WMS - warehouse management, explained term by term
Every core warehouse-management term: picking, putaway, replenishment, slotting, FEFO, lot traceability - with definitions, examples and software links.
What this cluster covers
A WMS (Warehouse Management System) coordinates every goods movement in the warehouse: receiving, putaway, front replenishment, order picking, packing and shipping. The terms below are the operational vocabulary of a modern warehouse.
Each definition includes a real example and links to the matching CRMconnect module so you can see the concept applied in practice.
19 terms in this cluster
Picking
The process of retrieving products from warehouse locations to fulfil an order - the most costly warehouse activity.
Putaway
The process of storing received goods in optimal locations immediately after receipt.
Goods receipt
The process of checking and recording goods entering the warehouse, matched against the purchase order and delivery note.
Replenishment
Automatically refilling picking locations from reserve stock to prevent stockouts during picking.
Wave picking
Grouping orders into planned waves to sync picking with routes, carriers and shipping deadlines.
Batch picking
Picking several orders in one warehouse pass, grouped by common SKUs.
Zone picking
Dividing the warehouse into zones where each operator picks only in their zone, with orders passing between zones.
Slotting
Strategically assigning products to warehouse locations based on rotation, size and affinity to minimise picking effort.
FEFO (First Expired, First Out)
The rule of shipping the batch with the nearest expiry date first, essential for perishable products.
Batch traceability
The ability to track a product batch across the whole chain, from supplier to end customer, for recall and compliance.
Serialisation (serial number tracking)
Assigning a unique identifier to each product unit for individual tracking, warranty and anti-counterfeiting.
Bin location
The unique physical address of a storage slot (aisle-rack-level-position), the foundation of warehouse organisation.
Kitting
Combining several individual products into a single set (kit) with its own SKU, before or at order time.
Inventory accuracy
The degree of match between book stock (in the system) and physical stock (in the warehouse) - the operation's health metric.
Inventory turnover
How many times stock is fully sold and replenished in a period - a measure of capital efficiency.
Dead stock
Goods unsold for a long period that lock capital and space, with little prospect of selling at normal price.
Pick-to-light / Voice picking
Technologies guiding picking via shelf lights or voice commands, for maximum speed and accuracy.
RF scanning (mobile warehouse terminal)
Using mobile barcode-scanning terminals to validate every warehouse operation in real time.
GS1-128 logistics label (SSCC label)
The standardised pallet label carrying the SSCC and logistics data, mandatory for retailer deliveries.
Where CRMconnect fits
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