WMS Glossary | Warehouse Management Terms & Definitions

3PL (Third-Party Logistics): External logistics providers that offer outsourced warehouse, transportation, and fulfillment services. See 3PL WMS.
AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot): Self-guided robots that navigate warehouse environments to transport goods, assist with picking, or perform other material movement tasks.
AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System): Automated systems using cranes, shuttles, or other mechanisms to store and retrieve goods from defined storage locations.
Batch Picking: Picking strategy where multiple orders are grouped together and picked simultaneously, reducing travel time.
BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store): Omnichannel fulfillment model where customers order online and collect items from physical store locations.
Cartonization: Process of determining optimal container size and packaging requirements for shipping orders.
Cross-Docking: Distribution practice where incoming goods are immediately sorted and shipped to destinations without warehouse storage.
Cycle Counting: Inventory counting method where small portions of inventory are counted continuously rather than full physical inventory counts.
FEFO (First Expired, First Out): Inventory rotation method prioritizing items by expiration date, common in food and pharmaceutical distribution.
FIFO (First In, First Out): Inventory rotation method where oldest inventory is shipped first, maintaining proper stock rotation.
Labor Management System (LMS): Software that tracks workforce productivity, manages engineered standards, and optimizes labor allocation in warehouses.
LPN (License Plate Number): Unique identifier assigned to containers, pallets, or cases for tracking product movement through the warehouse.
Pick-to-Light: Order picking technology using lights and displays to guide workers to pick locations and quantities.
Put-Away: Process of moving received goods from receiving dock to designated storage locations in the warehouse.
RF (Radio Frequency): Handheld mobile devices used by warehouse workers to receive instructions and confirm transactions.
Slotting: Process of optimizing product placement within warehouse storage locations based on velocity, characteristics, and operational efficiency.
Voice Picking: Picking technology using voice-directed commands through headsets, keeping workers hands-free.
Wave Planning: Process of grouping and releasing orders for picking based on carrier cutoffs, capacity, and operational priorities.
WCS (Warehouse Control System): Software that manages and coordinates material handling equipment such as conveyors, sorters, and AS/RS.
WES (Warehouse Execution System): Hybrid system combining WMS and WCS functionality for unified warehouse and equipment management.
WMS (Warehouse Management System): Software that manages and optimizes warehouse operations including inventory, picking, packing, and shipping. See What is WMS?
Zone Picking: Picking strategy where warehouse is divided into zones and workers are assigned to specific zones, passing orders between zones.