Order Fill
An Order Fill Rate (OFR) or simply fill rate is a measure of the number of orders processed without stockouts, or the need to backorder, expressed as a percentage of all orders processed in the distribution center or warehouse. For example, if a store has an order fill rate of 98%, it means that 98% of all orders placed by customers were filled completely and on time, without any backorders.
The term order fill rate is often used interchangeably with another metric called “fill rate” or “perfect order fill rate”. However, these terms actually have slightly different meanings. Fill rate only refers to the percentage of orders that were filled on time and without stockouts, while perfect order fill rate also takes into account other factors such as accuracy and completeness of the order.
To calculate your order fill rate, simply take the number of orders filled completely and on time, and divide it by the total number of orders placed. For example, if you processed 100 orders in a day and only had two backorders, your order fill rate would be 98%.
Note that the order fill rate metric only applies to distribution centers or warehouses that process customer orders. In manufacturing settings, the term “fill rate” refers to the percentage of production scheduled that is actually completed on time.
While a high order fill rate is obviously desirable, achieving a 100% order fill rate is often not realistic or even possible. There are a number of factors that can impact your order fill rate, such as lead time, inventory levels, forecasting accuracy, and more.
That said, there are a few things you can do to improve your order fill rate:
- One is to increase your inventory levels of fast-selling items. This will help to ensure that you have the products customers want in stock when they place their orders.
- Another is to improve your forecasting accuracy so that you can better anticipate customer demand and stock accordingly.
- Finally, you can also work on reducing your lead time so that orders can be filled and shipped more quickly.
Improving your order fill rate may not be easy, but it’s worth striving for since it can have a big impact on customer satisfaction.
Related Videos
L&R Warehouse Training Video - Order Filling
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L&R Warehouse Training Video - Order Filling