Expert: Dr. Giuseppe Lovecchio, CFPIM, CSCP - 9/17/2009

Question
Am setting up new whse and looking for location id method. Mostly Bulk/Floor Locations some Single Slot Rack.  One Ops Mgr (OM) wants all numbers so when exported from WMS will sort properly. Other OM prefers Alpha-Numeric for human readability-will still sort properly. Need best practice. Floor will be Aisle-Bay config, rack is Aisle-Bay-Level.  Right side Even, Left is Odd.

Floor Location Examples:
A1010, A1011 vs 01010, 01011
A2010, A2011 vs 02010, 01011

Rack Examples:
A1010A (floor position), A1010B (2nd level) vs
01010A, 01010B and so on.

Layout has 27 Aisles so would use A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3.. and so on.  This is obviously the method I prefer as gives the ability to change layout (add/delete aisles) without having to change all Aisle ID’s.

Please help resolve or at least give more pros/cons of one method over the other.


Answer

start with the shelf
add the section
finish with the row.

Example
The format can be:  00-00-00

So the shelf 1 will be: 01-00-00

the section (or column) 1 will be: 01-01-00

the row for picking can be:  from 01-01-00 until 01-01-19.

the row for storage can start from the number 20: i.e. 01-01-20 , and then 01-01-30, and so on.

In this way tou can easily identify the shelf for picking activities and the shelf for storage.

I hope the above can help you.

I stay availbale for any other info also for education and consultancy
Best regards

Giuseppe Lovecchio, CPIM, CSCP
www.lovecchiooconsulting.it/english