Kommissionierung Ablauf
Also: Kommissionierablauf, Kommissionier-Ablauf, Picking-Prozess, Pickingablauf, Kommissionierprozess, Ablauf Kommissionierung
AI-generated
The picking process describes the structured sequence of all process steps from order release to the provision of picked goods. It forms the backbone of day-to-day warehouse operations and defines where picking, verification, consolidation, and handover take place.
Key facts
- The picking process is divided into clearly defined steps, from order release through to handover at the packing station or goods-out area.
- Mandatory scans and plausibility checks positioned at the right process steps reduce mispicks without unnecessarily impeding throughput.
- Consolidation is a critical bottleneck in multi-stage processes and must be planned with sufficient space and time allowances.
- Prioritization logic for cut-off times and express orders must be explicitly embedded in the process design, not just configured in the WMS.
- Documented process flows are the foundation for system tenders, staff training, and continuous process improvement.
What is the picking process?
The picking process is the structured sequence of steps a warehouse follows to transform an incoming order into a shipment-ready or production-ready unit of goods. It begins with order release in the warehouse management system and ends with the handover of the picked goods to the next process step – typically a packing station, goods-out area, or buffer zone. Each step in the sequence has a defined input, task, and output. This clarity is the prerequisite for different shifts, zones, and employees to work together in a coordinated manner.
Typical process steps in practice
Although the exact sequence varies depending on the warehouse concept, industry, and degree of automation, the following core steps can be distinguished:
- Order release and prioritization: The WMS checks stock availability, assigns a priority to the order – for example based on cut-off times or express flags – and releases it for processing.
- Route planning or zone assignment: Depending on the method used, an optimized pick path is calculated or the order is distributed across zones and employees.
- Picking: The picker retrieves the required quantity from the storage location. The guidance system may be paper-based, scanner-based, pick-by-voice, or pick-by-light.
- Confirmation and mandatory verification: Quantities, batch numbers, or serial numbers are scanned or confirmed. Mandatory scans prevent mispicks and ensure traceability.
- Consolidation: In multi-stage or zone picking, partial quantities from different zones are merged into a complete order.
- Quality check: Optionally, weight, contents, or condition are inspected – common in pharmaceuticals, food, or high-value items.
- Handover to packing station or goods-out: The completed unit is transported to the next station, typically with a final system status update.
Key considerations for process design
A well-designed process avoids waiting times at bottlenecks such as replenishment points, consolidation areas, or packing stations. A critical factor is where mandatory scans and plausibility checks are built into the process: placed too early, they slow throughput; placed too late, errors are only discovered shortly before dispatch. The prioritization logic is equally important: how are express orders or orders with tight cut-off times given preference without blocking the standard flow? These questions have no universal answers – they depend on the specific product range, order structure, and systems in use. Process documentation that reflects the actual day-to-day workflow – not just the ideal scenario – is the foundation for any optimization effort or system tender.
Related terms
- Akustische Kommissionierung
Acoustic order picking is a paperless picking method in which warehouse employees receive pick instructions via voice and confirm each step using spoken responses. Both hands remain free throughout the actual picking process.
- Auftragsabwicklung
Order fulfillment refers to the complete process from receiving a customer order through to its successful delivery and invoicing. It encompasses all operational and administrative steps required to fulfill an order on time and without errors.
- Auftragsart
The order type classifies an order according to its process logic and thereby determines which workflows, priorities, and rules apply in the warehouse management or ERP system. Typical examples include customer order, stock transfer, return, or sample order.
- Auftragsdurchlaufzeit
Order throughput time refers to the total time from the receipt of an order to its dispatch to the recipient. It encompasses all waiting, processing, and internal transport steps, and serves as a key indicator of the performance of a warehouse or fulfillment process.
- Auftragspositionen
Order line items are the individual lines within an order, each describing an article, a quantity, and supplementary delivery conditions. They form the smallest controllable unit in order processing and serve as the basis for picking, procurement, and invoicing.
- Barcodescanner
A barcode scanner is an optical reading device that captures printed barcodes and converts them into machine-readable data. It is used in intralogistics for the seamless identification of goods, load carriers, and storage locations.
- Batch-Kommissionierung
Batch picking is a method in which multiple customer orders are consolidated into a single pick run. This allows the picker to travel one route while simultaneously covering positions from different orders.
- Beleglose Kommissionierung
Paperless picking refers to the assembly of orders in the warehouse without paper pick lists, where all instructions are transmitted digitally via terminals, displays, voice, or optical signals.
- 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.
- Cut-off-Zeit
The cut-off time is the latest point by which an order must be received in order to be processed, picked, or shipped on the same day. Orders arriving after this time are generally not considered until the next processing cycle.
- Distributionslager
A distribution center is a type of warehouse that consolidates goods and prepares them for targeted delivery to customers, branches, or downstream locations.