This analysis typically consists of a two-day visit to your company by Jon Schreibfeder. The actual amount of time needed on-site will be dependent on the size of your company and your specific inventory challenges. EIM will provide a maximum fee for each consulting engagement when we provide you with a quotation.

Analysis Phase

Jon Schreibfeder visits your facility (or facilities) and examines all of your inventory-related policies and procedures including:

• What are your corporate policies and procedures for processing every type of inventory-related transaction?
• How do you ensure that on-hand quantities remain accurate?
• What criteria do you use in deciding what products to stock in each location?
• Are the tools available in your computer system adequate to meet your organization's specific needs? Do they need to be supplemented by spreadsheets, a supplemental database, or other software products?
• How do you predict future customer demand of each product?
• How do you decide when to reorder products and how much to reorder?
• What replenishment source and quantity results in the lowest total cost of each item while retaining a high level of customer service?
• Do you have to implement special tools or practices to deal with:
  • Inconsistent vendor lead times
  • Importing products from overseas
  • Consigned inventory
  • Special purchasing opportunities
  • Continual introduction of new products
  • Replenishment from distribution centers or central warehouses within your organization
• Do your employees understand "best practice" inventory control and inventory management procedures? Are they getting the most benefit from the software tools currently available to them?
• Are products stored in your warehouse in order to minimize your warehousing costs? Can your warehouse space be better utilized?
• How do you identify and liquidate dead inventory and excess stock?
• How does your current inventory investment compare to an "ideal" inventory investment utilizing best practice inventory management techniques?
• What measurements do you utilize to track the performance of your inventory investment?

Plan Development Phase

At the completion of the Analysis Phase visit, your organization will schedule a GoToMeeting date and time with Jon to take place within one week. From the information gained in the analysis phase, Jon will develop a preliminary plan to help your company achieve the greatest benefit possible from the funds you have available to invest in inventory. During the scheduled GoToMeeting, you will review this plan with Jon:

• Modify the plan as additional information is developed.
• Discuss how to utilize your current computer software to help achieve effective inventory management. These discussions will include any necessary or optional software enhancements to your current system as well as possibly supplementing your software with Excel^® spreadsheets or an Access^® database.
• Develop incremental as well as eventual goals.
• Determine the resources necessary to achieve these goals.

This Plan Development Phase may be done as an additional day during the Analysis Phase on-site visit.

Follow-up Phase (nine months following plan initiation)

Within a week of the Plan Development Phase session, Jon will deliver a finalized plan (in your choice of either Microsoft Word^® or Microsoft Project^® format) detailing what will be necessary for you to achieve effective inventory management. For twelve months following delivery of the plan, you will have unlimited email/phone consulting support as you implement your plan. At no additional charge, EIM will provide check-up phone calls or emails to check on your progress in completing the plan.

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