Put-Away

Put-away is the operational step that follows goods receipt. Once incoming items have been checked, counted, and recorded in the system, they must be physically moved to their designated storage positions. A WMS directs the put-away process, assigning optimal locations based on product characteristics, storage requirements (temperature, weight, hazard class), pick frequency, and available space.

Efficient put-away minimises the time goods spend in the receiving area (where they block dock capacity and are vulnerable to damage), ensures items are placed in locations that support efficient future picking, and maintains warehouse organisation. Poor put-away practices lead to misplaced inventory, inaccurate stock records, and wasted space.

Directed put-away uses WMS logic to assign the best location based on rules (e.g., heavy items at floor level, fast movers near dispatch). Random put-away places goods in any available location, maximising space utilisation but requiring a WMS to track positions. Fixed-location put-away assigns each SKU a permanent home, simplifying manual operations but potentially wasting space when stock levels fluctuate.