Slotting
Warehouse OperationsSlotting (or slot optimization) is the process of strategically assigning inventory locations within the warehouse to minimize picking time and distance. High-velocity items are typically placed near packing areas or at ergonomic heights to speed up fulfillment. Slotting decisions are based on product velocity, weight, size, and demand patterns. Proper slotting significantly reduces labor costs and increases throughput, and is often optimized using WMS analytics.
Related Terms
WMS (Warehouse Management System)
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is software that controls and optimizes warehouse operations including inventory tracking, picking, packing, shipping, and receiving.
Put-Away
Put-away is the warehouse process of moving received inventory from the receiving dock to its assigned storage location in the warehouse.
Zone Picking
Zone picking is a fulfillment method where the warehouse is divided into zones, and each picker is responsible for collecting items from their assigned zone.
Wave Picking
Wave picking is an order fulfillment strategy where orders are grouped into waves (batches) and picked together rather than individually.