by Will Quinn, Infor

In the realm of warehouse management, efficiency and precision play roles. A notable advancement, in this field is the introduction of Directed Putaway within the Infor Warehouse Management System (WMS). This feature is transforming how distribution centers function resulting in savings on travel and labor costs.

Traditionally warehouses have relied on Manual Putaway as the method. This approach involves employees making decisions on where to store goods based on their expertise and familiarity with the warehouse layout. While Manual Putaway has its advantages it also comes with challenges such as space utilization, increased travel time within the warehouse and higher labor expenses due to decision making delays.

Directed Putaway changes this dynamic by leveraging algorithms in Infor WMS to determine the optimal storage location for items. It considers factors like item attributes, available space and past data to guide employees to the designated spot efficiently eliminating guesswork and cutting down on travel time.

The advantages of Directed Putaway, over Manual Putaway are noteworthy:

Efficiency; Directed Putaway enhances warehouse space utilization and reduces employee travel time ultimately boosting efficiency.

Labor Savings; By streamlining storage decisions through automation Directed Putaway leads to labor cost savings.

By streamlining the decision making process Directed Putaway cuts down on the time that employees spend deliberating where to place items resulting in labor cost savings.

Directed Putaway also enhances accuracy by minimizing the likelihood of errors that can arise from decision making thereby boosting the precision of putaway operations.

The functionality of Directed Putaway, within Infor WMS proves to be a game changer for distribution centers. It presents an precise and cost efficient alternative when compared to Manual Putaway. As we embrace advancements in warehouse management tools like Directed Putaway are set to play a role, in shaping the future landscape of this industry.

Will Quinn is the Global Director of Product Strategy for Infor. Will has 25+ years of experience in supply chain and logistics. Prior to Infor, he managed distribution centers at Grainger, Coca-Cola, MSC Industrial Supply, WEG Electric, and Cintas. Will’s logistics journey commenced with a 12-year tenure in the US Marine Corps. He holds a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from Elmhurst University.