Einlagerungen
Also: Einlagerung, Einlagern, Einlagerungsprozess, Einlagerungen, Lagereingang, Platzierung im Lager
AI-generated
Putaway refers to the process by which goods are assigned to a storage location after goods receipt and physically transported there. The process includes identification, status assignment, location determination, physical transport, and system-side posting.
Key facts
- Putaway refers to the assignment and physical transport of goods to a storage location after goods receipt, including the system-side posting.
- Only once putaway is complete is the goods considered available in the WMS as inventory for follow-up orders.
- The choice between fixed and random location assignment significantly influences space efficiency, travel distances, and the degree of automation.
- Special requirements such as batch tracking, hazardous goods, or temperature zones call for correspondingly differentiated putaway rules in the WMS.
- A clean putaway logic is a prerequisite for inventory accuracy and short travel distances in subsequent order fulfillment.
What is putaway?
Putaway is the structured process by which goods are assigned to a defined storage location upon arrival in the warehouse and physically placed there. It bridges the gap between goods receipt — the acceptance and inspection of a delivery — and the actual availability of the goods for subsequent picking or transfer. Only once putaway is complete is an item considered available in inventory and usable for follow-up orders.
How does putaway work in practice?
The process begins with the identification of the goods, typically via barcode or radio frequency terminal. A quality or blocked status is then assigned if a quality inspection is required. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) subsequently determines a suitable storage location based on predefined rules — such as item class, temperature requirements, hazardous goods regulations, batch number, or available capacity. An operator or automated system transports the goods to the assigned location and confirms the putaway, triggering the posting in the system. In many warehouses, applying storage labels is also part of this step.
There are two fundamental putaway strategies: with fixed location assignment, each item is permanently assigned specific storage slots. With random (chaotic) storage, the system dynamically assigns the most suitable available location, enabling higher space utilization but requiring reliable system control.
- Fixed location assignment: Easy orientation, less WMS dependency, but lower space efficiency.
- Random putaway: Higher space utilization, flexible with assortment changes, requires robust WMS logic.
- ABC-based putaway: Fast-moving items receive locations closest to picking zones, reducing subsequent travel distances.
What matters when making a selection?
The quality of putaway processes directly affects inventory accuracy, picking performance, and warehouse utilization. When planning or selecting a system, the following points should be considered: Which placement rules should the WMS support — and how flexibly can they be adjusted? How are blocked and quality statuses managed, and what system integration with quality management exists? How accurately does the system map location capacities and volumes to prevent overstocking? For special requirements such as hazardous goods, batch tracking, or refrigeration, the demands on rule sets and system depth increase considerably. Interfaces to conveyor technology, automated small-parts warehouses, or autonomous mobile robots are also relevant when putaway is to be partially or fully automated. Putaway should be distinguished from stock relocation, in which inventory is simply moved between already occupied storage locations without any new goods receipt as the basis.
Related terms
- ABC-Analyse
ABC analysis is a method for classifying items, vendors, or processes into three priority classes (A, B, C) based on their economic significance. It forms the basis for differentiated decision-making in warehousing, inventory management, and procurement.
- Auslagerung
Retrieval refers to the physical process by which goods or load units are removed from a storage area and transferred to a downstream process – such as picking or shipping.
- Automatisches Kleinteilelager (AKL)
The Automated Small Parts Warehouse (AKL) is a fully automated storage system for totes, trays and small parts, in which storage and retrieval operations are performed without manual intervention by stacker cranes or shuttle systems.
- Barcode
A barcode is a machine-readable optical code that represents information as a pattern of bars and spaces or as a two-dimensional matrix. It enables the automatic identification of items, load carriers, and documents along the entire supply chain.
- Bestandsführung
Inventory management refers to the system-supported administration and continuous updating of all warehouse and material stocks within a company. It forms the basis for planning, procurement and accounting – and ensures that the book inventory and physical inventory are in agreement at all times.
- Bestandsmanagement
Inventory management refers to the systematic planning, control, and monitoring of stock levels across the entire supply chain. The goal is to ensure delivery capability while keeping capital commitment and warehousing costs within economically viable limits.
- Blocklager
A block storage system is a storage method in which load units — typically pallets — are stacked directly on the floor in rows and blocks without any racking structure.
- Chaotische Lagerhaltung
Chaotic storage is a warehousing principle in which items are not stored in fixed, pre-assigned locations, but are instead dynamically placed in any available, suitable slot in the warehouse. A warehouse management system handles the control and tracking of all storage locations.
- Charge
A batch is a uniquely identifiable quantity of products manufactured or processed under identical conditions. It forms the basis for traceability, quality control, and legally required recall processes throughout the entire supply chain.
- Chargenrückverfolgung
Batch traceability refers to the complete and uninterrupted trackability of products and materials along the supply chain based on their batch assignment. It enables companies to quickly identify and selectively block all affected quantities in the event of a quality issue or recall.
- Datenfunkterminal
A data radio terminal is a mobile device for wireless data capture and transmission in the warehouse, combining a display, input, and scanner in one unit. It typically communicates with a warehouse management system via Wi-Fi and supports processes such as goods receipt, picking, and inventory counting.
- Wareneingang
Goods receipt is the first process step in the warehouse, in which incoming deliveries are unloaded, identified, inspected, posted, and made available for putaway or further processing.