The Effective Inventory Management Workshop

Date: October 20-21, 2026

Location: Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport
Indianapolis, IN 46241

317-244-6861

For EIM block room reservations: Please call Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport
(Room block cut-off date is TBD soon ; room rate is TBD soon.)

Instructors:  Jon Schreibfeder and Matt Schreibfeder

Continuing Education credit: 14 hours

Click here to view agenda

Looking ahead to October 2026, we do not know where we will be in our recovery or in our dealing with evolving supply chain issues and inflation.  Perhaps we will have challenges that we cannot imagine now.  Jon and Matt will be updating the Workshop to address where the business world is in October 2026, and discuss ways of dealing with challenges such as evolving supply chain disruptions, tariffs, inflation, and rising interest rates by adjusting forecast models and other replenishment parameters, etc.

Registration includes:

• A comprehensive two-day workshop where we will explore the concepts and strategies of inventory control and management. Multiple examples and case studies will be presented to show how organizations implanted best practices and maximized the productivity and profitability of their investment in inventory.
• You can confidentially use data from your own organization in forecasting and analysis spreadsheets developed by EIM to conduct “what-if” scenarios to illustrate the concepts and principles presented. Prior to the seminar, you will send us your data (according to the template we will provide). The data will be examined, ranked, and prepared for your use in the workshop. If you choose not to use your own data, a sample data base will be provided.
• A copy of Achieving Effective Inventory Management, 7th ed.
• A copy of all the Power Point slides used in the workshop bound in a 3-to-a-page syllabus so you can follow along and take notes.
• The spreadsheets used in the seminar (along with detailed instructions) so you can perform this same analysis on your own inventory data.
• A half hour web session with Jon to help you individualize and implement your plan to achieve effective inventory management in your company.
• Continental breakfast and hot lunch both days.
• Wireless, high-speed internet access in the meeting room.
• Complimentary transportation to and from the Crowne Plaza and Indianapolis Airport.

Learning Objectives:

​Best of all, as we proceed through the session, you will develop step-by-step instructions necessary to develop and maintain an effective inventory management program for your company as you achieve the following learning objectives:

• Measure the productivity and profitability of your investment in inventory.
• Identify products that are not contributing to your overall inventory-related goals and might be candidates for liquidation.
• Identify and analyze possible unusual sales or usage.
• Recognize the specific components necessary to develop a meaningful forecast of future demand for each stocked product. During this segment, we will look at several popular methods of forecasting to determine the “best” method for your inventory.
• Measure and improve forecast accuracy.
• State how promotions, environmental factors and special products can be incorporated into a forecast.
• Decide whether is it better to buy from a vendor, transfer from a central warehouse or assemble a product in house.
• State the effect that longer and shorter lead times have on your total inventory investment and the service you provide your customers.
• Decide on the “right” amount of safety stock or reserve inventory for each item to balance customer service and profitability as well as several methods for determining this quantity.
• Determine how often you should issue replenishment orders for each source of supply (especially when vendors offer different terms for different sized orders, or you have to decide between several vendors)
• Identify the best replenishment parameters and reorder quantity for each stocked item.
• Determine optimal inventory for each product (expressed as an average monetary amount and number of days’ supply) compared to your current inventory.
• Identify how much excess inventory your suppliers are forcing you to carry.
• Determine when it is in your best interest to take advantage of special discounts, payment terms or other incentives.
• State how changing your business objectives will affect inventory performance.
• Implement a simple way to determine what product or vendor lines need the most attention from a buyer.
• Implement the best “total performance” measurements for your investment in inventory.

Because we are dealing with your data and “live” software, we will perform a lot of “what if” analyses and you will discover how making small adjustments to your current practices can result in big improvements.  Best of all you will discover your organization’s unique potential because you can confidentially perform all analysis with your own data!

As we proceed through the course, you will develop a list of action items to complete in the upcoming several months.  During the last segment of the course, we will organize these action items into a comprehensive plan to achieve effective inventory management.

