Logistics

Picking: definition, types and its importance in food logistics

Emergentcold
October 21, 2024

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Picking is a key part of food logistics, essential for the efficient storage and distribution of products.

In this article, we’re going to explain in detail the process, its different types and its importance in ensuring that products are picked and delivered quickly. It’s worth emphasizing that all this understanding is indispensable, as it has a direct impact on customer impressions.

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What is picking?

Picking is an essential process in logistics, where products are carefully identified and collected in a warehouse to fill customer orders. 

How does picking work, specifically?

This process begins when an order is received, at which point the necessary items, such as perishable foods, are identified and removed from their storage positions.

Employees then use electronic devices to follow a detailed list and locate exactly what has been ordered.

It is important to note that the focus of picking is to ensure efficiency and precision, so that customers receive their food correctly and in the shortest possible time. This improves customer satisfaction and optimizes warehouse operations.

Picking and Packing: understand the difference

Both are essential processes in warehouse management, each with its own particularities.

The first, as we mentioned, involves selecting and putting together specific products, according to customer orders. It is necessary to locate the right foods on the shelves, following lists or detailed instructions, and prepare them for the next stage of the order processing.

Next, we have packing, which refers to the safe packaging of the selected products for transportation. During the process, each food item is carefully placed in temperature-controlled boxes. This stage also includes weighing, adding address labels and shipping information, as well as any necessary documentation.

In short, while picking focuses on the accuracy of collecting products from the warehouse, packing prioritizes protecting these items during transport to ensure they arrive in perfect condition at their destination.

How important is picking in food logistics?

It cannot be stressed enough that in the food sector, ensuring that the correct items are picked and delivered quickly is fundamental to maintaining food quality and safety.

An efficient picking process allows warehouses to operate with high productivity, reducing errors that can result in losses, waste or even illnesses caused by expired or improperly stored products.

In addition, a well-organized food identification and picking system guarantees product traceability, a very important component for food safety. In the event of a recall, it is possible to quickly identify the batches affected and their distribution.

Accurate picking also contributes to supply chains that are more sustainable, reducing overstocking and increasing product rotation, which is essential for food with limited shelf life.

Therefore, the process in question is not merely an operational step; it directly impacts the health and well-being of end consumers, as well as influencing the economic efficiency and sustainability of the food business.

Types of picking

Product selection and picking can be carried out in various ways, depending on the structure and specific needs of a warehouse. Find out more about each method:

Zone picking

In this case, the warehouse is divided into different zones, and each employee is responsible for picking items only from their designated area.

When an order involves products from several zones, it is passed from one area to another until the picking process is complete. This increases efficiency and reduces the amount of time workers spend moving around the warehouse.

Batch picking

Batch picking groups several orders together for simultaneous picking. This technique is especially useful when several orders contain the same items.

Picking larger quantities of an item at once reduces the number of trips to the same storage location, which saves time and reduces operating costs.

Discrete picking

The discrete picking method consists of picking one complete order before starting the next one, i.e. each order is treated individually, which can be beneficial for complex, large or high-priority orders. 

Wave picking

In this case, orders are picked at specific intervals, or “waves”, throughout the day.

Orders are grouped based on criteria, for example, shipping destination or delivery priority. This method makes it easier to organize the work and schedule shipping, as well as helping coordinate human resources and equipment.

Each type of process has the potential to maximize the efficiency of identification and picking, depending on the specific characteristics of the warehouse and the requirements of the orders.

How to improve picking and become more efficient in food logistics 

processo de picking passo a passo

The best solution is to rely on a company that specializes in this area. With expertise in operations in Latin America, at Emergent Cold LatAm we offer various services (including picking) to modernize the cold chain and reduce food waste.

As storage solutions, we offer refrigerated and frozen control, temperature and humidity control, and room temperature storage. As to value-added services, in addition to food sorting and picking, we offer:

  • Customs warehousing
  • Weighing and labeling
  • Stock monitoring
  • Truck loading and unloading
  • Cross docking and transshipment

It’s also important to say that we have warehouses located in the region’s major cities and ports.

Find out more about our food cold chain solutions in Latin America and make sure you improve your company’s food logistics!

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