In the logistics industry, various methods of goods picking are used, which allow not only to keep order in the warehouse and make the picking process in the warehouse easier, but also to save a lot of time on finding and identifying a specific product in the warehouse. Completion in the warehouse requires not only appropriate preparation and planning of activities, but also knowledge of methods that will save valuable time.
What is order completion – definition and a few words of explanation how the completion process proceeds
Don’t know what completion is and care about learning what is the definition of completion?
The process of goods completion, i.e. picking, consists of completing goods from the warehouse as part of one or several orders placed in an online store by one customer. Picking consists of preparing orders according to a strictly defined order e.g. according to already paid orders or goods that arrived at the warehouse first (e.g. if they are food goods, which due to expiration date must leave the warehouse first).
A warehouse employee uses for this purpose both modern systems facilitating location of specific products in the warehouse, and e.g. a forklift to take the goods off the rack. In every warehouse there are strictly defined picking zones, which affect the time of packing orders.
Completion in the warehouse consists of the warehouseman preparing the customer’s order for shipment of goods. As part of these activities in the warehouse, he uses both systems identifying goods in the warehouse to locate them easier, and put them in the package faster, but also modern technologies such as e.g. WMS system, which allows checking the amount of available goods of a given product in the warehouse.
What exactly does order completion involve?
Completion consists of preparing an order for shipment in the shortest possible time. Order completion is a challenge for companies with high turnover of goods and in large warehouses, which must have individual packing zones. Completion activities include identifying goods in the warehouse, checking their quality, preparation in a specific quantity
This method consists of easy completion of orders placed by customers in a given online store. Completion time is crucial at this stage, which is why most company and store owners want to speed it up by choosing appropriate completion methods, implementing appropriate systems and using modern technologies.
Completion in the warehouse – how does the order completion process in the warehouse proceed?
Order completion consists of the employee taking goods from the warehouse according to a specific customer order.
For this purpose, he moves around the warehouse in such a way as to save as much time as possible. His daily work is streamlined by modern technologies and developed methods of goods completion.
However, the process of goods completion itself is carried out using a selected completion method, which depends on how the warehouse is organized.
Why is the picking zone important in the warehouse?
Every modern warehouse should have separate goods picking zones. Why is this aspect so important? First of all, because order completion is an important organizational factor. Therefore, in warehouses, so that employees can function better in it and more effectively fulfill orders.
Types of order completion – single completion, batch completion, i.e. about the division of completion methods that depend on many factors
How is order completion carried out in the logistics industry? In the case of smaller orders and goods, automated packing of products is most often carried out, which allows saving valuable time on the implementation of transport service and at the same time be sure that the shipment is consistent with the order.
A warehouse employee can prepare one order at a given time or several orders simultaneously depending on the selected method of load completion.
Order completion can be divided as follows:
- single completion – usually concerns orders packed in a small warehouse, single ones, which are packed individually. Such a method of goods completion used in the warehouse allows avoiding errors related to mistakenly packed order or errors in the quantity of goods sent to the recipient. These types of orders are referred to as single order picking. This method of goods completion works especially in the case of warehouses with a small amount of goods.
- goods completion within one group of products (batch picking) – consists of picking goods from racks within one order or from the same group of products, which are carried out as part of one batch of a given order. Usually it is completing an order from a few to a dozen products. This completion method works in the case of medium and large orders.
- wave completion (i.e. packaging products in stages e.g. according to specific groups of products, which allows saving valuable time during completion and has an impact on greater efficiency of the order fulfillment process.
- zone picking – is one of the most popular completion methods in large warehouses where there is a phenomenon of high turnover of goods. Then employees are assigned to each of the zones and perform their duties only within the designated zone, which speeds up the goods completion process and allows preparing packages for transport faster.
- pick and pass method, i.e. mixed completion – warehouse employees using this method most often complete orders in various warehouse zones, although still each of the employees has work assigned in a designated place. Such a method allows shortening the duration of the entire completion process.
- dynamic picking – consists of using modern technologies, systems and robots that prepare orders, which affects saving valuable time.
