Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Warehouse management system (WMS)
Also known as: WMS
German: Lagerverwaltungssystem (WMS)
In logistics, a warehouse management system (WMS) is software that manages inventory, storage locations and warehouse processes such as goods receipt, putaway, picking, packing and shipping.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A warehouse management system (WMS) manages inventory, storage locations and processes from goods receipt to shipping.
Example
The WMS assigns the incoming pallet to a storage location based on its article class and sends a putaway order to the WCS.
How it applies
- Engineering: The WMS receives orders from Enterprise resource planning (ERP), manages stock at location and batch level and sends tasks to people (scanners, pick-to-light) or to the WCS for automation.
- Traceability: The WMS records batches, serial numbers and best-before dates for each movement, which supports Lot tracking and recalls.
- Operation: Inventory accuracy depends on consistent bookings; manual corrections must be controlled and recorded.
- Documentation: User documentation for a WMS is usually process-oriented: goods receipt, putaway, picking, inventory. Describe exceptions (damaged goods, missing stock) as clearly as the normal flow. For digital product passport work, a WMS can be one of the systems holding identifiers and batch data.
WMS vs. WCS
The WMS decides what should happen with inventory; the Warehouse control system (WCS) makes automated equipment do it.