Random storage with pixi

pixi supports your inventory management and allows you to store the goods according to the principle of random storage. This means you can place the goods where there is space. This is often difficult at the outset - so this article is intended to show the advantages of random storage versus assorted item storage.

In the case of random storage, bins are allocated dynamically at the moment warehouse staff or pixi place an item into stock. Unlike in traditional inventory management, this way an item can be spread over several different storage bins, and various items can be located in the same storage bin.

The benefits of random storage

Flexible item storage
Flexible space utilization, a moving around of items is no longer required. If a bin is full, you can simply put new goods in any other available storage bin.
Correct quantities of available stock. Each item movement into stock or from stock is confirmed via scan of the individual barcode on the items. This makes incorrect movements of stock or the management of false inventories almost impossible.

Tip: Random storage enables multiple item occupancy per storage bin. However, where possible, don’t place too similar items in the same storage bin to avoid possible confusion.

Inventory management in practice - see given examples

For the sake of following example please note that there are more and more items available in a warehouse and that the empty spaces shown would be stocked up accordingly.
An ABC analysis is not included in the examples.
In a simplified representation, we choose one shelf and 4 items with 2 variants.

Fig. above: Shelf and 4 items with 2 variants

Variant 1 - Assorted inventory storage

Variant 1 - Assorted inventory storage

Advantages

All the same items are placed together

Disadvantages

Same colors are stored close together
A lot of storage space is wasted
Variants are kept in directly adjacent compartments or the same bin

Assessment of this method

Due to storing colors or variants closely together, it is difficult for your staff to distinguish the items quickly enough.
The same color can lead to unintentional errors, placing the item in the wrong compartment or removing it from the wrong one.
Due to the variants, personnel must initially handle the items first to identify them themselves.

Variant 2 - Random, assorted

Variant 2 - Random, assorted

Advantages

Same items close together
Maximum utilization of available storage space
There may be several different items stored in one bin

Disadvantages

Items or variants are in the same bin or adjacent compartments
Visual differentiation is not possible

Assessment of this method

As with variant 1, it is still possible to mix-up items or variants.
Hinzu kommt das der Lagerplatz nicht optimal genutzt wird und so lange Laufwege entstehen. In addition, the storage space is not used to its optimum and inefficient picking paths are created.
An example of the possible difficulty in distinguishing the items visually: T-shirt white in M and XL. Since the same colors are stored side by side, it can easily lead to a picking error.

Variant 3 - Random, not assorted

Variant 3 - Random, not assorted

Advantages

Items and variants are always separated by at least 1 compartment
There may be several different items in a storage bin
Visual distinction of the items is quickly possible

Disadvantages

Items can be stored in multiple storage bins
The storage space is not always fully used

Assessment of this method:

Due to this variant, the staff can not mix-up items or assign an item incorrectly.
When picking the item, it's easy to distinguish the right product by its attributes, without having to examine it closely beforehand. The items with the same size but different color, can also be placed in one and the same storage bin. Whenever there is sufficient space you should go for separate storage.