This blog continues with the various financial/accounting measurements you can use. As stated previously, most small businesses use an ERP system from companies like SAP, NetSuite and Microsoft. But they fall short of providing inventory optimization and rationalization. Understanding and using some basic financial and accounting methods with an advanced inventory optimization solution will help get you there. It will also help keep you there.

Most small businesses use an ERP system from companies like SAP, NetSuite and Microsoft. But they fall short of providing inventory optimization and rationalization. Achieving a well-balanced, efficient inventory is no small task as supply chain complexity is ever increasing. How do you get there? How do you know when you have arrived? Understanding and using some basic financial and accounting methods with an advanced inventory optimization solution will help get you there. It will also help keep you there.

Inventory planning uses a wide range of variables and metrics, which generally include:

The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is a rude awakening of the potential fragility of the banking system. Banks are a critical supply chain that both individuals and companies rely on heavily. This failure was followed by Signature bank which failed, several others did as well. Then there are serious problems which arose at First Republic Bank and Credit Suisse.

Celebrating 19 years of our partnership with SAP and SAP Business One.

As your business grows and gains in complexity, you may need to explore how advanced inventory planning and optimization capabilities can take your business to the next level. Valogix, a global award-winning partner of NetSuite. We offer a specialized multi-stage planning engine that more effectively plans inventories and compliments NetSuite.

It is a new year and still old issues abound as well as new ones. In these challenging times, balancing near term inventory resilience with longer-term objectives is an on-going process. You read a lot about reducing costs, buying less, increasing productivity, improving cash flow and more. It is important to keep inventory objectives balanced and in perspective. Yes, times are starting to be more stable in certain areas, but you need to improve your competitive advantage.

Customers will always demand more of suppliers to provide affordable products at the exact moment they want them. How can you effectively insure you have what your customers need when they need it? Supply Chain Management (SCM) is front and center of every business across the globe.

Advanced Inventory Solutions Complement ERP Systems 

Spare parts inventory management is a prime candidate for advanced inventory planning and optimization solutions. With many diverse parts to manage and a lack of power tools, most companies with parts inventories have too many of the wrong parts. The result is unnecessary inventory expense, while still suffering service-limiting stock-outs.

The challenge facing people and companies is they must work steadily at improving their inventory management. In order to improve, you need to know where you are today. First, is to determine what they have accomplished and how competent they are in their planning. Their level of experience and results must be measured to accurately and efficiently move forward.

Part 1 of our Inventory Forecasting blog, covers an overview to inventory forecasting and the techniques available. This continues to review the approaches to inventory forecasting.

Forecasting customer demand is an important and necessary part of the chain of calculations needed to optimize inventory stocking levels. There are a wide variety of techniques that can be used, making forecasting a confusing and sometimes difficult process. If your goal is to not only forecast demand but also stock inventory at optimal levels, then forecasting must be combined with inventory planning and replenishment optimization algorithms to reach the goals of higher service levels with less inventory.

There are some distinctions of business purchases, strategic and non-strategic. Strategic purchases are those that have a direct effect on the business and the bottom line. Non-strategic are those for everyday items like office supplies, travel, commodity items, etc. In the case of manufacturing companies, strategic purchases can be raw materials, production equipment, energy, skilled labor, computers, and business operating software.

ERP on-board inventory management software offers some inventory management, manufacturing, and purchasing capabilities. However, they are not deep in functionality and do not provide true inventory optimization algorithms. Some do have available multiple location capabilities but again depth and breadth of functionality is limited. Lots of manual work is required to make these systems work as needed.

Your mission to be the best supplier of your products in the market today and tomorrow is more challenging than ever. Most companies define what that means in terms of serving the customer. For example, your customers can send you an order and get a return confirmation promptly. You will ship all orders within 24 hours. You will offer a variety of products that is both broad and deep. All great goals to build and grow a business. Now, you go out and spend a ton of money on the inventory.