In today’s fast-paced world of getting orders into the hands of consumers and businesses seemingly instantaneously, warehouse managers have put a premium on the picking process. No picking technology can handle everything, whether its picking full pallets, partial cases or individual pieces, so it’s important to let the profiles of SKUs and orders lead you to the right solution.
Many modern warehouses use a mix of different solutions for picking orders dictated by product type, product velocity and order type. To make the best selection of picking solutions, a thorough understanding of your customer service requirements blended with SKU profiles can help you pick the best system for the job. Not every warehouse needs automated picking solutions, which may save on labor, but the added cost and maintenance can be prohibitive.
Streamline Order Picking with Slotting Strategies
In today’s fast-paced order fulfillment landscape, where speed and accuracy are paramount, effective slotting strategies are critical to warehouse efficiency. Optimized slotting can significantly enhance your picking process by ensuring products are stored in the most accessible and logical locations. Here are key criteria to consider when evaluating your slotting strategy:
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SKU Velocity: Identify fast-moving products and place them in easily accessible locations. Slower-moving items can be stored higher or in less accessible areas to maximize space and reduce unnecessary pick path lengths.
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Order Profiles: Understand your typical order mix. Group frequently ordered items together or place them along common picking paths to minimize travel time and improve efficiency.
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Ergonomics: Place heavier or frequently picked items at waist height to reduce strain on workers and improve productivity. UNEX solutions like FlowCell modular flow racks are designed to present products ergonomically for effortless picking.
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Space Utilization: Assess your storage density. Solutions such as SpanTrack carton flow and SpeedCell high-density storage help maximize the available space while ensuring efficient access to SKUs.
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FIFO Rotation: Depending on your operational needs, ensure inventory rotation aligns with your strategy to maintain product quality and minimize waste.
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Flexibility for Changing SKU Mixes: Warehouse layouts must accommodate shifts in inventory. Dynamic solutions like SpanTrack wheel beds and FlowCell racks enable quick adjustments to support changing needs.
By addressing these criteria, businesses can develop a slotting strategy tailored to their unique requirements, optimizing warehouse operations and reducing costs.
Learn how UNEX carton flow racks allow companies like HelloFresh to keep growing. Download the Case Study.
Solving Warehouse Slotting Challenges with Targeted Solutions
Proper warehouse slotting is key to addressing the challenges of modern order fulfillment, where speed, accuracy, and efficiency are critical. By understanding SKU profiles, pick paths, and customer service requirements, businesses can implement solutions that optimize the picking process and tackle common issues head-on. Here’s how tailored strategies and tools help solve the pressing problems in slotting:
Overcoming SKU Proliferation with Efficient Storage
As product catalogs grow, many warehouses struggle to find space for expanding SKUs, especially in industries like food and beverage, where variety is king. Solutions like SpanTrack carton flow and SpeedCell high-density storage allow warehouses to handle SKU proliferation effectively. These systems increase storage density, improve pick face accessibility, and ensure that fast-moving products are readily available, while slower movers are organized and out of the way.
Streamlining Order Picking Across Product Types
No single picking solution fits every SKU or order type. FlowCell modular flow racks provide adaptable and ergonomic systems, reducing picker fatigue and improving efficiency. For high-velocity SKUs, solutions like SpanTrack ensure that products are in the right place for rapid fulfillment, minimizing pick paths and touches.
Reducing Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
While automated picking systems may seem appealing, they are not always the right fit due to high costs and maintenance demands. UNEX solutions provide cost-effective alternatives that deliver significant efficiency gains without breaking the bank. Whether it’s carton flow for fast movers or high-density storage systems for slower items, these systems are designed to deliver maximum ROI while keeping operational costs low.
UNEX Products Designed to Solve Warehouse Slotting Challenges
To tackle the complexities of warehouse slotting, UNEX offers a range of products tailored to address specific issues such as SKU proliferation, inefficient picking paths, and limited space. By aligning storage solutions with SKU profiles, product velocities, and order types, these products optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve productivity.
SpanTrack Carton Flow
SpanTrack roller lanes and wheel beds are designed to maximize SKU accessibility and throughput. By enabling FIFO inventory rotation and minimizing pick paths, SpanTrack ensures that pickers can locate and retrieve products quickly and efficiently. This product integrates seamlessly into existing pallet racks, making it a versatile solution for dynamic storage needs.
SpeedCell High-Density Storage
SpeedCell compresses storage space by increasing pick faces and reducing travel time for pickers. It transforms standard pallet racks into highly organized, high-density storage units. This solution is ideal for slow-moving SKUs.
FlowCell Modular Racks
FlowCell modular flow racks are adaptable for changing SKU profiles and operational requirements. It supports ergonomic picking by angling products toward workers for easy access, improving efficiency and reducing strain. FlowCell is ideal for assembly lines and lineside storage.
Take Control of Your Warehouse Efficiency
Warehouse slotting is a complex exercise that takes skill, knowledge and the right tool to drive warehouse efficiencies, save space and speed order picking. It is not a game of chance.
By integrating UNEX solutions into your warehouse, UNEX ensures that every SKU is stored in the right place, driving efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings. Let us help you design a slotting solution that meets your operational needs and enhances your warehouse performance by contacting us today.
