Method and system for monitoring the status of articles, particularly in warehousing.

摘要

A method and system for monitoring the status of articles, particularly in a warehousing system in which stored articles are to be picked and sorted for despatch. The system includes a distribution audit system computer (32) which receives batch picking information on a recording medium (23) identifying each transaction or article to be picked with a unique number. Associated with each unique-number is processing information for controlling the sorting of the article within the system. The same number, unique for each article, is contained on a label (20) positioned on each article as it is picked. Computer control means (60) provides continuous monitoring of the article as it is scanned by one or more label reading devices (44, 46) such that the picking and sorting status of each article to be picked can be continuously monitored. The system includes an operatorinterface terminal (40) and printers (36, 38) for providing a variety of status reports to the operating personnel such that the operational status of the system can be continuously monitored.