Abstract: A system for filling orders in a warehouse utilizes a main conveyor for routing items in the warehouse, including to a primary and secondary picking area. The primary picking area is used for picking high volume items, and is subdivided into multiple subgroups of primary pick faces. The second picking area is used for picking items that are not available for picking in the first picking area. Picking is performed in alternating short pick periods. Picking from a first subgroup of primary pick faces is performed in a first pick period, and picking from the second subgroup of primary pick faces is performed in an alternating pick period. Items are assigned to the first picking area dynamically for each picking period on the basis of which items are the highest moving items during an individual pick period. The system utilizes a pivotally mounted diverting chute to direct items into the pick faces, etc., and a self opening pick face.