What do you store?
Load dimensions, SKU mix, stock levels and storage rules.
SG-01 · Solution Guide
Plan storage around capacity, access and flow.
Understand the operation. Compare the concept. Connect the right technology.
Find your assessment path- 01Consult
Define the operational problem.
- 02Design
Translate requirements into a concept.
- 03Deliver
Coordinate integration and implementation.
- 04Support
Plan the lifecycle and agreed scope.
01
Start with three questions.
Assess capacity, access and movement together.
Where does work wait?
Receiving, picking and dispatch peaks; buffers and transfers.
What must connect?
Building constraints, WMS / ERP interfaces and future growth.
Detailed planning notes
Understand the operation
Capacity, access and movement demand must be assessed together. More storage positions can leave a bottleneck at receiving, replenishment or dispatch.
- Load and storage
- Record pallet/tote dimensions, mass, stability, carrier quality, stock quantities and storage rules.
- SKU and access
- Identify SKU mix, inventory turnover, retrieval frequency, batch/expiry rules and exceptional loads.
- Demand and peaks
- Separate average activity from peak receiving, picking and dispatch demand; record peak duration and operating shifts.
- Building and growth
- Check footprint, clear height, columns, floor/load constraints, docks, maintenance access and expansion limits.
- Systems and environment
- Document existing WMS/ERP/control interfaces, temperature zones, segregation, traceability and recovery requirements.
02
Compare the operating concept.
Manual, hybrid or automated: use the same design basis.
Selective access
Direct access to loads; review aisles and handling reach.
Depth-based storage
Group stock by lane; check retrieval sequence and access.
Crane-based AS/RS
Align storage geometry, demand and transfer stations.
Shuttle / hybrid
Check shared lifts, handoffs and phased expansion.
Detailed planning notes
Compare operating concepts
Assess alternatives against the same design basis. A manual or hybrid operation may remain appropriate; automation level alone is not a selection criterion.
- Selective / narrow-aisle access
- Review direct load access, handling-equipment reach, aisle clearance and operator movement. Assess storage layout and safe access together.
- Depth-based storage
- Review stock grouping, retrieval sequence, lane utilization and replenishment constraints. Check the effect of depth on access to individual loads.
- Crane-based AS/RS
- Review load presentation, aisle/building geometry, storage/retrieval demand, transfer points and recovery access.
- Shuttle / hybrid concepts
- Review lane and level transfers, lift/handoff demand, task scheduling and phased expansion. Assess each shared interface as a possible constraint.
03
Connect the challenge to a solution.
One project can combine several solution architectures.
Capacity & access
High-Density Storage & Retrieval
Assess stock profile and retrieval flow.Review the solution Order flowAutomated Picking & Fulfilment
Connect replenishment, picking and dispatch.Review the solution Production supplyProduction Material Flow
Map transfers, sequencing and buffers.Review the solution Disconnected systemsWarehouse Control & Integration
Define inventory and task responsibilities.Review the solutionDetailed planning notes
Connect the solution architecture
Use the operating problem to select the assessment path. These four families can overlap within one project.
- High-Density Storage & Retrieval
- Assess capacity, selectivity, inventory profile and retrieval flow.
Review High-Density Storage & Retrieval - Automated Picking & Fulfilment
- Review replenishment, order lines, workstations, consolidation and dispatch as a complete cycle.
Review Automated Picking & Fulfilment - Production Material Flow
- Map origins/destinations, sequencing, buffers, returns and people/vehicle crossings.
Review Production Material Flow - Warehouse Control & Integration
- Agree inventory ownership, task authority, acknowledgements, exceptions and recovery across systems.
Review Warehouse Control & Integration
04
Match equipment to the application.
Technology follows the operating requirement—not the other way around.
Pallet AS/RS / cranesLoad geometry + transfer demandPallet shuttlesLane strategy + retrieval sequenceTote storageTote profile + workstation demandAMRs / conveyorsLoad handoffs + route constraintsVertical storageAvailable height + access frequencyRacking / structureStructural basis + interface clearancesWMSInventory ownership + data exchangeWCSTask dispatch + exception recovery
Assessment starting points, not site-specific product recommendations. Suitability requires engineering review.
Detailed planning notes
Review technology selection inputs
The following links are starting points for assessment, not verified product recommendations for your site. Load, environment and interface suitability require engineering review.
- Pallet AS/RS and stacker cranes
- Check pallet/load quality, geometry, access, transfer stations and demand together.
Review Pallet AS/RS and stacker cranes - Pallet shuttle systems
- Check lane strategy, load grouping, lift/transfer interfaces and retrieval sequence.
Review Pallet shuttle systems - Tote storage systems
- Check tote dimensions/condition, item mix, retrieval profile and workstation replenishment.
Review Tote storage systems - AMRs and conveyors
- Check load presentation, handoffs, route crossings, buffers and task-completion feedback.
Review AMRs and conveyors - Vertical storage systems
- Check carrier/load dimensions, retrieval frequency, operator access and available height.
Review Vertical storage systems - Racking and structure
- Confirm structural/load basis, clearances, interfaces and qualified specialist responsibilities.
Review Racking and structure - WMS
- Clarify inventory/status ownership, host-system responsibilities and required data exchange.
Review WMS - WCS
- Clarify task dispatch, equipment feedback, exceptions, restart and reconciliation.
Review WCS
05
Design the handoffs, not just the equipment.
Agree physical transfers, control responsibilities and acceptance scope.
- 01
Present
Load condition & carrier
- 02
Transfer
Buffer & safe access
- 03
Confirm
Command & acknowledgement
- 04
Recover
Exceptions & restart
Check environment, cutover and expansion constraints before committing to a configuration.
Detailed planning notes
Define handoffs and project constraints
An equipment list does not define an integrated system. Agree the physical transfers, control responsibilities and acceptance scope before committing to a configuration.
- Physical handoffs
- Who presents the load, checks its condition and confirms transfer? Define accumulation, blocked routes and safe maintenance access.
- Control handoffs
- Who owns stock records and tasks? Define commands, acknowledgements, duplicate handling and incomplete-transfer recovery.
- Environment
- Confirm temperature, condensation, hygiene, material classification and segregation for the selected configuration.
- Transition and expansion
- Plan cutover, legacy-system interfaces, staged growth, site surveys and acceptance evidence. Record assumptions that remain open.
06
Bring a brief. Start a useful conversation.
Use aggregated inputs and an agreed private channel for sensitive records.
- The problemWhere work waits and what needs to improve.
- The inputsLoad / SKU profile, demand peaks and site layout.
- The interfacesExisting systems, owners, timing and growth plans.
Detailed planning notes
Prepare a project discussion
Bring an operational brief rather than a preferred machine alone. Use aggregated information where it is sufficient and an agreed private channel for sensitive drawings or records.
- Current problem
- Describe where work waits and which outcomes matter; include existing process and material-flow sketches.
- Design inputs
- Prepare load/SKU/stock profiles, average and peak demand, building layout and known constraints, with units and dates.
- Integration and delivery
- List existing systems, interface owners, timing, procurement stage, expansion plans and required project responsibilities.
- Next step
- CoreLogis can review the requirements with you and define the assessment needed before solution development.
Review Next step
Start with your operation
Discuss your warehouse requirements.
We can review your brief and define the assessment needed.