FIFO (First In - First Out)
goods removal according to the FIFO principle
FIFO is an abbreviation for First In - First Out. This term stands for a storage strategy that helps organize the warehouse. The strategy determines where and how the goods should be stored and in what order they can be removed for production.
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definition
First In First Out in logistics is characterized by the fact that the goods that were stored first are the first to be removed and used. In short: what was stored first comes out first.
Mission
The FIFO method is used in areas where goods have an expiration date and can go bad. For example, in the food industry. Here, attention must be paid to the best-before date in order to guarantee the quality of the food.
Excursus on best before date : The best before date - or MHD for short - is a label element that must be attached to food. It indicates the date up to which the respective product can be consumed if stored correctly without the taste changing or causing any health risks. The MHD is set by the manufacturer itself. The label must contain the wording "best before [DD.MM.YYYY]". If this sentence is not combined with the date, a reference must be made to the place where the best before date is located - "See base/neck of bottle/lid" or similar. There are three exceptions to this type of label:
- If the product has a shelf life of more than 18 months, the statement must read as follows: “best before the end of [year]”
- If the product has a shelf life of no more than three months, no year needs to be specified
- If the product has a shelf life of more than three months, the date does not necessarily have to be specified
First In First Out in the warehouse
The FIFO principle is compatible with the following storage techniques:
- pallet flow rack warehouse
- container flow rack storage
- In high-bay warehouses or similar, the FIFO principle can also be used depending on the storage technology.
