Which term is associated with picking items in waves based on common carrier or destination to minimize waiting times?

• A. Work center
• B. What-if analysis
• C. Where-used list
• D. Wave picking

Answer: (D)

Wave picking groups orders into time-bound waves that are released to pickers based on a common carrier or destination. By coordinating picks for the same destination, the warehouse can consolidate items, reduce travel, and speed up the handoff to packing and shipping, which cuts waiting times and improves overall throughput.

This approach fits the scenario because it explicitly organizes picking around destinations or carriers to streamline the flow to the dock, cutting idle time between picking and shipping. Other terms don’t describe this method: a work center is about where manufacturing operations occur, not the order picking process; what-if analysis is about evaluating hypothetical scenarios; a where-used list shows where a part is used in bills of materials. Wave picking is the method that matches the idea of picking in waves to minimize waiting times.