Warehouse Setup

SimpleWMS uses a four-level hierarchy to organize storage locations. This structure allows for precise inventory placement and efficient picking operations.

Hierarchy Overview

Warehouse (e.g., "Main Warehouse")
└── Area (e.g., "Zone A", "Cold Storage")
    └── Shelf (e.g., "Shelf A-01")
        └── Bin (e.g., "A-01-01", "A-01-02")

Each level serves a specific purpose:

Warehouses

Warehouses are the top-level containers in SimpleWMS. Each warehouse operates independently with its own areas, inventory, and order processing.

Creating a Warehouse

1. Navigate to Warehouses from the sidebar
2. Click the Add button
3. Fill in the warehouse details:
   • Name: A descriptive name for the warehouse
   • Code: A short identifier (optional)
   • Address: Physical location details
4. Click Save

Managing Warehouses

From the Warehouses list, you can:

• Edit warehouse details by clicking on a row
• Delete warehouses (only if they contain no inventory)
• Filter and search warehouses using the search bar

Areas

Areas divide a warehouse into logical zones. Common area types include:

• Receiving: Where incoming goods are processed
• Storage: Main inventory storage zones
• Picking: Areas optimized for order fulfillment
• Shipping: Outbound staging areas
• Quarantine: For items pending inspection

Creating an Area

1. Navigate to Areas
2. Click Add
3. Select the parent Warehouse
4. Enter the area Name
5. Save the area

Shelves

Shelves represent physical storage structures within areas—racks, shelving units, or pallet locations.

Creating a Shelf

1. Navigate to Shelves
2. Click Add
3. Select the parent Area
4. Enter the shelf Name or code
5. Save the shelf

Naming Conventions

Use consistent naming to make locations easy to identify:

• A-01 — Area A, Shelf 1
• RACK-B-02 — Rack B, Position 2
• PALLET-C-001 — Pallet location C-001

Bins

Bins are the most granular storage locations. Products are stored in and picked from bins.

Creating a Bin

1. Navigate to Bins
2. Click Add
3. Select the parent Shelf
4. Enter the bin Name or code
5. Save the bin

Bin Best Practices

• Use scannable codes (barcodes/QR codes) for quick identification
• Keep bin names short but descriptive
• Consider capacity when assigning products to bins
• Group similar products in adjacent bins for efficient picking

Packages

Packages allow you to group items together for handling as a single unit. This is useful for:

• Bundled products
• Kits and assemblies
• Pallet-level inventory

Creating a Package

1. Navigate to Packaging
2. Click Add
3. Define the package contents
4. Assign to a storage location

Bulk Operations

For large warehouse setups, consider:

• Importing data via the Lemonsoft integration
• Using consistent naming patterns that can be generated programmatically
• Setting up areas first, then shelves, then bins in a systematic order

Tips for Effective Layout

1. Match physical layout: Your digital structure should mirror the physical warehouse
2. Plan for growth: Leave room in your naming scheme for expansion
3. Consider workflow: Organize areas to minimize travel during picking
4. Use clear labels: Print labels for all physical locations using the Labels feature