The document discusses various inventory picking strategies essential for effective supply chain management, highlighting their significance in reducing warehouse costs. It covers methods such as piece picking, batch picking, cluster picking, wave picking, zone picking, sortation picking, and picking to box, explaining how each strategy optimizes efficiency and labor. Ultimately, selecting the appropriate picking method is crucial for aligning with specific business objectives and enhancing productivity.

1. SUPPLY CHAIN
MANAGEMENT
BASICS:
INVENTORY
PICKING
STRATEGIES
BY: ANGELA CARVER

2. Supply Chain Picking Basics
• For most warehouse operations picking processes account for nearly
40-50% of total warehousing and distribution costs. For this reason
alone, picking is a critical area of focus for supply chain operators.
• Every 3PL, warehouse, distribution center, manufacturer or retailer
operates differently and will require different picking strategies to
help meet their specific business objectives. The most commonly
utilized inventory picking strategiesinclude:
• Batch picking
• Wave picking
• Cluster picking
• Piece picking
• Zone picking
• Sortation picking

3. Single Order/Piece Picking
• The most basic of picking strategies, piece picking, is the processof
pulling inventory piece by piece for a single order.
• This picking strategy is completed in a ratio of one warehouse picker
to one customer order.
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1

4. Batch Picking
• Batch picking, also known as multi-order picking, is the process of
pulling stock to fulfill multiple orders concurrently. Once all of the
batched items have been picked, pickers will sort and stage orders
accordingly.
• This picking method helps to reduce travel time throughout the
facility and number of trips taken, reducing the average pick cost per
order.
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5. Cluster Picking
• Cluster picking is a similar process to batch picking in that
warehouse staff pull inventory from multiple orders simultaneously,
but rather than picking into one community container items are
picked directly into their corresponding containers or totes.
• This eliminates the additional labor required to separate orders at the
staging/loading area.
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6. Wave Picking
• Wave picking, most typically facilitated by your warehouse
management software, is a picking strategy where groupings of
orders are released throughout the day in “waves”.
• The timing of the these waves are scheduled to evenly distribute
labor throughout the day. Average wave length can range anywhere
from 1 to 4 hours, resulting in up to 8 waves per shift.
• The variance in wave length and frequency is determined by the daily
workload and available staff.

7. Zone Picking
• Zone picking is an inventory picking strategy where warehouse staff
pick solely from their designated zone. Depending on the size of the
facility and staff availability zones can vary in size from a few
grouped SKUs to full aisles.
• Pickers will pull inventory from their designated zone to fulfill multiple
customer orders.
• This strategy is used to increase picking efficiency and allow for staff
inventory handling specialization.
Zone
1
Zone
1
Zone 1
Zone 1

8. Sortation Picking
• Sortation picking, a strategy reserved for facilities utilizing automated
storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), requires little to movement for
the order pickers.
• Inventory is brought to the pickers via conveyor systems. This picking
strategy reduces order fulfillment labor requirements with system
automation.
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9. Picking to Box
• The pick to box strategy is used most often in warehouse facilities
utilizing conveyor systems. In this strategy pickers remain at
designated stations and place items in boxes as the conveyormoves
them past. Each box may visit multiple stations before order
fulfillment is complete.

10. Conclusion
• Every order fulfillment operation will facilitate picking using a different
picking method, combination of methods or a customized method to
better fit their business.
• It is critical to have knowledge of a variety of picking strategies dueto
the constantly evolving supply chain and logisticsmarketplace.
• Implementing the best picking method can help to reduce average
order picking costs through improved efficiency, process
optimization and labor reduction.

11. Receive a no obligation operational
assessment to see which picking method is
best for your complex supply chain business.
Contact an Expert
http://www.southwestsolutions.com/industrial/types-of-picking-strategies-to-maximize-productivity-in-warehouse-operations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_picking
http://www.inventoryops.com/order_picking.htm