Inside Newegg: They give us a Tour and you a Prize
by Anand Lal Shimpi on February 14, 2006 3:31 PM EST- Posted in
- IT Computing
The Picker
Finally, at the very back of the warehouse there's a three-level rack/picker setup and this is where your order from Newegg is actually born.
The three levels are organized in terms of product "velocity" or the speed at which Newegg sells through of that particular product. A proprietary algorithm designed in-house by Newegg determines velocity. High velocity products (pictured below) such as in-demand motherboards or video cards will be found on the first floor, while medium and low velocity products such as server boards, certain optical drives, etc... will be found on the second and third floors respectively. The idea is that the easiest to load floor is the first floor, and that's where product that needs to be frequently replenished should be.
Some "medium velocity" items
As soon as Newegg receives your order it is allocated a bar-coded tub; the encoded in the tub's label is data on every item that's in your order as well as where it is located within Newegg's warehouse. The automated system will not print a shipping label for your order unless every item in your order matches all of the barcodes in the tub.
The tub glides along a rolling conveyer, which will carry the tub from the start on the first floor all the way up to the third floor. Along its journey it will pass by Newegg's inventory; the system (pictured below), knowing exactly what your order should contain, will stop the tub whenever it gets to an item that needs to be put into it.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
122 Comments
View All Comments
Rapsven - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
What's that for?peldor - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link
I just want some stats.You know like megapeanuts/s.
Jynx980 - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link
The peanut guns are employed by security at the New Egg facility. They shoot about 15 peanuts in a tight grouping which leave painful welts for slacker employees and persons accused of theft.Howard - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Strange.creathir - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Though Anand, use your sway to get them to GET RID OF PEANUTS!I would MUCH rather get those plastic bags of air than messy peanuts...
- Creathir
CheesePoofs - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Same here. Air bags are much cleaner and don't get everywhere like peanuts have a tendency to do.johnsonx - Thursday, February 16, 2006 - link
yeah, hate those peanuts. They're so hard to pick up if you happen to spill some.BUT, I bet peanuts are a good bit cheaper for such a high volume shipping operation. Do you want to pay more for bags of air?
F22 Raptor - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
Nice in depth article and pitures, it was very interesting!I also entered the giveaway!
:)
Cygni - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
I have to say, im pretty impressed. I didnt expect that level of automation and technology. Guess i shouldnt be surprised. It IS newegg, afterall.gerf - Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - link
I expected a little more automation. Of course, I work for a company that makes things like this (similar at least). Mostly we do automotive machines though.But, there are a few factories in the world that are completely automated similar to this warehouse, but even more so.
Pallets can be tracked and moved to the exact part of the plant that the parts are needed, automatically loaded, and automatically assembled, including a multitude of safeguards for people, quality, machine production...
Yeah, it's neat stuff.