Kommissionierverfahren
Also: Kommissionierstrategie, Kommissioniermethode, Picking-Verfahren, Kommissionierungsstrategie, Kommissionierverfahren Lager
AI-generated
Order picking methods refer to the organizational strategies used to assemble orders in a warehouse. These include methods such as single-order picking, batch picking, zone picking, and wave picking.
Key facts
- Order picking methods are organizational strategies for assembling warehouse orders – independent of the assistance systems used.
- Batch picking significantly reduces travel time but requires reliable sorting of the collected items afterward.
- The choice of method depends on the order profile, warehouse layout, cut-off times, and available IT capabilities.
- Many warehouse operations combine several methods in parallel to handle express orders and standard orders differently.
What are order picking methods?
Order picking methods are the structured approaches by which warehouse staff or automated systems assemble items for customer orders. They define how many orders are processed simultaneously, in what sequence warehouse areas are visited, and how work is distributed among people or stations. The method itself is an organizational decision – assistance systems such as pick-by-voice or pick-by-light support a chosen method but do not replace it.
Common methods at a glance
The following methods are used in practice, often in combination:
- Single-order picking (order-by-order): A picker completes one order in full before starting the next. Easy to implement, but not very efficient for high order volumes.
- Batch picking: Multiple orders are grouped together and collected in a single run. Significantly reduces travel time but requires downstream sorting.
- Zone picking: The warehouse is divided into zones, each served by dedicated staff or stations. Orders pass through zones either sequentially or in parallel.
- Wave picking: Orders are released in defined time windows (waves) to better utilize transportation resources, packing stations, and shipping schedules.
- Multi-order picking: A picker handles multiple orders simultaneously in a single pass, for example using a multi-compartment trolley. A combination of batch and zone approaches.
Selecting a method in practice
Which method makes sense depends on several factors. The order profile – meaning how many line items an order contains on average and how much variation exists – is just as critical as the warehouse layout and product structure. Warehouses with many small items and high throughput often benefit from batch picking combined with zone segmentation. Warehouses with few, large items often perform better with simple single-order picking.
In addition, cut-off times, process error tolerance, and scalability during peak periods all play a role. Wave picking is well suited when shipping schedules are tightly timed. IT requirements vary considerably depending on the method: batch picking, for example, requires a capable order management function within the warehouse management system that can intelligently group and sort orders. Options for real-time optimization also differ by vendor.
It is important not to choose a method statically: many operations switch between methods throughout the day, for example using single-order picking for express orders and batch picking for standard orders.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Disposition
Disposition refers to the operational planning and control of resources, quantities, and orders in logistics – for example in transport or materials disposition. It encompasses capacity assignment, scheduling, prioritization, and response to disruptions.