Greifzeit

What is pick time?

Pick time is the segment within an order picking operation that begins once the picker has located the target item at its storage location, and ends when the item has been securely transferred to hand or container. It encompasses all motor sub-movements: reaching, grasping, releasing from the storage unit, and transferring to the order container or conveyor. Pick time is therefore clearly distinguished from search time, which describes the visual or cognitive identification of an item, and from travel time, which covers movement between retrieval locations.

Influencing factors in practice

The actual duration of pick time depends on several mutually influencing factors:

• Item characteristics: Weight, shape, surface texture, and packaging type are key determinants of how easily an item can be grasped. Heavy, irregularly shaped, or smooth containers noticeably increase pick time.
• Storage unit and presentation: Items in bulk bins, trays, or flow racks can generally be retrieved more quickly than those stored in sealed cartons or packed together with other items.
• Ergonomics and reach zone: Items presented within the so-called golden zone — at hip to shoulder height — can be retrieved with less physical effort and therefore more quickly than those located near the floor or above head height.
• Pick aids and assistance systems: Devices such as grippers, suction cups, pick robots, or specially designed retrieval openings in containers can reduce pick time, but must be carefully evaluated in terms of cost-effectiveness and item suitability.
• Retrieval quantity: Picking a single unit from a full container differs significantly in time from retrieving an item resting at the bottom of a nearly empty container.

Key considerations for optimization

In warehouse planning, it is worthwhile to classify items by their pick time and incorporate this information into slotting decisions. Items with high retrieval frequency and long pick times consume a disproportionate share of picking capacity and should be prioritized for ergonomically favorable positions with appropriate presentation. Packaging design on the supplier side is an often underestimated lever: opening geometry, single-unit dispensing mechanisms, and stackability directly influence pick time. When introducing assistance systems, the actual time savings per pick should outweigh the effort involved in setup, maintenance, and reduced item flexibility. Pick time is represented differently across vendors in MTM analyses and time studies, which is why internal measurements should form the starting point of any optimization initiative.