Manufacturing Inventory Management

Inventory management is a crucial aspect of the manufacturing process. It involves tracking and controlling a company’s inventory, which includes raw materials, work-in-progress products, and finished goods. Effective inventory management ensures that a manufacturing company can meet customer demands without overstocking or understocking. In this article, we will delve into the key components of inventory management in the manufacturing sector and explore various strategies and tools to optimize this essential business function.

What is Inventory Management in Manufacturing?

Inventory management in manufacturing involves overseeing the supply chain to ensure the right amount of stock is available at the right time. This process includes ordering, storing, and using a company's inventory. Effective inventory management saves costs, improves production efficiency, and ensures timely delivery. Without it, companies may face challenges such as delayed production schedules, increased holding costs, or unsatisfied customers due to stockouts.

What is the 80/20 Rule in Inventory Management?

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80% of a company's revenue typically comes from 20% of its products. In inventory management, this rule helps businesses focus on the most valuable items in their inventory. By identifying the top 20% of products that generate most of the revenue, manufacturers can prioritize these items in inventory management practices, ensuring they are always in stock.

What are the 4 Main Types of Inventory?

1. Raw Materials: These are the essential components needed to produce goods. For instance, a furniture manufacturer’s raw materials would include wood, screws, and varnish.
2. Work-in-Progress (WIP): These are partially finished goods that are still in the production process. WIP inventory includes the ongoing work where raw materials are transformed into finished products.
3. Finished Goods: These are products that are completed and ready for sale to customers. For example, a car manufacturer’s finished goods would be the assembled vehicles.
4. MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) Inventory: This includes items used for maintenance and production operations. Though not directly part of the finished product, these resources, like lubricants and cleaning supplies, are vital for production efficiency.

What are the 5 Steps of Inventory Management?

1. Demand Forecasting: Predict customer demand using historical data and trends to ensure adequate inventory levels.
2. Inventory Tracking: Use systems and tools to continuously monitor inventory levels, preventing overstocking or stockouts.
3. Stock Replenishment: Establish procedures for reordering products to maintain optimal inventory levels.
4. Inventory Auditing: Regularly check inventory for discrepancies to ensure the accuracy of inventory records.
5. Inventory Reporting: Generate reports to analyze inventory data, helping businesses make informed decisions.

Manufacturing Inventory Management Examples

1. Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory: This approach minimizes inventory levels by ordering stock only as needed. Toyota popularized JIT, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
2. ABC Analysis: Categorize inventory into three classes: A, B, and C. ‘A’ items are the most valuable, while ‘C’ items are the least. This prioritization helps focus resources on the most critical items.
3. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): Calculate the ideal order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs, balancing ordering costs and holding costs.

Inventory Management for Manufacturing Company Excel

Excel is a valuable tool for inventory management. It can handle data tracking, analysis, and reporting. Utilizing Excel sheets to manage inventory can help automate calculations, provide visual representations with graphs, and offer customizable templates for inventory tracking.

Manufacturing Inventory Example

Let’s presume a small bakery. Its inventory management includes tracking flour, sugar, and yeast as raw materials, dough and baking in progress as WIP, and finished bread and pastries ready for sale. By carefully managing these inventory categories, the bakery ensures it can meet customer demand without wasting resources.

Inventory Management for Small Manufacturing Business

Small manufacturing businesses often operate with limited resources and need efficient inventory management strategies to remain competitive. Here are a few approaches:

1. Manual Tracking with Excel: Keep costs low by leveraging Excel for inventory management instead of expensive software.
2. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI): Allow vendors to manage inventory levels for your business, reducing carrying costs and improving supply chain efficiency.
3. Order Quickly with Mobile Apps: Use mobile apps to quickly reorder inventory when stock levels are low, saving time and minimizing stockouts.

Ordoro: An Excellent Inventory Management Software for Lite Manufacturing

For businesses looking for inventory management software, Ordoro is a top choice, particularly for lite manufacturing. It seamlessly integrates with Shopify and supports several hundred merchants. Ordoro helps simplify inventory processes, making it an ideal solution for both small and medium-sized businesses.

1. Ordoro: Visit Ordoro
2. Fishbowl: Fishbowl Inventory
3. Zoho Inventory: Zoho Inventory
4. QuickBooks Commerce: QuickBooks Commerce

By implementing these manufacturing inventory management concepts and utilizing the right tools like Ordoro, businesses can significantly enhance their productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Through strategic planning and technological adoption, optimal inventory management is achievable and highly beneficial in the manufacturing industry.