Picking Methods
SIEVERS WMS supports several picking methods that differ in effort, throughput time, and suitability for different warehouse structures. The right choice depends on your order structure, the number of lines per order, order volume, and the physical warehouse layout.
Hinweis
The choice of method is not a global system setting. It results from the combination of Order Types, Logistics Teams, and the settings on the Customer. This means different orders in the same warehouse can be processed using different methods.
Which method suits my warehouse?
Serial Picking
One picker processes an entire order independently: line by line, storage location by storage location. The order reference is maintained without interruption throughout the entire process.
This is the simplest and most commonly used method. It is particularly suitable when orders are manageable and no special coordination between employees is required.
Suitable for:
- Few orders per day (up to approx. 50)
- Small to medium orders with few lines
- Compact warehouses without clearly separated storage areas
- Getting started with warehouse management in SIEVERS WMS
Setup: No special setup is required for serial picking. Check in the Order Type that neither Series Creation nor MOP Batch Creation is enabled. A Picking Document of type Regular is then created automatically per order.
Process description: Process a document-based warehouse shipment
Parallel Picking
Multiple pickers work simultaneously on different parts of the same order. Each employee is responsible for a specific storage area (e.g. warehouse a or high-bay racking). The picked partial quantities are subsequently consolidated at a consolidation location before packing begins.
The throughput time for large or high-line orders is significantly reduced because several people work in parallel. The downside is additional consolidation effort in packing.
Suitable for:
- Large orders with many lines
- Warehouses with clearly separated areas (e.g. high-bay racking and small-parts warehouse in different halls)
- High requirements for short throughput times
Setup
Parallel picking does not require a dedicated system function. It results from assigning multiple picking teams to an order type:
- Create an Order Type: Set up an Order Type. Make sure that neither Series Creation nor MOP Batch Creation is enabled.
- Assign at least 2 picking teams: Assign at least two Logistics Teams of type Picking to the order type, one per storage area (e.g. team "Hall A" and team "Hall B"). Each team should be assigned to a different storage area.
- Result: If an order contains items from different warehouses, SIEVERS WMS automatically creates multiple picking documents when the warehouse document is created, one per picking team. Both documents can be processed simultaneously by different employees.
- Consolidation: The parallel-picked load carriers are brought together at a shared consolidation location. Packing can only begin once all partial quantities of an order are present.
Hinweis
The consolidation in packing must be explicitly accounted for. The packing team only sees all lines of an order once all associated picking documents have been confirmed.
Multi-Order Picking (MOP)
Multiple orders are grouped into a batch. The picker processes lines from different orders in a single picking run. Each item is placed order-purely into a separate compartment of a MOP trolley, so that the order reference is maintained throughout the entire picking process and no subsequent distribution is necessary.
MOP is particularly efficient when many small orders share the same storage aisles and the travel distance per individual order would be inefficiently short.
Suitable for:
- Many small orders (from approx. 50 per day)
- Maximum 10 lines per order
- Items with weight ≤ 25 kg and volume ≤ 1 m³
- Warehouses with a high proportion of similar orders
Distinction from Series-Oriented Picking: With MOP, the order reference is maintained during picking (order-pure compartments). With Series-Oriented Picking (SOP), picking is performed without an order reference, which is only restored afterwards.
Setup:
- Activate SWMS Feature: In the SWMS Feature Setup, activate the Multi Order Picking feature. Without this setting, all MOP-related fields and pages are hidden in the system.
- Configure Order Type: In the Order Type, enable the MOP Batch Creation flag. The Series Creation flag must remain disabled.
- Set up MOP Batch Creation Strategy: In the MOP Batch Creation Strategy, define the criteria for batch composition: at minimum Location Code and Max. Number of Orders. Additional optional limits are Max. Number of Lines, Max. Weight, and Max. Volume. Also enter a batch number series in the SIEVERS WMS Setup.
- Set up MOP trolley: Under Industrial Trucks, create a MOP trolley with the desired number of compartments. The number of compartments determines how many orders can be processed simultaneously in one batch.
Process description: Create and carry out a MOP batch
Series-Oriented Picking (SOP)
Multiple orders are picked together as a series. The picked quantities are not assigned directly to an individual order during picking; items from different orders are first placed together in series load carriers (SLTs). The order reference is only restored in the subsequent series distribution step.
This method achieves the highest picking efficiency at very high order volumes, but requires a structured distribution process and is more error-prone than the other methods.
Suitable for:
- Very high order volume (> 200 orders per day)
- Orders typically with 1-3 lines
- Combination with conveyor technology or sorter systems
- When the workload can no longer be managed with the other methods
Distinction from MOP: With SOP, items from different orders are placed mixed in SLTs (no order reference during picking). With MOP, the order reference is maintained through separate compartments.
Setup:
- Activate SWMS Feature: In the SWMS Feature Setup, activate the Series-Oriented Picking feature. Without this setting, all SOP-related fields and pages are hidden in the system.
- Configure Order Type: In the Order Type, enable the Series Creation flag. The MOP Batch Creation flag must remain disabled.
- Set up Series Strategy: In the Series Strategy, define the criteria for series composition: Location Code (mandatory field), Max. Number of Orders/Lines/Quantity/Volume, and optionally Automatic Release and Split Orders. The responsible teams can be specified directly in the strategy via Default Picking Team/Packing Team.
Process description: Carry out a picking series
Comparison overview
| Serial | Parallel | MOP | SOP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order reference | Always | Always | Always | Only after distribution |
| Pickers | 1 per order | Multiple per order | 1 for many orders | 1-n for many orders |
| Consolidation | Not required | Required | Not required | Series distribution |
| Order volume | Low | Low-medium | High | Very high |
| Typical lines/order | Any | Many | ≤ 10 | 1-3 |
| Setup effort | Minimal | Medium | Medium | High |
| Error risk | Low | Low | Low | Medium |
For more information on controlling which orders may be picked or packed together, see Packing Together Rules and Various Order Handling.