// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
SKU
A unique alphanumeric code used to identify and track a specific product or item in inventory.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
An SKU is a distinct alphanumeric identifier assigned to a specific product variant (e.g., size, color, model) within a retailer's or manufacturer's inventory system, enabling precise tracking, inventory management, and sales analysis across the supply chain.
BACKGROUND
The 3M Company is an American multinational conglomerate operating in the fields of industry, worker safety, and consumer goods. Based in the Saint Paul suburb of Maplewood, the company produces over 60,000 products, including adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, personal protective equipment, window films, paint protection film, electrical, electronic connecting, insulating materials, car-care products, electronic circuits, and optical films. Among its best-known consumer brands are Scotch Tape, Scotchgard surface protectants, Post-it notes, and Nexcare adhesive bandages. 3M's stock ticker symbol is MMM and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE), and the SIX Swiss Exchange.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Product Code
- Item Number
- Inventory ID
- Part Number
USAGE NOTE
SKUs are essential for accurate inventory management and sales reporting.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to SKU.
Develops a wide range of hardware and software for SKU identification and tracking, including barcode scanners, RFID readers, mobile computers, and printers. Their acquisition of Fetch Robotics also positions them in warehouse automation with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that handle materials at the SKU level.
Designs and manufactures a unique, cube-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The system uses robots to retrieve bins containing specific SKUs from a high-density grid, enabling extremely efficient and space-saving inventory management for manufacturing and e-commerce fulfillment.
Provides autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that work collaboratively with human workers to streamline order picking. The system uses SKU-level order data to direct robots and humans on the most efficient picking paths, embodying an Industry 5.0 approach to human-machine partnership.
Offers enterprise software, including its Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) and S/4HANA platforms, which are critical for managing SKU data across the entire supply chain. The software handles inventory, tracks product movement, and optimizes warehouse operations at a granular SKU level.
Develops advanced AI software, the 'Covariant Brain,' that powers robotic arms to pick, place, and sort a vast array of SKUs. Their AI enables robots to handle items they've never seen before, solving the challenge of SKU proliferation in modern logistics.
A global leader in integrated automated technology, software and services to optimize the supply chain. Dematic's solutions, including high-performance sorters and automated storage systems, are managed by their Dematic iQ software to precisely control the flow and storage of individual SKUs.
A leading provider of supply chain and omnichannel commerce software. Their Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a core technology for optimizing all aspects of a distribution center based on detailed SKU characteristics, demand, and storage rules.
Develops a digital supply chain platform that uses AI and machine learning for demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and logistics management. The platform makes autonomous, SKU-level decisions to predict demand, automate replenishment, and optimize pricing.