Warehouse Slotting is seen as the process of organizing the inventory of a distribution center or warehouse. It can also be referred to as the step-by-step process by which inventory data are analyzed to organize and categorize the inventories in a warehouse. Warehouses are used across the globe and they need to be properly managed to make for easy accessibility to the goods in the warehouse for increased productivity and easy workflow.
Micro Slotting and Macro Slotting
As a Warehouse manager, sometimes distinctions are made between Micro slotting and Macro slotting.
- Micro Slotting is how the individual items in the warehouse are placed in certain locations within the warehouse.
- Macro Slotting on the other hand refers to the overall layout of the warehouse.
For the easy distinction between the two, the warehouse layout is used for the macro slotting while slotting by its definition is used as micro slotting.
Random and Fixed Slotting
Warehouse managers also have to choose between Random slotting or Fixed slotting
- Random Slotting guarantees that the items are assigned to pick zones instead of a permanent location and can be faster but requires a large warehouse because, with random slotting, the items do not have a specific slot. They are just assigned to any space available
- Fixed Slotting has an item allocated and assigned to a specific location in the warehouse. Although it is a traditional method of slotting, it can be time-intensive, and increased shipment volumes demand increased speed.
Benefits of Warehouse Slotting
The Benefits and Importance of that cannot be over-emphasized. warehouse when successfully done gives an efficient, effective, and optimized use of your warehouse space. Below listed are some of the benefits of warehouse slotting.
- It increases visibility and accessibility of items
With a Warehouse properly slotted, the manager will be able to easily view the items in the warehouse and have easy access to them.
- It frees up space and optimizes storage
Slotting will most definitely reduce the mess and clusters in the warehouse and free up more space. The better the slotting process, the more spacious the warehouse becomes.
- It balances workflow
Slotting makes it easier to walk in and out of the warehouse comfortably without a lot of items and goods in the way. This way, getting a certain item in or out of the warehouse will be easier and faster.
- It reduces error.
One of the major causes of misplaced items and wrong delivery of items is the rowdiness and cluster of the warehouse. When properly slotted, the warehouse becomes neat and organized resulting in a drastic reduction of human error.
- It improves the accuracy of the inventory
It will give the warehouse manager an accurate inventory of the goods in his warehouse. By slotting the warehouse, you will be able to adequately account for all the goods in the warehouse.
- It minimized the number of damaged items
More goods and items are prone to be damaged in an unslotted warehouse. Once the goods are stored in an effective and organized manner, the number of items that will be damaged will be minimized.
- It also increases the safety of the items stored.
Data to collect for best Warehouse Slotting practice
The following data should be collected and considered when storing certain items in your warehouse:
- The size and weight of the item
- The mode by which the item will be stored
- The velocity of the item
- Special storage requirements
- The Order history
- If it’s a Slow-moving item or a fast-moving item
- If it is a seasonal item
- Special characteristics of the item
- The product affinity
Having these data collected will inform your warehouse slotting strategy.
Important tips to note
- It is important to always keep your warehouse clean and organized
- You should rank your slots according to their priority for easy accessibility
- Always consider your storage capacity before beginning the slotting process
- Stack the heavier items at the bottom of the pallet stack
- Always ensure safety first in the warehouse
- Slotting ensures proper handling of products
- Consider the certain features of the products before assigning them to slots
- Ensure to stack items of similar characteristics or functionality in the same place
- Always observe a height limit for your stacks for easy accessibility
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Can I consider re-slotting my warehouse?
Answer: Yes, you can consider Re slotting when there is a change in demand, a change in product mix, or a supply chain shock.
Question 2: How high should a warehouse stack be?
Answer: A stack pallet in any warehouse should not be more that 16 feet high. If you’re using a forklift machine, it should not be more than 20 feet high.
Question 3: What is Slot Optimization?
Answer: Slot optimization is the assigning of SKU within the warehouse to a location that will ensure its optimal productivity.
