Case Picking
What is Case Picking?
Case picking is a common order fulfillment method used in distribution centers and warehouses serving retail stores and eCommerce operations. In case picking, warehouse workers pick products in full case or carton quantities from various storage mediums: pallet positions, carton flow, and industrial shelving. Compared to each picking, where a single item or SKU is picked from open cartons, case picking maintains the integrity of the full case as the pick unit. This method is ideal for moving high volumes of fast to medium velocity SKUs.
Most case picking operations pick fast movers from pallet positions, medium to slow movers from carton flow, and slow-moving products from industrial shelving. When workers pick product, they typically pick the item to a pallet, cart, or conveyor. As the picker travels the aisles selecting product, orders are grouped and sequenced for shipping.
Where is Case Picking Used?
Case picking, also known as full case picking or carton picking, is an order picking method where entire sealed cases or cartons are picked as single pick units, rather than opening cases and picking individual units or eaches. This method is commonly used in distribution centers and warehouses that supply:
Case picking maintains inventory control and reduces handling compared to picking individual units from open cases. It allows distributors to move product quickly and efficiently from receiving to shipping especially for faster moving SKUs.
Slower moving SKUs are often stored in each pick locations or shelving to reduce inventory holding costs. Faster moving items can be stored on carton flow racks or pallet flow lanes while slower moving items go on high-density industrial shelving.
Case Picking Challenges
Case picking operations face a significant challenge – with all those cartons comes an ever-growing warehouse footprint. Top case picking challenges include:
- Poor ergonomics leading to high turnover and a high number of worker's compensation claims
- Lack of FIFO stock rotation, which leads to older stock getting buried
- Lack of organization by throughput, resulting in delayed or missed orders
- Inefficient use of space leading to increased travel, search, and pick time
How can distributors ensure a fast, accurate case pick that meets customer expectations without sacrificing substantial warehouse space or distribution center areas to case storage?
Best Practices to Improve Case Picking
Following case picking best practices will address the space, labor, and stock rotation challenges faced by warehouses and distribution centers of every size.
- Slot inventory by velocity, placing faster moving items in more accessible storage like carton flow racks. Use shelving for slower items.
- Maximize storage density to eliminate wasted vertical space by double-stacking case SKUs. Multi-level and push back carton flow provide even greater density.
- Pick cases directly from carton flow racks. This eliminates extra handling compared to storing on static racks.
- Maintain FIFO inventory control using gravity flow storage methods like carton and pallet flow versus storage on the floor or in industrial shelving.
- Reduce travel distance by zoning pick slots by product type and velocity. Place fastest movers closest to shipping.
Addressing the most common causes of case picking inefficiency will lead to increased profits across every area of your operation.
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Best Practices to Improve Case Picking
Following case picking best practices will address the space, labor, and stock rotation challenges faced by warehouses and distribution centers of every size.
- Slot inventory by velocity, placing faster moving items in more accessible storage like carton flow racks. Use shelving for slower items.
- Maximize storage density to eliminate wasted vertical space by double-stacking case SKUs. Multi-level and push back carton flow provide even greater density.
- Pick cases directly from carton flow racks. This eliminates extra handling compared to storing on static racks.
- Maintain FIFO inventory control using gravity flow storage methods like carton and pallet flow versus storage on the floor or in industrial shelving.
- Reduce travel distance by zoning pick slots by product type and velocity. Place fastest movers closest to shipping.
Addressing the most common causes of case picking inefficiency will lead to increased profits across every area of your operation.
Increase Space Utilization and Boost Productivity in Your Case Picking Operation
For distributors facing a space crunch due to their case SKUs, dynamic storage solutions can streamline and organize SKUs to reduce travel time and maximize space utilization. UNEX solutions facilitate double or even triple-stacking of your case SKUs, substantially shrinking the footprint of your case picking operation and ensuring aisles remain clear for forklifts and order pickers to navigate safely through.
For medium-moving case picks, UNEX manufactures a variety of carton flow solutions. Designed to ensure FIFO product rotation, carton flow solutions present cases or cartons to workers so they can easily pick orders without having to reach and bend into racks. Storing products in carton flow racks condenses and organizes SKUs to reduce travel time and maximize space utilization.
For faster-moving case picks, UNEX manufactures dynamic pallet flow solutions. Picking from a pallet is ideal for faster-moving products because operators don’t have to double-handle the products to load them into shelving. They simply load the entire pallet as a location on the pick line.
Optimize Your Case Picking Operations with UNEX
UNEX has a comprehensive line of products to help distributors case pick fast, medium, and slow-moving products with enhanced picking speed and accuracy. Our case flow systems like SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed drop into existing structures to quickly and easily create FIFO rotation, and ensure product is always at the pick point. UNEX Pallet Track creates efficient two-deep pallet storage that allows workers to pick cases directly from pallet positions. This helps you avoid double-handling your fastest-moving products.
All UNEX case picking solutions are designed to enhance ergonomic outcomes by eliminating the need to reach and bend into racks, which significantly reduces stress and strain on employees, which reduces workers' compensation claims, but also contributes to lower employee turnover.
Explore UNEX Solutions
SpanTrack Lane
SpanTrack Lane is an innovative carton-flow solution that drops into new or existing pallet rack structures to create an efficient, reliable, and durable flow system. Depend on a robust and sturdy solution for even the most active warehouses and assembly plants.
Key benefits of Spantrack include:
- Ensure FIFO inventory rotation
- Reduce worker travel time by up to 75%
- Optimized for product stacking
- Industry-leading 7-year warranty
SpanTrack Wheel Bed
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is a flexible carton flow solution that drops into new or existing pallet rack structures to create the ultimate gravity flow rack system for order picking operations, manufacturing facilities, and more.
Additional Benefits Of Spantrack Wheel Bed Include:
- Hex hub wheel design for optimal flow
- Store products with a wide variation in size and weight
- Increase flexibility for inventory slotting with 90% left to right bay usage
- Replenish inventory from the back without interrupting the process in front
Pallet Track
Pallet Track is a durable pallet flow solution that utilizes rollers or wheel rails to optimize flow for fast-moving inventory. Our high-quality pallet tracks increase efficiency and storage density and can be customized to fit an operation’s unique needs.
Key benefits of Pallet Track include:
- Select from a variety of track lengths and mounting options
- Increase storage density
- Reduce fork truck operations
- Decrease damage to inventory
Shelf Track
Shelf Track is a carton flow system that replaces unreliable plastic wheel rails and integrates easily into existing racks and shelves. The drop-in design helps create an efficient and accessible pick point for workers and increases productivity.
Key benefits of Shelf Track include:
- 300% more surface area compared to plastic wheel rails
- Works with almost any shelf and accessories
- Minimize maintenance and replacement costs
- Achieve unrivaled flow
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