by Jon Schreibfeder | Jun 10, 2019 | Best Practices, Forecasting, Order Cycles, Replenishment Parameters, Replenishment Source, Stocking Decisions
Protecting Customer Service – Part 1 Over the last several months, we have been discussing when to order products in order to meet your customers’ expectations of product availability. We have explored various methods for calculating accurate forecasts and...
by Jon Schreibfeder | May 17, 2019 | Best Practices, Replenishment Parameters
Monitoring Unusual Lead Times The anticipated lead time is the length of time (usually expressed in days) it will take to replenish the inventory of a stocked item. Last month, we advised you to manually maintain anticipated lead times based on the longest normally...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Apr 16, 2019 | Best Practices, Replenishment Parameters
In order to meet or exceed your customer service goals, you must reorder a product when you have enough left in your warehouse to meet customer demand during the time it takes you to obtain a replenishment shipment. For example, if you sell 2 pieces per day, and it...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Mar 15, 2019 | Best Practices
If one of your warehouse employees walks past an item lying in the middle of a warehouse aisle, or out of place on a shelf, do they pick it up and put it in its proper location? Do they pretend not to see it? Do they feel they are too busy to deal with...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Feb 15, 2019 | Stocking Decisions, Warehousing
Organizations with multiple stores or warehouses must assign an authorized replenishment path or “ARP” to every product stocked in each location. The ARP specifies the primary source of replenishment for each item on that branch’s approved stock list: Is it purchased...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Jan 15, 2019 | Best Practices, Stocking Decisions, Warehousing
In deciding what products to stock, remember the goal of effective inventory management: “Effective inventory management enables an organization to meet or exceed customers’ expectations of product availability with the amount of each item that will maximize net...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Dec 16, 2018 | General
Every week I get at least one phone call or email asking “How do I get started on achieving effective inventory management?” That is, to meet or exceed your customers’ expectations of product availability with the amount of each stocked item that will maximize...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Nov 15, 2018 | Technology, Warehousing
New technology will add to your capital equipment investment and other expenses. But, will it reduce your total labor expense? If it does your total warehouse operating cost may be lower. If the new technology provides additional capacity or reduces your errors, it...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Oct 15, 2018 | Physical Inventory – Cycle Counting, Technology
Over the past three months, we have discussed the advantages of implementing warehouse management systems. This month we will explore how a WMS (warehouse management system) can help maintain an accurate inventory. It is critical that the quantities of an item in a...
by Jon Schreibfeder | Sep 15, 2018 | Technology, Warehousing
Most warehouse activity involves filling outgoing orders. An effective WMS system has the potential to minimize time and material losses associated with order filling activities. Features that lead to savings include: Product Verification. The bar code or...
