Lagerstruktur

Lagerstruktur refers to the organization and arrangement of stock within a storage or distribution system. It includes how inventory is categorized, stored, and moved through a facility, as well as how data about stock is recorded and retrieved. The objective is to maximize space efficiency, minimize handling, and improve accuracy and speed of order fulfillment.

Key elements include the physical layout (receiving, put-away, storage zones, picking routes, shipping), storage technologies (pallet racking, shelving, automated storage and retrieval systems, flow racks), labeling and data capture (barcodes, RFID), and the inventory structure (SKUs, batch/lot tracking, serial numbers) with practices such as ABC analysis to prioritize items.

Management typically relies on a warehouse management system (WMS) often integrated with enterprise resource planning (ERP). Practices include slotting optimization, replenishment strategies, cycle counting, expiration and obsolescence management, and inventory visibility. Replenishment ensures stock is available where needed; slotting places fast-moving items in accessible locations.

Design considerations encompass product characteristics (size, weight, handling requirements), perishability, demand variability, peak periods, and safety or regulatory requirements. The chosen lagerstruktur affects throughput, travel time, labor costs, and service levels, and it varies across sectors such as consumer goods, manufacturing, or e-commerce. Beyond the physical layout, lagerstruktur also covers the organization of stock within broader supply chains, including cross-docking and regional distribution networks.