If you want to have a successful inventory management system there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration. SKU Identification is the cornerstone of proper inventory management. You must be able to identify each SKU as well as where that SKU lives; whether it be in a slot, bin, rack, shelf, or an area. This is very similar to the address of your house or your business. If you move you will have to notify the post office of your change of address. Your inventory management system must also have this capability.
This system must also be capable of assigning multiple locations for a particular SKU. There may be an instance where a SKU may have more than one home within the warehouse and the inventory management system must be able to account for this. Tracking movements needs to be a simple process that can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time.
Let’s take a closer look at how we can develop an effective locator system. It begins with clearly marking the products with SKU identifiers. These identifiers should contain units of measure and where the item is located or its location address. Think of the location address like your home address; street, city, state, and zip correspond to your to your specific geographic location on a map. An example of a warehouse address could consist of case, position, rack, and wing.
Now that item been clearly marked with the SKU and its address the inventory management system has to tie the address to the SKU. When an item is moved from one location to another the system must be updated as soon as possible in order to maintain accuracy. This can be accomplished through the use of bar coding or by using RFID technology. Identification can be alpha, numeric, or a combination of the two. It has been found that workers typically make less mistakes when a numeric system is used vs. an alpha system. It seems to be easier to match up numbers than to read words. Bar coding scanners also help with the accuracy of identifying an item during the pick process.
The items that you store are not the only things that need to have identification. Positions within the warehouse must also be identified and clearly marked so that your staff can quickly recognize where a particular item is located. Again, like the address on a house. If it is clearly visible from the street then it will be easier for visitors to find the house. This position address must specify where the item is located within the warehouse. Just tying the SKU to the position is not enough for an inventory system to be accurate. The system has to be able to account for adds, deletions, as well as product moves. Some organizations require real time updates this would require the use of mobile scanners/computers connected to some type of wireless or cellular network or through the use of RFID technology.
Luckily, Zenventory has Z-Sync, a wireless connection in your warehouse using Wi-Fi, allowing real-time updates to Zenventory. Whether you’re using the mobile app or at your desktop, you can always be sure that you are keeping your inventory up to date at any given moment. Zenventory will help you organize your warehouse so that your staff will be able to perform their jobs to the fullest extent.