by Jon Schreibfeder | Jun 17, 2016 | Purchasing
Often vendors offer a bigger discount or other considerations for placing a larger order. It is tempting to always increase the size of a replenishment order to “get the extra five percent discount” or “qualify for free freight”. Sure, buying at a lower unit cost...
by Jon Schreibfeder | May 15, 2016 | Order Cycles
Last month we discussed calculating the order cycle (also commonly known as the review cycle). That is, how often you should place replenishment orders with a vendor. Another way of defining it is how often you sell or use enough of a particular vendor’s products to...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Apr 15, 2016 | Forecasting, Stocking Decisions
This month we will begin to examine the last of the parameters used to determine when to reorder a product, the order cycle (also known as the review cycle). The order cycle is the normal time between issuing replenishment orders with a supplier that meet that...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Mar 16, 2016 | Analysis, Forecasting
Over the last several months, we have been discussing various ways of calculating safety stock quantities. If safety stock quantities are too low, they will not provide adequate insurance to prevent stockouts in case of unusually high demand or delays in receiving a...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Feb 15, 2016 | Forecasting, Stocking Decisions
Last month we began our discussion of safety stock. Safety stock is “insurance” inventory you maintain for a product to prevent stockouts due to unexpected demand or delays in receiving a replenishment shipment. Most systems calculate safety stock quantities based on...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Jan 15, 2016 | Replenishment Parameters
In the current series of articles we are working through how to optimally set parameters in your replenishment software. There are four critical factors that determine how successful you are in having the right quantity of the right item at the right location at the...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Dec 15, 2015 | Forecasting, Replenishment Parameters
In the current series of articles, we are looking at how to best set parameters in your replenishment software. There are four critical factors that determine how successful you are in having the right quantity of the right item at the right location at the right...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Oct 15, 2015 | Forecasting, General
Many computer software packages today rave about their advanced forecasting and replenishment capabilities. If these systems are so good, why do so many buyers still make all of their replenishment decisions by “S.W.G.” (Scientific Wild Guessing)? We have identified...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Sep 15, 2015 | Forecasting
Many software packages include a notification when the on-hand quantity of a stock product is equal to zero, also called a stock-out report. You have no inventory left on the shelf. This type of notification is worthless in your quest to achieve effective inventory...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Aug 15, 2015 | Forecasting
There are many systems that forecast future demand of products. Most of these systems utilize a “time series forecast model”. That is, they utilize some average of past sales or usage. For non-seasonal products, they will calculate an average of what you sold over...
