Warehouse IQ

Order Entry and Order Processing Tips

Written by editor on September 21, 2011 – 7:43 am -

Order Entry System Suggestions

Here are a few tips for creating best practices around order entry and order processing.

Create an order entry system that allows for:

• Orders can be accumulated ahead of when they need to be picked
• Those orders can then be scheduled into picking waves
• Strict guidelines are in place for last minute order changes
  • Do not allow changes or additions to an order less than a day before it is due to ship
• Send orders to warehouse picking in an orderly fashion
• Handling back orders
  • Ship order and cancel back-order items
    • Some suggest that if the inventory shows for a particular item out of stock at the time of order, it is better to ship the remainder of the order and request the customer to place the stock-out item on order again.
  • If you hold the entire order until all items are in stock, this can cause inventory levels to rise
• Group picks by zone
• Track the number of picks by employee
• Time stamp pick tickets with the start and stop times of the order being picked
  • This helps calculate employees’ pick rates and productivity levels
• Keep a record of shipments to customers by lot number
• Consider bar coding to reduce keystrokes,
  • This helps you keep a tighter control on inventory levels
  • Mispicks are usually only discovered when the mistakes are not in the customers’ favor – bar coding reduces picking errors
  • Helps control inventory shrinkage due to mis-picks
  • Scanning a bar code is 5 times faster than keystroke
  • Knowing your inventory levels helps you keep your inventory turns up and inventory levels down

Tags: automation, Cost Reduction Strategies, order picking, warehouse automation, Warehouse order entry, Warehouse order processing tips, Warehousing Guide
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