PickProzesse

PickProzesse describes the set of operations in warehouses and fulfillment centers that retrieve items from storage locations to fulfill customer orders. The goal is to move goods from stock to packing as efficiently, accurately, and quickly as possible. PickProzesse interact with upstream receiving, put-away, inventory control, and downstream packing and shipping processes. They are a key determinant of warehouse throughput and order cycle times, and are frequently redesigned in response to changes in demand, product variety, or service levels.

Common approaches include piece picking, batch picking, zone picking, and wave picking. Piece picking targets individual line items for each order, suitable for high variety with low volumes per item. Batch picking groups multiple orders containing the same SKUs to reduce travel. Zone picking assigns pickers to specific warehouse zones, while wave picking coordinates picking across orders in timed waves to balance throughput and labor.

Technologies used include pick-to-light, voice picking, handheld scanning, RFID, and mobile devices; automation such as automated storage and retrieval systems, conveyors, and sortation systems. Warehouse management systems coordinate task creation, routing, and validation, and often integrate with enterprise systems to align inventory, packing, and shipping.

Key metrics for PickProzesse include pick rate, accuracy, travel distance, and cost per line item. Challenges include mispicks, product damage, and variability in demand. Optimization strategies involve slotting and layout optimization, batch size adjustments, routing and path optimization, and simulation-based planning. The choice of method depends on order profiles, item variety, and required service levels; many operations combine several methods within a single facility.