The benefits of slotting

Slotting is the process of positioning individual items in a place where they are most efficiently stored and also most efficiently selected for outbound movement. When done properly, warehouse slotting offers many benefits:

• When stored efficiently, slotting items will occupy less space, creating additional space for other products.
• When existing space can accommodate more items, the need to expand to other facilities is eliminated.
• Faster picking will happen when slotting systems group similar items together based on their size, volume and weight.
• Efficient slotting can also protect items from damage. Placing lightweight items at the back and heavy items at the front will encourage order pickers to place heaviest items at the bottom and lighter ones at the top.
• Slotting will reduce the chance of making mistakes if items with similar description are not stored together.
• When low, medium, and fast-moving items are identified, slotting is designed to move the fastest moving products close to the door and close to the floor.
• Improved productivity involves a slotting strategy that replaces fast movers in the most common spots, minimizing guesswork and travel time.
• Different items may require different handling equipment. Slotting that isolates those SKUs that require special equipment will improve material handling efficiency.
• Movement economy is generated when highest volume SKUs are stored close to the packing stations.
• Where there are significant seasonal changes, slotting may be adjusted to adapt to the season of the year.
• Safety is a significant consideration. Heavy or dangerous items should stay close to the floor.
• While slotting is usually identified with storage efficiency, it is also essential to create picking instructions that are coordinated with the slotting system. In other words can or will a warehouse order picker be able to move in a straight line from the top of the items in the written order to the last item, without traveling from one end of the warehouse to another to complete the order selection process.

Finally, remember that if you don’t direct the put away of inbound items, slotting decisions will be madeby a lift truck operator who does not consider any of these issues.