Explain the process of wave picking in warehouse operations.

Wave picking is an efficient order picking strategy used in warehouse operations that involves grouping multiple orders together to be picked in a single trip. This approach optimizes the picking process by minimizing travel time and maximizing labor efficiency.

In wave picking, orders that have similar shipping times, destinations, or product lines are "waved" together. This means that rather than picking items for a single order or sequentially for orders based on individual deliveries, workers collect all items for multiple orders during one round through the warehouse. This process can significantly reduce the amount of time spent moving between locations, allowing for a more streamlined and productive picking operation.

By using wave picking, warehouses can better manage labor resources, coordinate shipping schedules, and ultimately increase throughput, which is critical for meeting customer demand while maintaining operational efficiency. This practice aligns with modern warehousing concepts focused on optimizing order fulfillment processes.

The other options reflect different order picking methods that do not utilize the multi-order efficiency inherent in wave picking. For instance, sequential picking based on delivery routes is more linear and does not capitalize on the efficiency gained from bumping multiple orders together. Similarly, picking items only when they are ordered may lead to increased handling times since it does not take into account the benefits of consolidating orders,