FEFO enforcement without a WMS — practical systems that actually work

First Expired First Out is the correct method for any perishable or dated product, but enforcing it without a warehouse management system requires discipline and physical systems.

What we use:

Color-coded label system. Each receiving batch gets a colored sticker corresponding to the expiry quarter (Q1 = yellow, Q2 = blue, Q3 = green, Q4 = red). Pickers are trained to always take the oldest color first. Simple, visual, hard to get wrong.

Rack layout by expiry. New stock goes behind existing stock, not on top of it. This sounds obvious but requires clear receiving instructions and a supervisor check at every GRN.

Weekly expiry report. Every Monday we pull a list of all SKUs with less than 90 days to expiry. Anything below 60 days goes on a priority pick list and is offered at promotional pricing if needed to clear.

Receiving gate check. We reject any delivery where the remaining shelf life is less than 70% of total shelf life. This is written into our supplier contracts.

The weakest point in our system is the physical racking discipline — it breaks down during high-volume receiving periods when the team is rushed. We're considering a simple barcode scan at receiving to enforce sequencing without a full WMS investment.

What systems are others using at a similar scale?