What Is Warehouse Order Picking?

Warehouse order picking, one of the most important–and involved–parts of warehouse operations, accounts for as much as 55% of the total warehouse operating expense. Thanks to the high cost involved in this process (also known as order fulfillment), as well as the significant connections between order picking and customer service and satisfaction, a number of improvements to the process have been introduced. These processes can help your company expedite and streamline this critical warehouse function.

Types of Order Picking

There are four main types of warehouse order picking, each with its own streamline procedure, Choosing the correct system for your needs depends on a number of factors including the characteristics of the product, the total number of transactions , picks per order, quantities per pick, and more. When implemented correctly, choosing the type–or the combination of types–that best suits your needs will contribute to a effective order picking process and more cost-effective method of order fulfillment.

1. Piece picking or picker to part method. In one of the most common methods of order picking found in warehouses today, the order picker or pickers moves to collect the products necessary for one order. The storage area can be either forklift-based or built to be more specialized with features like gravity flow racks, which expedite the picking process by holding the most frequently ordered item. There is also a picking area and a material-handling system used to refill the picking locations from the storage area. The storage area contains the items used for order fulfillment. Rather than having to go to the storage area to fill an order. This method expedites the order picking process and helps with overall productivity.
2. Part to Picker method. The part to picker method employs the same physical locations as the picker to part method–storage area, picking area and a material-handling system that moves the item from the storage area to the picking area. However, in this method, the picking area is made up of a series of picking bays, also known as zones, The items are moved from the storage area and delivered to the picking bays, which receive items for one or more orders.
3. Sorting System method. This method uses an automatic material handling system consisting of multiple conveyors and a number or sorting devices. There is no movement from order pickers involved in this method. The items are placed on a conveyor in the storage area and sorted for each particular order. The operator in the picking area collects the items that have been sorted for a customer order and  processes that order,Because operators have no need to physically fill the order, the sorting system method is one of the most efficient.
4. Pick to box method. In the pick to box method, the picking area is organized so that there are number of picking stations connected by a conveyor. The order picker fills the box with the products from his station and the box moves to the other picking stations until the customer order is complete. Once again, there is no need for operators to physically fill the order, which significantly expedites the picking process.

The ability to quickly and accurately process customer orders has become an essential part of doing business. It is critical that you choose the right method of warehouse order picking in order to rise above your completion and succeed.