Time and resources are maxed out in most businesses. As a result, tasks like improving inventory control are often delayed to the detriment of efficiency. Poor inventory control directly impacts the bottom line and erodes customer satisfaction in delivery of new products or replacement parts.
We all agree this is an important function, but how can we get it done with so many other demands in our daily operation? Rather than view an improvement program as a large, insurmountable task, let’s look at some simple, easy-to-implement projects that are not too time-consuming, don’t take endless planning, and involve little or no investment of cash.
We all agree this is an important function, but how can we get it done with so many other demands in our daily operation? Rather than view an improvement program as a large, insurmountable task, let’s look at some simple, easy-to-implement projects that are not too time-consuming, don’t take endless planning, and involve little or no investment of cash.
1. Manage by Wandering Around
Tom Peters’ concept of “Management by Wandering Around” is perfect for inventory management improvement. You can’t begin to improve inventory if you don’t see on a daily basis what’s happening on your plant floor. A stroll through the factory a few times a week, at different times of day, can give you a snapshot of how inventory is being used, where there seem to be bottlenecks, and how workflow is implemented.2. Talk to Off-hour Staff
An engineer who comes in during off-hours to help a customer get a part on an emergency basis is not thinking about inventory control. He or she is focused on getting a job done and will often grab what they need from inventory without going through your fabulous software system. This is especially a problem in small businesses that don’t have inventory staff on hand 24/7. A 15-minute time investment can solve discrepancies between actual parts counts and inventory software reports.
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