What costs are typically included when calculating inventory carrying cost?
Inventory carrying cost commonly includes capital tied up in inventory, warehousing and storage expenses, insurance, obsolescence risk, and handling. The Lean Inventory Analysis deck explicitly breaks down carrying costs into working capital and warehousing-related expenses, making working capital and warehousing expenses concrete components.
How can I calculate safety stock for variable demand?
The provided safety stock formula uses average demand, demand variability, a safety factor, and expedite time: Safety Stock = (Average Demand + (Standard Deviation * Safety Factor)) * Expedite Time. The formula and a safety stock calculation model are described in the deck, with the explicit safety stock calculation model.
What is Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and why use it?
EOQ is the order quantity that minimizes total inventory costs by balancing ordering costs against holding costs. Using an EOQ calculation helps determine cost-effective lot sizes and reorder points; the Flevy product includes an EOQ calculation template to support this analysis, namely the EOQ calculation template.
Which tools help identify high-value or slow-moving inventory?
Common tools are ABC classification to segment inventory by value and usage, PQ analysis for purchase-quality insights, and aged stock reports to spot slow-moving items. Flevy’s Lean Inventory Analysis includes ABC classification, PQ analysis guidance, and aged-stock report templates, with ABC classification highlighted.
What should I prioritize when buying an inventory analysis deck or template?
Prioritize inclusion of calculation models and templates you’ll use: replenishment quantity calculators, safety stock models, EOQ templates, ABC classification, customization guidance, and a workshop agenda. The Lean Inventory Analysis lists these deliverables, including a safety stock calculation model.
How should I set SKU-level service levels across different products?
Set service levels based on observed customer demand patterns, historical fill rates, and acceptable stockout risk. Translate those decisions into product-specific service level agreements and confidence intervals; the deck provides a service level agreement framework to document those choices, specifically the service level agreement framework.
I have a three-month mandate to reduce inventory—what sequence of analyses is practical?
Start with ABC classification and aged-stock analysis to identify targets, quantify carrying costs, tune replenishment quantities and EOQ, and adjust safety and Murphy buffers based on demand variability. The deck outlines inventory reduction techniques and an implementation roadmap for lean inventory optimization, including inventory reduction techniques.
How does demand variability change my inventory requirements?
Higher demand variability increases required safety stock and buffer levels to maintain service, and it makes standard deviation and safety-factor inputs more influential in calculations. Use statistical measures to size buffers; the deck uses standard deviation and a safety factor within its safety stock formula, specifically the safety stock formula using standard deviation and safety factor.