Inventory level and warehouse optimization require meticulous planning and implementation. To operate at your best levels, you need to prepare properly. Whether you’re new to running a warehouse or a seasoned inventory manager, there are some steps you can take to optimize inventory levels and enhance warehouse management to grow your business. In this article, we will discuss some ways in which you can get your inventory and warehouse in the best possible shape.
1. Use A Management Solution with Real-Time Data
One of the simplest ways to optimize inventory levels is by using software that will give a detailed and precise picture of inventory at each stage of the supply chain.
For instance, apps such as Skubana will help you process huge volumes of data needed for essential activities like predicting demand, planning for peak buying times, safety stock replenishment, etc.
2. Eliminate Inefficient Practices in Your Warehouse
There are several strategies to enhance inventory holding costs. For instance, you can experiment with improved storage methods, more efficient layouts, updated handling equipment, and transferring stock between high-demand and low-demand warehouses.
Using space effectively will also mean you can benefit from supplier discounts by ordering higher stock quantities at suitable times.
You should also explore when your warehouse storage might be less preferable than other fulfillment methods, such as 3PL or cross-docking.
3. Use ABC Analysis to Prioritize Inventory Items
ABC is a hierarchy of your most profitable products to the least profitable ones. Since you might not value your entire inventory equally, this analysis will help you focus your resources and time that are most profitable for your business.
A-items are high-priority stocks. These items require stricter controls and supervising since they are both your largest source of revenue and cost contributors. Given their high costs, you might be carrying lower volumes of this item. Moreover, you will have to review and re-order A-category products more frequently. This ensures you have a sufficient supply.
On the other hand, C-category items are less profitable, but you might be carrying high volumes of them. For instance, if you run a hardware store, nails might be categorized as C-items. B-category items come right in the middle for volume, value, frequency of stock reviews, and re-orders.
4. Adopt Lean Warehouse Operation Practices
Warehousing has transformed tremendously from its former roots as the simple storage of goods. In today’s highly globalized marketplace, high-level inventory management has become more important than before.
Lean warehouse operations open up various avenues that allow for significant, sustainable, and long-term savings. Lean warehouse operations bring about major benefits from reductions in loading-unloading times of containers and trucks and reduced handling times to higher flexibility to adapt to ever-changing market conditions.
With enhanced picking and packing processes, you have to spend less time checking or looking for inventory. Moreover, stock replenishment becomes reliable, and lost sales are effectively minimized.
Conclusion
Optimizing inventory levels and warehouse management is one of the simplest methods for businesses to save money. Fairly simple processes, such as forecasting, contingency planning, and tracking, can result in a major reduction in the cost of obtaining, holding, and shipping stock.
Also, keep in mind that all these techniques demand a unified approach to collecting and interpreting data that can be made much easier using appropriate software.
