It should be noted that the developed concept for improving the picking process in an existing warehouse will provide guidelines for the development of a detailed technological design, which will specify: lists of picking operation activities, the location of their execution, the machines and equipment used to perform the activities, the capacity and efficiency of picking operations, the control and management system for the execution of picking operations along with the infrastructure elements of this system (computer network, software, readers, monitors, scanners, terminals, etc.), the number and qualifications of warehouse staff carrying out the picking process, as well as the indicators and economic effects of the adopted solution.
Moving goods in picking processes Picking as part of the technological warehouse process is carried out in two integrally linked processes:
• the process of flow (movement) of goods during the execution of picking activities
• the process of managing and controlling this flow.
Single-stage and multi-stage picking
• the process of managing and controlling this flow.
Single-stage and multi-stage picking
Due to the location where picking activities are performed, there are two basic types of picking:
• single-stage picking (by order) – carried out at the storage location; it consists of selecting the appropriate types and quantities of items from individual storage locations to separate a set for a single picking order. In this picking method, the employee uses a cart (manual or electric) together with a collective pallet (or collective container) and moves between the racks, selecting the quantities and types of assortments specified in the picking order from the appropriate slots. After passing through all the aisles between the racks and collecting all items of the picking order on the pallet or collective container, the cart transports them to the warehouse dispatch area. This is “order-by-order” picking, which is time-consuming and inefficient (see Fig. 1, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 36)
• multi-stage picking (by article) – consists of selecting the appropriate types and quantities of items from storage locations for several picking orders (1st stage picking) and moving them to picking stations, where sets will be selected for delivery to the customer in accordance with the picking order (i.e., 2nd stage picking).
• multi-stage picking (by article) – consists of selecting the appropriate types and quantities of items from storage locations for several picking orders (1st stage picking) and moving them to picking stations, where sets will be selected for delivery to the customer in accordance with the picking order (i.e., 2nd stage picking).
From the storage part of the warehouse (in the 1st stage of picking), full load units and collective packaging will be collected in accordance with internal orders with such quantities of assortments as are necessary to fulfill all picking orders carried out in this process. After transporting all assortments involved in this picking process from the storage zone to the picking zone, the picking orders for the 2nd stage of picking are prepared, which will be carried out at the picking stations. This picking method is much more efficient than the single-stage method, but it requires appropriate organizational and technical preparation (see Fig. 2, Logistyka 1/2006, p. 36). Moving goods in picking processes – “man-to-goods” principle The method of moving goods in picking processes is carried out according to two general principles [2]:
1. “man-to-goods” – the employee walks or rides to the storage location or goods preparation area and performs picking activities in accordance with the quantity and type of assortment found in the picking order (see Fig. 1, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 36),
2. “goods-to-man” – according to which the appropriate assortments of goods are collected from the storage location or preparation area and moved to picking stations in the picking zone (see Fig. 3, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 36).
According to Principle 1, the movement of goods when performing picking activities can be carried out according to the following systems:
• manual system – most commonly used, in which a warehouse employee uses a manual cart to select individual types and quantities of picked assortments from their storage locations – based on a picking order provided in: written form (picking lists), voice (audio communication), or radio (transmitted to the display of a scanner, terminal, or monitor on the cart) (see photo 1, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 37)
• mechanized system – in which the operator of a picking forklift or picking stacker crane selects individual types and quantities of picked assortments from their storage locations in high-bay racks – based on instructions: written (picking lists) or transmitted by a computer control system (wired or via radio) to the display of a terminal or monitor on the picking device (see photo 2, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 38). In mechanized picking systems, flow rack systems and powered conveyors (belt or roller) are also used. In this system, the warehouse employee places individual types and quantities of picked assortments from the flow rack slots onto a powered conveyor (located next to the flow rack), by means of which they are delivered to the dispatch area (see photo 3, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 38)
• automated system – when storing in high-bay racks, stacker cranes are equipped with picking robots, by means of which individual types and quantities of picked assortments are automatically selected from individual rack slots – based on instructions transmitted online by a computer control system (Fig. 1).
• mechanized system – in which the operator of a picking forklift or picking stacker crane selects individual types and quantities of picked assortments from their storage locations in high-bay racks – based on instructions: written (picking lists) or transmitted by a computer control system (wired or via radio) to the display of a terminal or monitor on the picking device (see photo 2, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 38). In mechanized picking systems, flow rack systems and powered conveyors (belt or roller) are also used. In this system, the warehouse employee places individual types and quantities of picked assortments from the flow rack slots onto a powered conveyor (located next to the flow rack), by means of which they are delivered to the dispatch area (see photo 3, Logistyka 1/2006 p. 38)
• automated system – when storing in high-bay racks, stacker cranes are equipped with picking robots, by means of which individual types and quantities of picked assortments are automatically selected from individual rack slots – based on instructions transmitted online by a computer control system (Fig. 1).
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” no. 2/2006.