Are you aware of the impact stock has on your business performance? There´s a spot we all want to be in. Where you have enough but not too much stock in the warehouse. For businesses, the ability to maintain records, track inventory, and utilize the inventory data is of paramount importance. In this blog, we will understand various aspects of inventory management and associated aspects:
What is Inventory Management?
Inventory Management is a method to keep track of your goods by actively monitoring and predicting the in and out of your inventories.
Objectives of Inventory Management
Some of the core objectives of inventory management:
- The primary objective of inventory management is to ensure a continuous and smooth supply of materials and stock, preventing disruptions in production due to fluctuations in customer demand.
- It aims to strike a balance between overstocking and under-stocking to maintain optimal inventory levels, avoiding both the cost of carrying excess inventory and the risk of running out of essential materials.
- Inventory management seeks to ensure materials are available wherever and whenever needed in sufficient quantities, supporting the uninterrupted flow of operations.
- Maintaining the minimum working capital required for operational and sales activities, allows companies to allocate capital effectively and avoid unnecessary financial burdens.
- The objectives include optimizing various costs associated with inventories, such as purchase costs, carrying costs, and storage costs, as this directly impacts the cost-efficiency of the business.
- Keeping material costs under control is essential, as it contributes to lowering the overall cost of production, and enhancing competitiveness and profitability.
- Eliminating duplication in ordering stocks prevents inefficiencies and minimizes the financial burden of holding redundant inventory.
- It is focused on minimizing losses through deterioration, pilferage, wastage, and damages, safeguarding the company’s assets and resources.
- Ensuring accurate and perpetual inventory control guarantees that materials listed in stock ledgers are physically present in the warehouse, reducing discrepancies and errors.
- Quality control and cost management aim to offer customers high-quality goods at reasonable prices, enhancing the company’s reputation and competitiveness.
- By furnishing data for both short and long-term planning, controlled inventory management assists businesses in making informed decisions, adapting to market changes, and ensuring the financial stability of their business.
- A continuous and consistent supply of required materials is essential for uninterrupted operations and customer satisfaction.
- Systematic record-keeping in inventory management ensures that companies have a clear and organized overview of their inventory, simplifying monitoring and decision-making.
Stabilizing prices through effective inventory management contributes to cost predictability and budgeting accuracy, reducing financial risks and uncertainties.
What is an Inventory Management System?
An inventory management system is your solution to effectively track and control your company’s supply. Enabling you to optimize your inventory without overspending in terms of both time and money.
One of the core elements of an inventory management system is regular business evaluation, ensuring you stay on the path to success.
The Inventory Management Process
Before being included in the balance sheet, the available inventory must undergo physical counting.
Then the in- and outflow needs to be monitored and accounted for.
Then in the next step, you can use your historic sales data to predict the future sales volumes. Enabling you to supply the needed volume of goods.
What is the Goal of Inventory Management?
The fundamental goal of inventory management is to achieve maximum efficiency. The key is to control the investment amount, maintaining a balance between the purchase cost and carrying cost by procuring products in the optimal quantity, known as economic order quantity.
Objectives of the Inventory Management System
The financial investment in inventory, especially for e-commerce can be substantial, often surpassing the investment in other company assets. In many cases, a substantial working capital is tied up in inventory.
Proper planning for the purchase, handling, storage, and accounting of inventory is essential. The primary objective of an inventory management system is to maintain stock levels in such a way that they neither become excessive nor fall short.
Overstocking can hinder other production processes, while understocking can lead to work stoppages. The objectives of inventory management encompass both operational and financial aspects, aiming to ensure the continuous availability of materials, maintain the minimum working capital necessary for operations and sales, optimize inventory-related costs, and control material costs to reduce production expenses.
Additionally, inventory management seeks to minimize losses due to deterioration, pilferage, wastage, and damages, maintain accurate inventory records, and stabilize prices.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving realm of online retail, maintaining equilibrium in inventory management is paramount. Setting clear objectives and adhering to effective strategies can culminate in elevated customer satisfaction, reduced expenses, and a more agile supply chain. The crux of success lies in maintaining equilibrium within your business.
