Inventory: When It’s More of a Problem Than It is an Asset

Inventory consists of items owned by enterprises and which flow through supply chains.  Items include raw & packaging materials, ingredients, parts, components, assemblies & sub-assemblies, work-in-process, and finished products.  People aren’t inventory nor are equipment or assets which enable the transformation, storage, handling, or conveyance of items. Inventory typically also does not include operating supplies,Continue reading “Inventory: When It’s More of a Problem Than It is an Asset”

The Challenges & Benefits of The Physical Count

A finance executive of a metals manufacturing corporation wanted a physical count of all items at the company’s plants.  And he wanted it done in two (2) days.  A physical count consists of a team identifying, counting, and tagging items, such as products, work-in-process, and raw materials.  The purpose of a physical count is toContinue reading “The Challenges & Benefits of The Physical Count”

Inventory Record Accuracy:  A Step to Supply Chain Improvement

Managers of a large food condiments manufacturer bragged that their finished products Inventory Record Accuracy (IRA) was 99%.  They added that they met this level constantly, not just when I as a consultant was there auditing the manufacturer’s supply chain operations.    How do you compute the IRA?  I asked the warehouse manager.  The warehouse officeContinue reading “Inventory Record Accuracy:  A Step to Supply Chain Improvement”