Lagerläufen

Lagerläufen is a German term used in logistics and warehouse management to describe the regular cycles of material movement and control within a storage facility. The word combines Lager (warehouse or storage) with Lauf (run or sequence), and it refers to the planned, repeating sequences of activities that move goods through receiving, storage, picking, and shipping areas.

In practice, Lagerläufen encompasses various routine operations designed to maintain an efficient flow of inventory. Typical components include cycle counting or inventory checks conducted on a rotating schedule, replenishment runs that move stock from reserve storage to picking locations, and picking or put-away runs that transport goods along defined routes. The concept supports stock rotation (for example FIFO or LIFO), minimizes handling, and helps ensure goods are available where needed while reducing obsolescence and excess stock.

Implementation considerations for Lagerläufen include warehouse layout, routing and batching of activities, frequency of runs, and integration with inventory systems. Technology such as warehouse management systems (WMS) and tracking with barcodes or RFID tags can optimize and monitor these cycles, providing real-time visibility and data for continuous improvement.

The term is not uniformly standardized and may vary by industry and region. Related concepts in warehouse management include cycle counting, stock replenishment, order picking, and stock rotation methods. In summary, Lagerläufen refers to the structured, recurring cycles that organize the movement and control of inventory within a warehouse.