Packing
The warehouse process of assembling picked items into shipment-ready units, applying labels, and preparing documentation for dispatch.
Full definition
Packing is the step between picking and dispatch where picked goods are grouped by destination, placed into secondary packaging (shrink-wrapped trays, corrugated shippers, or returnable crates), labelled with the consignee details, and staged at the loading bay for vehicle loading. In Indian distribution, packing also involves affixing MRP labels, batch stickers, and promotional scheme inserts where applicable.
For dairy and bakery operations, packing speed is critical because product is already losing shelf life on the floor. A well-run dairy packing line in India processes 500-800 crates per hour, with each crate holding 12-20 pouches or cups. Crate-level barcoding during packing ties each crate to a specific batch, SKU, and destination, enabling full traceability from plant to retailer.
Modern WMS platforms direct the packing sequence to match the outbound vehicle's drop sequence: the last delivery's crates are packed and loaded first (into the back of the truck), and the first delivery's crates go in last (at the truck door). This eliminates re-handling at each delivery stop.
Real-world example
At an ITC foods warehouse in Haridwar, a 6-person packing crew assembles 120 distributor shipments between 2 PM and 5 PM, shrink-wrapping Aashirvaad atta bags onto pallets and labelling each with route and stop number.
Where it applies
Applicable industries
This term is relevant across the following SpireStock-supported industries.
How SpireStock handles it
Related SpireStock features
The concepts described above are implemented end-to-end in these product modules.
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