Example: Basic Rule for Multi-Order Picking - Picking into Totes

When picking into totes, you must follow the basic rule of picking items from the same order into the same tote.

In a merged picking task, when you perform the picking into totes, you begin with the first picking task line. This is the first time that you are picking the products into a tote, so either scan the tote barcode or enter the tote ID. The system links this tote to the order. The next time that you pick products for that order, the system directs you to the same tote as it is already linked to that order.

Example You have orders 1, 2, 3, and 4, the picking tasks of which have been merged into picking task 1 with 1 to 10 picking task lines. Based on the number of orders (4), you must have at least 4 totes into which you pick the products. You must also ensure that one tote is assigned to each order. The following table illustrates this example in detail.

Order

Picking Task #

Picking Task Line

Tote ID

1

1

1

1 (user must choose)

1

1

2

1 (system directed)

3

1

3

2 (user must choose)

2

1

4

3 (user must choose)

1

1

5

1 (system directed)

3

1

6

2 (system directed)

3

1

7

2 (system directed)

4

1

8

4 (user must choose)

4

1

9

4 (system directed)

1

1

10

1 (system directed)

EXPLANATION

Picking task line 1 - You begin your picking task by picking products for picking task line 1, which is for order 1. This is the first time that you are picking products for order 1, so you must choose an empty tote. So you scan or enter a tote ID, that is, tote 1. The system links tote 1 to order 1.

Picking task line 2 - After this, you pick products for picking task line 2, which is again for order 1. You do not need to choose a tote this time, as the system directs you to tote 1. This is because the system has already linked tote 1 to order 1. So you do not need to choose a tote, instead you pick the products into tote 1.

Picking task line 3 - This picking task line is for order 3. As this is the first time you are picking for this order, you must choose an empty tote. So you scan or enter the next tote ID, that is, tote 2. The system links tote 2 to order 3.

Picking task line 4 - This picking task line is for order 4. As this is the first time you are picking for this order, you must choose an empty tote. So you scan or enter the next tote ID, that is, tote 3. The system links tote 3 to order 4.

Picking task line 5 - This picking task line is for order 1. You had already linked tote 1 to order 1 earlier, so the system directs you to tote 1, and you pick the products into tote 1.

Summary (see the table) - In other words, you had to scan or enter tote IDs for picking task lines 1, 3, 4, and 8 as that was the first time you picked products into totes 1, 2, 3, 4 for orders 1, 3, 2, and 4. The system linked the totes to the orders accordingly and directed you to the appropriate totes for picking task lines 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10.