warehouse management
Structured warehouse through warehouse management
Logistical processes in companies are becoming more and more complex over time and require innovative hardware and software solutions, especially for warehouses. The organization, control and monitoring of all warehouse processes is important here - the area of responsibility of warehouse management.
Table of contents
definition
Warehouse management is responsible for managing goods and their movements in the warehouse.
- Goods receipt - Goods that reach the warehouse must be registered and brought to a specific storage location
- Goods issue - Goods leaving the warehouse must be removed from the system
- Picking - When picking goods, it is important to know where the desired items are and how many are to be picked
- Shipment
- inventory
Warehouse management ultimately acts as a link between incoming and outgoing goods . It organizes, structures and controls!
Using warehouse management, it is possible to clarify the essential questions that arise when working in warehouses: Where should the goods go? Where are the items I am looking for? How many of the items in front of me do I need to take with me?
storage strategies
In order to organize the warehouse, certain strategies or procedures can be used. These differ, for example, in terms of the type of storage.
HIFO stands for "Highest In First Out". This means that the goods that have the highest value, i.e. are the most expensive, must be stored in such a way that they can be removed first if necessary.
LIFO means "Last In First Out" and refers to the process whereby goods stored last are the first to be removed as soon as they have to be integrated into further work processes - production.
Mobile data collection
Many medium-sized companies still work with pieces of paper instead of technical processes. Whether in trade, industry or logistics, mobile data capture optimizes business processes and increases productivity.
Mobile data capture is essential, particularly in warehouse management - especially in large companies with large warehouses. Data is collected digitally and an overview is created of the inventory and internal processes, which reduces errors and creates clarity through structures and organization.
The advantages of digital data capture are as follows:
- Consistent overview of stocks and goods movements
- No paperwork
- Finding articles takes just a few minutes
- All goods that enter and leave the warehouse are quickly and easily documented, as are the routes and processes that occur between storage and removal - for example, relocations
warehouse management system (WMS)
A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software system that manages goods and storage locations, as well as their interactive relationships and also maps them. Such software goes hand in hand with warehouse management.
In contrast to classic inventory management, a warehouse management system is used to implement and optimize internal warehouse systems.
Warehouse management software enables optimized and efficient warehouse management. It controls storage processes, removal processes and relocation processes. Thanks to the warehouse management software, these processes can be presented clearly and, above all, transparently.
The advantages of a warehouse management system are as follows:
- Stocks are reported automatically
- Due to its structure, the warehouse enables optimal orientation
- Inventory levels can be accessed in real time
- Processes in the warehouse are transparent and therefore traceable
- Efficiency and thus productivity increase
- Time can be saved
- Logistical processes can run smoothly
- Sources of error are minimized
