Inventory Control and Material-Handling Services

Inventory Control – Protecting the inventory you’ve purchased and stored in your facility and minimizing the cost of filling orders.

Inventory is not just a static collection of items; it is a dynamic, fluid component of your broader supply chain. Managing this component effectively requires a continuous, co-operative alignment between purchasing, receiving, storage, picking, and shipping.

We believe that inventory should move, not sit. That’s why our warehouse inventory control strategies are designed to protect inventory and minimize the cost of filling orders. When the right product is in the right place at the right time, you reduce damage, minimize obsolescence, and minimize the cost of filling orders.

Let EIM help to improve effectiveness and efficiency of your material-handling operations. We can help you with specific material-handling challenges or conduct a complete review of your operations.

The complete review begins with a detailed on-site analysis of your material-handling operations:

Review of how you process every type of material-related transaction.
Analysis of how products are stored in your warehouse(s), parts room(s) stores and other facilities. We will determine if your warehouse space can be better utilized.
Verification that your current storage units are appropriate for the material maintained in your facilities.
Verification that you are using appropriate equipment and software.
Evaluation if additional or updated technology can provide cost-effective solutions for lowering costs and reducing errors.
Evaluation of the accuracy of your current on-hand quantities.
Determination if you have the right person in the right job.
Evaluation if you have a safe working environment.

We then develop a report of recommendations and action plan. As with all our consulting engagements, we customize the process to meet your specific needs and circumstances. Typical plans include:

“Material-Handling Policy and Procedure Guide” with detailed instructions for performing each material-handling operation.
Training materials for warehouse employees.
Detailed job descriptions and qualifications for each position.
Suggestions for more efficient material-handling storage units and equipment.
Layouts detailing bin locations, where each item should be stored, as well as shipping, receiving, and staging areas.
Easy to understand metrics to measure warehouse performance.

Here is a sample warehouse layout diagram (not to scale):

Operate a safe work environment
Meet customer delivery expectations
Protect inventory from breakage, loss, spoilage and theft
Maintain accurate on-hand quantities
Store products to minimize the cost of filling orders