SpanTrack Lane Carton Flow Rollers
Efficient, durable, and dependable, SpanTrack Lane carton flow rollers drop into existing structures to create the ultimate carton flow rack system for manufacturing facilities and order picking operations.
Order picking is one of your business's most costly and essential operations. With greater volumes of eCommerce orders generated with smaller items, order picking operation costs are rising.
Efficient order picking is vital to meet customer expectations and maintain profitability. There are several methods available, each suited to different types of products, order sizes, and warehouse layouts. The choice of method often depends on factors such as product variety, order volume, travel time, and the availability of labor. In this article, we'll explore various order picking methods to help you determine which one is best for your operation.
Types of Order Picking Methods
1. Piece or Parts Picking
This is a simple method of a single order picker picking items for a single order. Pickers select each item according to their pick list and place it in a container for shipping to the customer. This method is appropriate for odd-sized or oversized products, even items that may require special handling. Pickers walk many steps a day to pick this type of order. Picking rates depend on the orders' size and the travel time.
2. Zone Picking
Order pickers are assigned to one specific zone to pick within, filling orders with the SKUs in that area. If the order requires SKUs from another zone, the container is passed to another zone picker(s) for completion. The advantage of this method of picking is that workers are very familiar with items in their zones, which are of a limited size, allowing them to pick faster. Products are typically stored in flow racks or shelving.
3. Batch Picking
Also known as multi-order picking, this method combines product demand from multiple orders into one pick instruction. Orders are arranged in efficient picking sequences. After order picking, goods are sorted/consolidated by order or shipping destination. Batch picking is useful for small items and only a few SKUs per order. It is most commonly used for food, non-food, apparel, and eCommerce orders.
4. Cluster Picking
One SKU is picked to multiple orders or multiple SKUs to one order to a single picker. Pickers select items for multiple orders at one time, placing them into totes or containers, typically located on top of a mobile cart. Technology like pick-to-light or pick-to-voice solutions often guides pickers to the right products, speeding fulfillment and improving accuracy. Pickers pick orders in their entirety before proceeding to pick the next cluster of orders.
5. Wave Picking
One picker picks one order, one SKU at a time, but orders are scheduled to be picked at certain times in a specific wave to maximize the picking and packing operations. Wave picking is used when there are many SKUs to pick from. A WMS releases the waves to the warehouse sequentially throughout the day to allow managers to coordinate parallel and sequential activities such as planned departure times of shipping vehicles or production schedules.
6. Zone-Batch Picking
The method combines zone and batch picking where the picker is assigned a zone but can also be directed to batch pick within this zone. Multiple pickers can each pick portions of multiple orders.
7. Zone-Wave Picking
Zone-Wave Picking is a combination of methods in that pickers are assigned a zone, and each picker within their zone picks all of the SKUs for all orders stocked in their zone, one order at a time with one scheduling window per shift.
8. Zone-Batch-Wave Picking
This type of picking combines all three methods: zone, batch, and wave. Each picker is assigned a zone and picks all SKUs for orders stocked in the assigned zone. Additionally, the picker picks more than one SKU at a time, and there are multiple scheduling windows per shift.
UNEX Solutions for Order Picking Efficiency
At UNEX, we offer a range of solutions specifically designed to address the challenges of order picking and enhance operational efficiency. Here are some of the key products that can help streamline your picking processes:
Carton Flow Solutions
SpanTrack Lane
SpanTrack Lane is a high-density carton flow solution designed to maximize storage efficiency and accessibility. This system is ideal for operations that require precise, organized storage with easy access to cartons and totes. SpanTrack Lane can be easily added to new or existing pallet racks without the need for shelves or intermediate support, making it highly versatile. Its superior flexibility accommodates a wide range of product sizes and weights, ensuring smooth, gravity-fed flow and reducing product hang-ups.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed
SpanTrack Wheel Bed offers a flexible and adaptable carton flow solution that transforms static storage into dynamic, high-density storage. SpanTrack Wheel Bed uses a bed of staggered wheels that can accommodate cartons and totes of various sizes, making it ideal for operations with a diverse range of products. This solution ensures a smooth flow of items and can be integrated into any existing pallet rack structure, enhancing storage density and picking efficiency. The robust construction of SpanTrack Wheel Bed can handle high-volume picking environments, minimizing product damage and increasing throughput.
High-Density Storage Solutions
SpeedCell
SpeedCell is a high-density storage solution that converts unused space within pallet racks into organized, SKU-dense storage. By compressing storage space, SpeedCell increases storage density and reduces picker travel time. Each cell is equipped with a location label holder, making it easy for workers to locate products quickly and efficiently. SpeedCell is designed to improve picking efficiency and maximize the use of available storage space, making it ideal for operations with a large number of SKUs.
SpeedCartt
SpeedCartt is a versatile mobile storage solution designed to enhance picking efficiency and flexibility. Equipped with dynamic, high-density storage compartments, SpeedCartt allows pickers to easily transport and access multiple SKUs. This solution reduces the travel time required for order picking by bringing the storage directly to the picker.
SpeedCartt modular design enables customization to fit various picking environments and requirements, improving overall productivity and reducing worker fatigue.
Pallet Flow Solutions
Pallet Track
Pallet Track is an efficient pallet flow system that enhances storage density and picking efficiency. This system allows for a gravity-fed flow of pallets within your storage racks, ensuring that products are always at the pick face, reducing the time and effort required for retrieval. By optimizing the movement and storage of heavy items, Pallet Track minimizes unnecessary lifting and bending, thereby improving worker safety and productivity.
Improve Your Order Picking Processes with UNEX
The goal of any picking process is to reduce the number of touches per item; ideally, it should be one touch. Improving efficiencies within the order picking process leads to customer satisfaction and bottom line profitability.
Not sure which picking method to use? Contact our experts at UNEX can help you decide what method to employ and provide order picking solutions for each method. From flow racks to mobile workstations, UNEX has everything you need to speed up your picking operations.
