficial for you. All your investment will be a loss to you if your technique doesn’t fit you.
A different method of order picking:
1. Order to pick:
It is an easy order picking method and has many names including Picking by SKU and Discrete Order Picking. In this method, the employee basically receives a list of orders and walks into the store to purchase them, and then after packing, they deliver them to customers.
2. Batch Picking:
Rather than handling every product separately, the employees get a list of things required. They sort these things before purchasing and then they purchase these things in a group. After that, they separate the things according to customer need, pack them, and deliver it to them.
3.Wave Picking:
This technique is much similar to batch packing, except that the orders are assigned to the wave throughout the day. When the orders are picked, depending upon some criteria, such as carrier transporting them. This technique also relies on WMS to keep the process more efficient.
4. Zone Picking:
Zone picking can reduce the waste of motion of the warehouse by keeping the employees in one space. Through which large orders can be fulfilled quickly which leads to customer satisfaction and helps you to grow business
5. Cluster picking:
Cluster picking will allow you to pick items for multiple orders at the same time, using multi tote and multi bin contraptions. It is the same as if you do shopping in a supermarket, you are carrying three baskets of grocery, one for your own, one for your relatives, and one for your friend. This might will help you in understanding the technique. You can also make your trips lesser, by picking more orders at a time.
Increase order picking with an integrated WMS
To use the advanced order fulfillment strategies, you should need a new system which can your order fulfillment to the fullest. By automating, these tasks i.e. picking list and packing lists, you can free up the staff of warehouse, which doesn’t require much attention. These resources are used to maximize the impact. The most efficient6 solution will be an integrated WMS which can grow up your business.
Things to consider before buying
With the drastic increase in technology, as a business owner of order picking, finding the best forklift will be a lot more difficult task for you. In case, if you are lucky enough to find the very appropriate forklift, you can use it very productively. Thanks to advancement in forklift technology, there are now more trends of designs and enhancements that can very efficiently increase your operations and increase your business. These forklift will be very beneficial for you because time is money and you can save much of your time by using these kinds of devices.
Three criteria for buying:
Being a professional, you can’t make the mistake that nonprofessionals make by just considering the deduction of payment in their labor’s cost. This is not accurate thinking of buying quality or sustainable products. As you are using it for a longer period of time, you will need a product which also offers after sales service and support. Their service and support should be the priority. Before, making any purchase, you should be very careful of the three points that are mentioned below:
1. Average turnaround time and track record.
2. If they are associated with a brand, how long will it take for a replacement if there is any calamity?
3. Contact details
Tips to consider before buying:
If you have made up the mind of purchasing a forklift, but still you are undecided and also, you can’t make a decision because of the long-range variety and extras available. This might look tricky to you, but the following tips might help you to know how much you should spend in a forklift that will match your needs.
1. Forklifts will be very expensive if it is on a large scale.
- Electric forklifts will be very much expensive.
- Pneumatic tyres are much more than simple cushion tyres.
How an order picker is crucial in the warehouse?
In every warehouse, there is the order picker who is very important person and facilitates the transfer of products in store to deliver them to customers. The reason is that they are aware of every process going there in the warehouse, it should be justified to say that the order picker is the most important person in the warehouse.
The day like google and amazon has entered the market, the same day delivery is really becoming possible. Every second of delivering goods to the customers can make a difference. There can be machines that can help you to perform your task quickly, but in the end it’s the duty of order picker to deliver the products to the customer at the specified time.
How to apply this information?
To apply this knowledge is not difficult and when you invest in order pickers, it will offer you a lot of profit.
Mobile workstations can have a history of improving their productivity by making their walking steps less. If it takes each worker to reach to a location and pick goods and then perform the duties assigned to him.
These workstations can be moved by the need to adjust shipping throughout the day. This has been proved in the advanced warehouses where sorting of products is done at the place where they are most likely to be picked.
Also, the automated systems, which can reduce their walking steps by improving their order picking productivity. The equipment’s will make them to move towards the area where the picking is supposed to be done and hence the time of walking can be reduced. These systems may offer benefits for small warehouses, but for the larger facilities can also benefit from them. Also, fully automated systems are available for larger warehouses.
Why do we need an order picker?
To pick single items and cases is the only job of an order picker or maybe by a lift truck. The operation is to stand on a platform and moves up with the mast, as most trucks do.
This equipment can reach the height of anywhere between 9 feet and 35 feet.
These order pickers can work well in the warehouse that is furniture, libraries, and retail applications picking. Furniture picking is a very specific order which includes platforms of larger to move easily and be productive when to move the heavy and bulky load.
An order picker is an appropriate lift for any kind of operation that has a relation with SKU. For tasks like right-angle stacking or unit load picking and transportation for long distances, the order picker is not suitable.
Best Instruments utilized for Order picking
Below are some of the best order picking equipment that can be utilized for your picking process that will surely enhance your process and automatically reduce the labor work and saves the valuable time of your company.
· Moveable Robotic machines:
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning have nearly taken our world from the past few years due to a high level of intelligence. One of the best examples is the mobile robots that are designed to balance the picking process in order to reduce the labor work. These robots are assigned a specific task and location and work in collaboration with the other workers. They are mostly used in places where there are tons of products is to be developed and shipped.
· Heavy duty equipment:
Heavy-duty equipment might include automated robots, forklifts, and many other types of machinery that can withstand heavy loads. The main focus of using these machines is to make your work more efficient, reduce man power, time-saving, and pocket friendly.
A one-time investment will not make you regret for the long term.
· Barcode scanners:
For the past many years, we are using Barcode scanners in our inventory work. Modern automated barcode scanners have effortlessly reduced the human errors limited the usage of paper work and automatically linked with the inventory items.
· Voice picking equipment:
In order to provide instructions to real time picker these voices picking equipment like headsets and hands-free system is used.
Best practices:
Setting Goals:
In order to assure the efficiency, safety, and complete your work in the less possible time it is advisable to set goals. The environment should be designed to increase the pick-up density ratio and by organizing SKUs. It will automatically speed up the picking activity and work productivity.
Reducing walking time:
It is best practice for the warehouse manager to arrange the inventory and layout of the warehouse by placing the SKUs at the positions where the walking distance is less. It almost takes a lot of time for the pickers to roam around between the picks. So, arrangements should be done in such a way to save time and allow pickers to work more systematically and efficiently.
Usage of the right equipment for picking process:
For increased productivity usage of the right tool is a very important factor in the order picking process. Hands-free and intelligent technology has automatically reduced the involvement of hand usage, minimize errors, and saves time.
Placements of SKUs:
Another way to increase productivity is the Placement of SKU’s near the picker and work station. Items that are regularly used should be placed near the packaging area and shipping area. SKUs with high velocity should be placed on floors and with low velocity should be placed vertically.