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A WMS (Warehouse Management System) is a system that enables the digital management of inventory, location, picking, packaging, and shipping movements within a warehouse. The shipping process involves ensuring that products are removed from the warehouse in the correct quantity, with the correct order, and at the correct time for delivery to a customer or another location.
With WMS, all stages of shipment management, from order placement in the system to product pickup from the shelf, packaging control, vehicle loading, and stock dispatch, can be carried out in an interconnected manner. This creates a more controlled, traceable, and standardized shipment process, replacing manual lists, paper forms, and personal tracking.
How to start the shipping process with WMS?
1. Orders to be shipped are entered into the system.
The shipping process begins with the transfer of customer orders or transfer orders to the WMS. Order information can be retrieved via integration from an ERP, e-commerce system, or other enterprise application.
The order may include product codes, quantities, customer information, delivery address, shipping date, and any special delivery conditions. This allows the warehouse team to see which orders need to be prepared via the central system.
2. Stock Availability is Checked
When an order arrives at the system, it checks whether the products to be shipped are in stock. WMS can consider not only the total stock quantity but also the location and status of the product.
Blocked, quarantined, or quality control-awaited stock can be separated from available stock. This prevents products unsuitable for shipment from being accidentally included in customer orders.
3. Collection tasks are created.
Once stock availability is verified, picking tasks are created for the order. The WMS can show the operator which product to pick, from which location, and in what quantity.
Picking tasks can be grouped by order, region, transport route, or shipment priority. This reduces unnecessary movement within the warehouse, making the picking process more efficient.
4. Products are collected using barcodes.
The operator goes to the product's location and scans the product barcode using a handheld terminal or barcode scanner. The system can then verify whether the scanned product is the correct one for the order.
The user can be warned if the wrong product or the wrong batch is scanned. This approach is particularly helpful in reducing shipping errors in warehouses where similar products or packaging are stored.
5. Product selection is made according to FIFO or FEFO rules.
WMS can determine which product should be shipped first, according to the company's inventory management policy. In the FIFO approach, inventory that arrives first in the warehouse is prioritized, while in the FEFO approach, the product with the nearest expiration date is shipped first.
These rules are especially important for products with a shelf life. By directing users to the correct lot or batch, the system operator can help reduce inventory aging and expiration date risks.
How to Manage Post-Collection Inspection, Packaging, and Loading?
6. Collected Products Are Checked
Once the picking process is complete, the products can be directed to the inspection area. Here, the product code, quantity, lot, or serial number can be re-verified.
WMS can compare the order contents with the physically collected products. If missing, excess, or incorrect products are detected, corrections can be made before packaging begins.
7. The Packaging Process is Managed Digitally.
Verified products proceed to the packaging stage. The system records which products are placed in which boxes or pallets. Separate barcodes can be generated for each package number or shipping unit.
This system allows tracking which product is in which package when an order is split into multiple packages. After shipment, the customer or operations team can retrospectively review the contents of a specific package.
8. Shipment and Vehicle Information is Recorded
Once the products to be shipped are prepared, the carrier, vehicle, route, shipping date, or delivery information can be defined on the WMS. Multiple orders can be linked to the same vehicle or shipping schedule.
This information allows us to keep track of which order left the warehouse with which vehicle and on what date. Linking logistics operations to warehouse records strengthens shipment traceability.
9. Vehicle Loading is Verified with Barcode
During loading, box, pallet, or order barcodes can be scanned to verify that the correct products are loaded onto the correct vehicle. The system can also issue a warning if a package belonging to another shipment is loaded onto the wrong vehicle.
This control is particularly important in high-volume shipping areas where multiple vehicles are loaded simultaneously. Digital loading verification helps detect shipping errors before they reach the customer.
10. Shipment is Completed and Stock Release is Created.
Once the loading process is complete, the shipment can be closed via the system. The quantity of shipped products is deducted from the stock, and the order status is updated.
With ERP integration, shipment and inventory outgoing information can be transferred to the corporate system. This allows sales, finance, warehousing, and logistics processes to operate using the same up-to-date data.
What is WMS Shipment Management?
WMS shipping management is the digital management of all processes from picking, checking, packaging, loading, and inventory reduction, from preparing customer orders in the warehouse to dispatching products by vehicle.
How to Make Barcoded Shipments with WMS?
Product, carton, pallet, and, where applicable, vehicle barcodes are scanned at different stages of the shipment. WMS compares these barcodes with order information to ensure the correct products are sent to the correct customer.
How does WMS reduce incorrect product shipments?
Verifying product barcodes against orders during picking and loading reduces the risk of incorrect products. The system can also alert the operator to errors by performing quantity, lot, serial number, or location checks.
Is lot-based shipment tracking possible with WMS?
Yes. For products tracked by batch or lot, the shipped lot number can be recorded. This allows us to see which lot was sent to which customer retrospectively. This structure is important for product traceability and recall processes.
How does WMS apply FIFO and FEFO rules in shipping?
The system can use product information such as receipt date, production date, or expiration date to indicate to the operator which stock to pick from. This allows for more controlled application of FIFO or FEFO rules without relying on manual selection.
Is it possible to track packages and pallets using WMS?
Yes. Unique barcodes can be assigned to packages or pallets and associated with the products they contain. This allows the system to track which products are in which transport unit during shipment.
How to Measure Shipping Performance with WMS?
Indicators such as order preparation time, picking accuracy, shipment quantity, delayed orders, loading time, and error rate can be reported via WMS data. This information can be used to evaluate warehouse performance and identify bottlenecks.
Which systems can WMS integrate with?
WMS can integrate with systems such as ERP, QMS, EBR, and LIMS. Customer orders can be received via ERP, blocked stock information can be managed via QMS, products leaving production can be transferred to the warehouse via EBR, and quality status can be correlated with LIMS results.
What are the benefits of WMS (Warehouse Management System) for shipment management for a business?
WMS shipping management helps reduce incorrect product and quantity shipments, speed up picking and loading processes, strengthen lot traceability, and keep inventory information more up-to-date. It also facilitates the measurement of shipping performance and the identification of operational bottlenecks.
Conclusion
With WMS, the shipping process is managed digitally, from order entry to stock control, product picking to packaging, loading to stock withdrawal. Thanks to barcode and location controls, physical warehouse movements can be matched with system records.
Especially in businesses with high order volumes, WMS-based shipment management increases accuracy and traceability as well as speed. This system, which supports sending the right product in the right quantity, in the right lot, and to the right customer, is one of the most critical digital components of warehouse operations.
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