Operations can improve picking efficiency by focusing on slow moving items

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Research Triangle Park, N.C., July 26, 2011 Optricity, supply chain optimization software innovator and provider, released its newest whitepaper, “Slotting Your Next Move: Improving Warehouse Picking Efficiency Through Slow Mover Positioning and Selector Strategies.” The new whitepaper explores various slow mover selection strategies to illustrate how fixing slow movers can increase selector productivity by both creating space for fast movers and cutting down the travel path.

When slotting a warehouse, slow movers are not to be overlooked, as they typically constitute 70-80% of total items. A slow moving item is often characterized as one with few hits, or visits to the pick location. In instances where slow moving items take up the majority of space in a warehouse, it is critical that the items be slotted in a manner that facilitates intelligent slow mover picking. There are a number of techniques that can be employed to reduce selector travel and to increase pick density including layout configurations, selection strategies, and golden zoning considerations.

Dan Basmajian, Optricity’s president and CEO, describes why this topic is so important to warehouse operations: “It’s obvious when evaluating the locations of items in the pick line to assume that working on the 20-30% fastest movers provides the best return on investment. But there is still value in evaluating the slowest 70-80%. In fact, one must continuously evaluate all items in the pick line not only to make sure the fastest items are in the prime locations, but also to ensure that there are no slow movers taking up prime space where fast movers should be.”

Optricity’s latest whitepaper focuses on improving warehouse operational efficiency by analyzing selector strategies and the positioning of slower moving items in the pick line. Fixing those items not only frees up valuable space for faster moving items, but also allows for increasing the odds that portions of the pick path will not need to be travelled at all. The paper illustrates that although there is great benefit in focusing on the fastest moving items in the pick line, one should also examine the potential gain from evaluating slower moving items in the pick line.

About Optricity

Optricity, a software development company, specializes in solving complex Supply Chain (SC) optimization problems.   Optricity solutions minimize operational costs at SC junctures where customer’s competing goals and constraints come together.  Using patent-pending RASSQ™ optimization engines, Optricity’s best-of-breed solutions easily integrate with existing warehouse management and planning systems.  Visit www.Optricity.com to learn more about the advanced, warehouse slotting optimization tool, OptiSlot DC™, RASSQ optimization and other Juncture Optimization™ capabilities.  

For information about this press release contact:

Sheila Benny

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