- sort and pick method – this method consists of sorting all products in the warehouse first, and then placing them in a strictly defined location e.g. on racks with special marking.
- completion using RFID systems or voice technology – this method uses modern technologies to save time on searching for products in the warehouse from specific locations and does not require using paper documents.
The choice of completion method depends primarily on several factors:
- on the way products are stored in the warehouse and on the availability of so-called separated zones in the warehouse, which facilitate the goods completion process
- completion routes and completion path.
What factors are most important during successful goods completion?
The efficiency of the completion process depends primarily on the developed habits of warehousemen and standards in a given warehouse, as well as on the size of the warehouse and factors that shorten the duration of the entire process.
- completion strategy – this is a very important issue that affects the number of orders prepared for shipment and completion time, which is why choosing a specific completion strategy is an extremely important concept during picking.
- completion efficiency – this is nothing more than optimizing completion in such a way that individual completion activities do not take too much time, and the entire process is carried out very effectively.
- completion methods in the warehouse – not only work efficiency depends on the choice of a specific completion method, but also order preparation time, which matters for order shipments.
- order fulfillment time.
How to improve order completion and how does the WMS system help in this?
The WMS system helps in easy identification of products in the warehouse, in remote verification of a specific quantity of products in the warehouse and allows shortening time during order picking. The system makes group completion last shorter, which has a beneficial effect on order handling time. So if you want to improve the completion process in your company – then necessarily decide to use the WMS system.
Do you need support in implementing the WMS system in your warehouse? Do not hesitate to write to us! We will be happy to support you in integrating this system in your warehouse.
What are the completion methods in the warehouse and what does order completion in the warehouse look like?
Are you curious what are the types of order completion in the logistics industry? Don’t know which completion method will be best in a given situation and what different completion methods are used in warehouses? Completion in the warehouse requires from the warehouse employee knowledge of warehouse zones and at the same time knowledge of how individual groups of products are distributed in the warehouse space.
- goods to man – this is nothing more than a manual method of picking goods e.g. from racks, which does not require the warehouse employee to use advanced tools or technologies.
- goods to customer – this is the use of various types of devices that support human work in the warehouse on a daily basis e.g. forklifts, technology, various types of systems automating work.
- man to goods – requires the warehouse employee to move around the warehouse space to e.g. complete an order. In this process, the employee usually also uses various types of equipment such as forklifts.
- put to light – this is a method that facilitates quick location of a given product in the warehouse thanks to a cart that is equipped with a special light system facilitating the search for a given product.
- pick by light – the logistics operator uses special lighting to easier find goods in the warehouse.
This explains why choosing the right completion method is so important when picking orders in an e-commerce store that generates large sales.
Check what are the methods of order completion
Can the completion process be automated?
A logistics operator can use automation in daily work, which significantly improves the packing process.
For this purpose, it is worth using many modern technologies and systems, which will not only speed up the process, but also make the need for the employee to move around the warehouse limited.
Automation of order completion in the warehouse can be implemented using e.g. a well-thought-out product sorting system, WMS system and automatic devices that will speed up the entire completion process.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that automation will not replace a human at certain stages of completion. However, in large warehouses it is worth using automation and modern technologies to shorten the process of preparing goods for shipment. Implementation of systems and automation will make individual orders packed faster and above all it will allow eliminating some completion errors.
To take goods from the shelf or pack an order, a picking robot can be used for this purpose. It will also help in labeling packages, packing them or segregating according to a strictly defined system in the warehouse. However, it is worth bearing in mind that its operational capabilities are still limited.
Depending on the size of the warehouse and how it is organized and divided into specific packing zones, the way goods are stored also differs. In the context of completing orders consisting of similar product groups.
Check on our blog what automation of logistics processes involves and how it can improve your warehouse.
What are the most common mistakes made during picking, i.e. order completion?
First of all, one of the most common mistakes made is incomplete goods. The cause of such situations is lack of caution at the completion stage or simple human errors during packing goods, which is why caution is always recommended in the case of completion.
Read about what are the most common mistakes during order completion
Comprehensive order handling for the e-commerce industry and beyond at Trans-Tok
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