Jon and Matt will be updating the Workshop as we move from the March 2026 to October 2026​ Workshop, to address where the business world is in October. They will discuss ways of dealing with challenges such as supply chain disruptions, adjusting forecast models and other replenishment parameters.

To achieve maximum benefit from the course, all participants should bring a laptop equipped with Excel® software.  Participants, who wish to confidentially use their own company data, should submit their data to EIM by October 6, 2026, before the workshop.  A template for the data we will use in the seminar will be emailed upon registration.  Your data will be checked for validation, ranked, and loaded onto our EIM Spreadsheets or your custom EIM spreadsheets on a USB Drive.  You will receive the USB Drive when you check in at the Workshop and then please load it onto your laptop.  For those participants who cannot obtain the necessary data from their organization, a sample data base will be supplied.

Who Will Teach the Course?

Matt Schreibfeder has recently been named President and CEO of Effective Inventory Management, Inc., a firm dedicated to helping manufacturers, distributors, and retailers get the most out of their investment in stock inventory. Matt came to EIM after extensive experience as a project analyst at Exxon Mobil.  Before that Matt served as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.  Matt earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Military Institute and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. A featured speaker at conventions and seminars, Matt has been instrumental in enhancing the functionality of our EIM spreadsheets and in developing new inventory forecasting and analysis models.  Matt excels in developing customized inventory planning and analysis models for EIM clients.  He is also co-author, with Jon, of the recently published Achieving Effective Inventory Management – 7^th Edition.

Jon Schreibfeder is the founder of Effective Inventory Management, Inc. (EIM) in April of 1996.  Over the past 45 years, Jon has helped over 3,000 firms improve their productivity and profitability through better inventory management.  He is the author of numerous articles and a series of books on effective inventory management including, with Matt, the recently published Achieving Effective Inventory Management – 7th Edition and the National Association of Wholesale Distributor’s Guess Right – Best Practices in Demand Forecasting for Distributors.   A featured speaker at seminars and conventions throughout North America and around the globe, Jon has been awarded the title “Subject Matter Expert” in inventory management by the American Productivity and Quality Center. STAFDA has endorsed Jon as their Inventory Consultant since 2006.  Jon is a faculty member of the University of Innovative Distribution and is also on the Board of Advisors of Inspiring Better Business, a mission organization dedicated to training, encouraging and advising people who want to become entrepreneurs in developing countries.  Jon remains active helping EIM clients achieve effective inventory management.

Quotes from recent EIM seminar attendees:

(Names, companies and phone numbers provided on request.  Call EIM at (972) 304 3325 or email info@effectiveinventory.com)

“This course gave me ideas I can implement immediately and gain immediate results.”

“The best seminar I have ever attended!”

“The instructor displayed a sound proficiency in the subject matter and was able to teach it effectively.”

“Your upbeat teaching style kept our whole class on their toes.  Definitely recommend this seminar to any company looking to get a handle on their inventory”

Registration fee: $950 – Early Bird rate is $875; expires September 22, 2026.
Data due on October 6, 2026 (if you wish to confidentially use your company data in the analyses and exercises).

Includes: 2 days of Workshop Instruction; continental breakfast and hot, buffet lunch both days; a copy of Achieving Effective Inventory Management, 7th ed. book; electronic copy of EIM Version 6.1 Spreadsheets; bound and electronic copies of all PowerPoint slides used during the Workshop, high-speed wireless internet in meeting room, complimentary shuttle between the Crowne Plaza and Indianapolis airport, free parking at the Crowne Plaza.

Refund Policy

Full refund up to 30 days prior to seminar.  50% refund granted if cancellation notice received 14-30 days prior to seminar.   No refund within 14 days of seminar date.  Substitutions are allowed at any time, but please notify us at 972-304-3325.

Please direct any complaints to Megan at 972-304-3325.