Pharmaceutical AS/RS Warehousing: Traceability, FEFO, and Flow Stability

Pharmaceutical warehousing is defined by product integrity, traceability, and process discipline. Beyond throughput, operations must control status segregation, support lot/batch rules, and maintain inspection-ready records—especially in temperature-controlled and high-mix environments.

An integrated automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS)—combined with WMS/WCS and verification points—can help reduce manual touches, lower mix-up risk, and improve flow stability during peak waves.

What Pharma Warehouses Need Most

Controlled conditions and secure handling

Pharma storage often requires monitored conditions (e.g., temperature in °C) and consistent handling procedures to protect quality and support documented operations.

Segregation and status management

Quarantine, released, rejected, and returned goods must be clearly separated—along with category and risk-based zoning—to avoid cross-mix and support compliant workflows.

Lot/batch traceability and audit readiness

Operators need a reliable data layer for lot/batch identity, location, movement history, and exceptions—with a clear audit trail.

How WMS/WCS-Integrated AS/RS Improves Operations

WCS: real-time orchestration for stable throughput

A modern Warehouse Control System (WCS) coordinates shuttles, stacker cranes, lifts, conveyors, and transfer stations in real time. Scheduling logic can reduce task conflicts, balance queues at handover points, and prioritise urgent replenishment or dispatch tasks—helping minimise dwell time caused by congestion or unbalanced task release.

WMS: FEFO and lot control to reduce errors

A pharma-oriented Warehouse Management System (WMS) typically enforces:

• lot/batch controland status-based allocation
• FEFO(first-expiry-first-out) / FIFO rules with documented exceptions
• barcode/RFID verification at key control points
• integration with ERP/MES for aligned master data and release status
• This supports higher picking and allocation accuracy, especially under high SKU complexity.

Digital visibility and simulation

Digital visualisation and pre-implementation simulation can help validate flow assumptions, identify bottlenecks early, and support smoother commissioning and continuous improvement.

Typical Pharmaceutical AS/RS Configurations

Depending on product profile and throughput targets, systems may include:

• pallet AS/RS(shuttle-based or stacker-crane) for bulk materials and finished goods
• tote AS/RSfor high-SKU storage and goods-to-person replenishment
• conveyors, lifts, and controlled transfer stations to standardise handover and reduce manual handling
• integrated WMS/WCS to support traceability and exception workflows
• All operating parameters should be defined and validated per site quality requirements.

About DELIECN

DELIECN delivers automated warehousing and intralogistics solutions integrating AS/RS equipment with WMS/WCS and operational visibility tools—supporting projects from system design and commissioning to lifecycle service.