Understanding Directed Putaway in the Distribution Center

<p>One of the core concepts relative to Warehouse Management Systems is that of “directed putaway.”</p> <p>While many logistics professionals are very familiar with this topic, it is clear from conversations with many companies that others don’t really have all the details – and that quite a few lack directed putaway capabilities with the system they are currently using to run their distribution center.</p> <p>As the name suggests, directed putaway is all about the WMS communicating to DC associates through a mobile wireless terminal where in the DC a product should be stored, at the specific location level.</p> <p>But to understand directed putaway, you also need to add the related concept of zoning or zone management.</p> <p>A good WMS should allow you to define, practically without limit, different putaway zones for which rules will be applied relative to putaway. A zone is simply a grouping of locations.</p>