[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”auto” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Wave picking is the answer to the age-old question: What do I do when I\u2019m <\/i>ready, but everyone around me is not?<\/p>\n
This is a big problem for warehouses, distribution centers, and production plants. When one step in the process encounters delays, there\u2019s a domino effect that negatively impacts the rest of the operation. In one survey that asked foremen to rank the top 10 causes of unproductive activities, the majority reported that their work was most commonly held up by something or someone not being available on site<\/a>.<\/p>\n To supplement their results, the researchers also conducted onsite observations to find the biggest causes of unproductive activities. While they found the same sources of productivity loss as the survey respondents, the researchers\u2019 rankings were different because they looked at which productivity lags had the highest cost impacts.<\/p>\n Workers may recognize the issues, but may not be able to prioritize on the issues that are costing the most time and money.<\/p>\n This has huge implications on a business\u2019 viability. If you aren\u2019t aware that certain actions (or lack of actions) are draining money, then you could quickly find your company operating at a loss. For instance, that same study found that trade interference cost more than 500 lost scheduled hours, but since these aren\u2019t acutely obvious, the organization is blind to the loss.<\/p>\n Oftentimes, workers on the ground intuitively understand that they\u2019re getting paid a lot to stand around. Even if on-the-ground workers identify this as a waste of money, it isn\u2019t communicated higher up. In fact, in some cases it\u2019s dismissed as a side effect of the job. The problem is that incremental productivity losses add up to huge business risks.<\/p>\n One way that companies address this issue is by using short interval scheduling (SIS), which in turn informs the warehouse picking methodology<\/a> known as wave picking.<\/p>\n Better Warehouse Performance = Higher Profit Margins:<\/strong> Logiwa syncs accurate data across your entire interface so the inventory numbers you see on your dashboard are what your employees see on their devices. Learn how Logiwa uses real-time data to help you get up to 100% inventory accuracy and 2.5x shipments.<\/a><\/p>\n Contents<\/p>\n Short interval scheduling (SIS) is a scheduling tool that essentially narrows – or, ideally, eliminates – the gap between what\u2019s actually happening on the ground and the information being delivered to leadership.<\/p>\n Consider this: While a plan identifies what <\/i>needs to happen, a schedule determines when <\/i>it will happen. When schedules are large and complex, it\u2019s difficult to notice a shift in timing for a particular activity until it\u2019s too late. A shorter-term look at the schedule is more manageable. If a project must be completed within a month, then any problems may not be identified until the end of the month, resulting in delays.<\/p>\n If a smaller piece <\/i>of the project is supposed to be completed within a day, SIS can help the project manager identify scheduling issues in that same day, helping keep the project on track. When project managers use SIS as a scheduling tool, they can ensure their work plans and their work schedules are aligned.<\/p>\n\n
What Is Short Interval Scheduling (SIS) and Why Does It Work So Well?<\/h2>\n