Picking and packing are foundational pillars of effective warehouse management. Both these processes play a vital role in the seamless flow of goods from inventory to customer doorsteps. Optimising these processes is essential for meeting growing customer expectations while maintaining operational efficiency.
Accuracy in your picking and packing operation is important because mistakes lead to customer dissatisfaction and an expensive reverse logistics problem. Picking and packing is labour intensive work where the pressure for fast performance combined with its repetitive nature causes mistakes. Therefore, taking measures to improve accuracy should be a top priority.
What is Picking and Packing?
Picking is the process of selecting specific items from a warehouse inventory to fulfill customer orders. It involves locating, retrieving, and assembling the necessary products in preparation for packing and shipping.
Packing is the process where items are carefully organised, packaged, and labeled for shipment. This process ensures that products are protected during transit and arrives at their destination in optimal condition, meeting customer expectations for quality and presentation.
Next, we will be exploring strategies and tips for minimising errors rates during the picking and packing process.
Five Tips for Reducing your Picking and Packing Error Rate.
#1 Personalise the Packing Slip
Include the packer’s first name and photo on the packing slip inside each package. While this isn’t necessary for tracing down the packer when an error is made, it causes an important psychological effect. The personal photo on every packing slip makes the packer feel more accountable for his or her actions.
#2 Group your Orders
Group orders that require similar packaging operations. People are more efficient when they establish a rhythm which isn’t possible when successive orders require different types of packing. Get feedback from your packers about how best to group your orders.
#3 Use Images Instead of Text
The human brain processes images thousands of times faster than words. Exploit this by using photographs, visual cues, and diagrams wherever possible. The reduced mental effort means more orders get processed with less fatigue. Show a photo of each item to pick as well as a photo of the product’s location on the shelf. Use colours and shapes for shelf labelling instead of letters and numbers.
#4 Break the Picking Process into Smaller Steps
Rather than presenting the picker with a list of items, show the items one at a time. The item sequencing should minimise the picker’s walking distance or simplify the packing process.
#5 Keep the Packing Stations Organised and Well Stocked
Ensure that the packing stations have the necessary materials for the packers to do their job. Get their feedback on these materials to learn which work well and which slow them down because of usage difficulty. Organise the packing stations so that employees can easily reach the materials. Minimise the walking and reaching of your packers.
Enhancing Picking and Packing Accuracy
Optimising picking and packing accuracy is paramount for ensuring efficient warehouse operations and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Implementing the five tips discussed in this article is the beginning in reducing error rates and enhance overall productivity.
You can also consider using a warehouse management system as it facilitates efficient and coordinated management of your pick, pack, and ship operations. Get started today, contact us for more information.