If you own a company and sell goods, your products will certainly end up in a logistics warehouse.
That's why it's so important to avoid picking errors, so that you can satisfy all your customers... In this article, you'll find tips on how to avoid picking errors.
Picking errors
First of all, picking is the English term for order preparation. A picking error means that one of your items is placed in the wrong place in the warehouse, and it's quite possible that the order picker collects a product that isn't part of the order. This is one of the most common errors, and it has negative consequences for your customers, who are bound to make a complaint.
Before closing and sending the parcel, it is essential to check that the items correspond to the customer's order.
Quantity of products
When picking items, some order pickers forget or add a product to the order. This mistake is very often made, and has negative repercussions on a customer's order, so it's vital to check the quantity required by customers.
Mixing several controls
When picking, an order picker is often tasked with collecting several items from different orders at the same time. This practice improves order processing speed. On the other hand, picking can be a risky business, since carelessness can lead to errors in packaging.
To avoid this error, it is advisable to scan each item before packing. This will enable the barcode reader to communicate to the picker the elements to be assembled for each order.
Stock problems
When customers shop online, they expect all the products displayed to be available in the warehouse. In some cases, however, items may be out of stock, and the customer is ultimately billed for a product he or she will not receive.
This mistake is made by many companies, and to avoid it, it's best to use inventory management software. These software programs provide timely information on the stock levels of each item, and can also inform operators if a product has been placed in the wrong place in the warehouse.
Product replacement
If your company is affected by a product out-of-stock situation, you will probably have to replace this item with another, and this is when an error can be made. Indeed, when you replace one part number with another, it's imperative to record this replacement in the system, so that inventory management is not affected.
Checking the package
Pre-shipment inspection is one of the key stages in order preparation. The operator must ensure that the contents of the parcel correspond to the customer's order. This last step enables any picking errors to be rectified. In some cases, the weight of the parcel must also be checked to ensure traceability.
In short, as you will have understood, picking errors often occur during the picking process in the storage area. It doesn't have a direct impact on the customer, but it does mean extra costs and delays for your company.
