Special Report: Timely, Cost-Effective Inventory Management
Part 1: Inventory Management: Managers Need Time, Resources
Part 2: Best Practices for Supply-Chain and Inventory Management
Part 3: Inventory Management: Bins, Shelves, Racks Create Efficient Storerooms
Part 4: Best Practices for Stocking MRO Parts
Part 5: Inventory Management: Implementing Bar-Code, RFID Technology
Inventory Management: Bins, Shelves, Racks Create Efficient Storerooms
By Andrew Gager - May 2010 - Material Handling
To achieve storeroom excellence, managers must be confident the inventory is accurate. If managers can validate the accuracy of inventory, they can reduce freight costs, provide the right parts for needed repairs, and ensure technicians perform the repair work properly the first time. Too many departments seem to have enough time to repair something twice, but not enough time to repair it right the first time.
Managers want to establish the storeroom operation as a profit center supporting the organization. The only sure way to achieve this goal is by implementing an effective and efficient MRO process.
Managers have a host of options for setting up an efficient storeroom layout, such as organizing stocked items by use — 6 percent of stocked items account for 80 percent of activity — value, department, trade, line, location, ABC classification, etc.
Another strategy for establishing effectiveness is determining the most efficient products and systems for storing inventory. Bins, shelves, racks, high-density storage systems, bulk racking — as well as consigned and vendor-managed systems — all have a significant impact on the flow of materials, shelf lives, and ease of retrieval. Stocking strategies, as well as the quality of the item at time of issue, play a central role in determining success.
