31.9 C
Singapore
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
HomeWarehousingEssential Warehouse Technologies for an Efficient Supply Chain

Essential Warehouse Technologies for an Efficient Supply Chain

Technology has become indispensable in our living, and even in the supply chains of organisations. Technology is evolving day by day, and is pushing the boundaries and changing how the world does business. Technology innovation initiation is making huge changes across industries around the world. However, the most impacted sectors might be the logistics and supply chain industry. Warehouse technology is a sustainable, effective, and economical solution to addressing the challenges of the warehouse. Especially now, markets are starting to transition to e-commerce platforms that are accessible and open 24/7, It is becoming more and more important to transform warehouses from over-reliance on expensive human labor to more automated and technology-centric operations.

Order Picking Technology

An order picking technology means the picking process in the warehouse requires technical equipment and systems, and this is an improvement to the process. There are many order picking technologies that can be used to fulfill orders, tasks, and support inventory management. Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AICD) system is a technology designed to automatically collect data from an object and transfer it back to the computer system, and manual data entry is not required. This system can improve picker productivity in order picking environment and ensure data accuracy.

With these technologies, the picker can perform fast and accurate identification of required picks, no matter the complexity of the order picking. AICD system includes Bar Code Scanning and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bar Code Scanning requires camera-based imagers or a radio frequency to scan the barcode label to instantly validate the information that the code contains, then transmit the data to another system for processing and use. However, in Radio Frequency Identification, unlike barcodes, information and data is coded into a small tag or label that using an integrated circuit. Then RFID uses radio waves to capture the data without line-of-sight and transfer it to a host system.

Warehouse Management System (WMS)

WMSis a software solution that offers visibility into a warehouse inventory and allows the organization to control and manage warehouse operations from goods, products and raw materials enter a warehouse until move out. WMS is to ensure products, goods, and raw materials move through the warehouse in a proper, efficient, and economical way. A WMS can handle many functions that enable these movements, such as receiving, put away, picking, and tracking. It also provides clarity of the organization’s inventory status at any time and location. There are many features common to WMS software products, such as warehouse design, inventory tracking, receiving, put away, shipping, labor management, reporting, picking, and packing goods.


The full content is only visible to SIPMM members

Already a member? Please Login to continue reading.


Chow Paul Young
Chow Paul Young
Chow Paul Young has several years of experience in the field of warehousing, and specifically in the supply chain industry. He holds the International Diploma in IT Support and is a member of the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM). Paul Young completed the Diploma in Logistics and Supply Management (DLSM) on September 2021 at SIPMM Institute.
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Read