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Advanced Slotting

Optimize your product placement with advanced algorithms in a digital twin of your warehouse.

Reduction of picking and replenishment time 

through predictive calculation of expected order load and resulting replenishment impulses

Creation of stock transfer lists

for efficient implementation of the calculated assignment in practice

Dynamic determination of optimal storage bin location at putaway

considering the quantity to be put away, expected sales and, if necessary, further storage restrictions

Various algorithmic approaches

to consider restrictions such as load balancing, branch sequence, or common jointly required articles

Integration into the process flow of the WMS 

for optimization without additional effort for employees

Optimized distribution of articles in automatic storage system and manual area

for a good load of the systems and compliance with capacity restrictions

Advanced Slotting

  • Increase of picking efficiency
  • Decrease of replenishment efforts
  • Reduction of transport damages
  • Reduction of picking errors
  • Generation of equal workload utilization
Advanced Slotting

Using innovative algorithms, W2MO calculates the optimal warehouse assignment considering various criteria and restrictions. Reducing the distance traveled while picking and the time required for picking as well as balancing the workload in different areas of the warehouse are just a few of the aspects that can be optimized. A store sequence can be considered or a significant reduction in product damage can be achieved by placing heavy products at the beginning of the picking tour ahead of fragile products. Using sophisticated computational methods, it is also possible to analyze huge amounts of data to determine which products are often ordered together. These items are then be placed close to each other in an appropriate “set assignment”. On the other hand, the separation of storage locations for similar products, so-called “look-alikes”, reduces picking errors. Additionally, W2MO generates changeover lists that calculate how to achieve this optimized reorganization in the fewest moves possible. W2MO’s multiple visualization capabilities allow for easy analysis of product placement in 2D and 3D.

Dynamic Putaway

  • Determination of an optimized putaway location, which enables a cost-optimized picking and replenishment process
  • Consideration of the quantity to be put away as well as the current stock situation
  • Consideration of historical and expected quantities
Dynamic Putaway

W2MO can also be integrated to optimize the product placement for a chaotic storage system using dynamic putaway. In dynamic putaway, the target storage bin is determined considering the current free storage bins as well as the historical and expected outbound quantity at the moment the transport order is executed. In this way, a better assignment is gradually created and then constantly maintained.

Reorganization

  • Generation of systematic stock transfer lists for a practical reorganization
  • Sorting of the stock transfer proposals according to their effect on the expected workload
  • Automatic creation of reorganization transport orders
Reorganization

After W2MO has created an optimal assignment for fixed bin storage, targeted stock transfers are used to improve warehouse assignment. Only those stock transfers that have high impact on warehouse performance should be carried out. Furthermore, the transfers are carried out in an efficient way by using so-called changeover cycles. In addition, the stock transfers can be sorted according to their impact on the amount of work to be saved, and thus reorganization activities can be carried out in a targeted manner, piece by piece, allowing you to prioritize certain workflows. In a periodic reorganization, it is even possible to automatically create reorganization transport orders.

Storage in Automatic Storage Systems

  • Precise calculation of space requirements and number of containers needed for optimized utilization of the automatic storage system
  • Decision at product level on assignment to automatic or manual warehouse system
  • Consideration of volume, weight restrictions, and other parameters relevant for storage
  • Selection of a suitable storage container using the W2MO Case Pack algorithm
  • Estimate of costs and workload
Storage in Automatic Storage Systems

Many logistics systems are designed as a combination of manual and automatic storage areas such as a shuttle warehouse or an automatic small parts warehouse. During the planning phase when the system is being dimensioned, as well as in later operations, the question arises as to which articles should be stored in which quantity in which storage system. Here W2MO provides answers by using appropriate algorithms, which determine an optimized workload utilization considering weight and volume limits and decide whether an article is better stored in the automatic or manual area.

Operational Use

  • Integration with SAP WM/EWM and any other WMS using the W2MO SAP or general database connector and RESTful APIs
  • Flexible calling via planned processes, triggered function calls, or the user interface
  • Simulation mode to check the expected efficiency gain
  • No special training for employees is required, functionality can be integrated into existing workflows
  • No risk, because in the event of a malfunction LVS Standard can be used
Operational Use

The optimization algorithms from W2MO are deployed in operational use via the digital twin. The flexible integration ranges from printing stock transfer lists to the automated creation or updating of transfer orders in SAP WM/EWM or any other warehouse management system. The algorithms offer two modes of operation: manual triggering via the user interface of W2MO and background execution. In any case, in simulation mode, the achievable improvement becomes transparent and measurable at any time. There is no additional risk in operational business, since the occupancy predetermined by the warehouse management system can always be accessed.