Batch order picking strategies are fundamental to most implementations of automated Sortation Systems in distribution centers. The graphic below illustrates the fundamentals of batch picking - it was taken from the most recent edition of The Supply Chain Digest Letter, which focused this month on Sortation Systems. If your are interested in or considering distribution center automation, you can download the electronic copy of the Letter, or access our excellent resource page on Sortation Systems for Distribution, which contains a wealth of information on this topic.

As can be seen from the graph, key to the productivity gains from batch picking and sortation is having order pickers visit a pick/SKU location only one time for a wave or batch of orders, rather than each picker going to the same location for each individual order in un-automated discrete picking systems. The sorter does the job of breaking these batch picks back into specific customer orders.

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