Part of growing your business is maximizing the efficiency of your operations from staffing to logistics. Proper and innovative warehouse management can increase your processing capacity and allow you and your team to move more inventory/products out the door and into the hands of your customers. One of the primary means of hacking your warehouse workflow is through the use of pick modules.
A well-designed pick module can help you accomplish taking your inventory management to the next level by increasing output rates while lowering labor expenses. Additionally, such a system will enable you to increase your sales volume and accommodate additional inventory while still maintaining order accuracy. At the end of the day, designing effective pick modules will require you to take a close look at your warehouse’s physical design and layout, building codes, evaluate inventory data, and select the best picking procedures and technologies.
Before we proceed, let’s take a moment to review what a pick module is. Pick modules are made up of various components including a conveyor, mezzanine, industrial shelving, and pallet rack (styles: pallet flow, carton flow, pushback, and standard). These items allow you to store inventory and fill customer orders. Various types of pick module designs can be used depending on your business needs. A pallet rack or industrial shelving unit can be single or multi-level. These systems can be linked together with conveyor belts and move hundreds or thousands of units seamlessly through your distribution center.
Pick modules are utilized in a variety of industries like drug companies, parts manufacturers, food, retail, specialty distribution, e-commerce, electronics, and many more. This solution is a cost-effective way to enhance picking efficiency, productivity, and accuracy across these industries.
If you are looking to optimize warehouse efficiency, a high-density pick module system may be the way to go. This type of picking system is traditionally multiple levels and will contain work platforms along with mezzanines containing one or more conveyor belts. These pick modules also are made up of multiple units of industrial shelving, carousels, a pallet rack or racks, and carton flow racks. Equipment that can take loads to pickers, regardless of level, rounds out this high-density system.
