To ensure that your stock process remains effective over time, adhere to these best practices:
- Physical Control of Stock: Ensure your stock is physically controlled and organised in the workshop. Use a stock cage or a stock room etc.
- Measurable Stock Usage: It is essential you can ‘easily’ measure how much stock is used on each project. If you can’t track usage easily, you can’t control the stock correctly.
- Regular Stocktakes: Count your inventory regularly to stay on top of any variations early.
- Consistent Units of Measure: Ensure products are consistently tracked using correct units, which is critical for accurate stock records.
- Timely Stock Movements: Record stock usage as soon as possible to when it is happening to avoid discrepancies between actual stock levels and recorded data.
One common pitfall to avoid is starting with incorrect stock-on-hand balances. Ensure your initial stocktake is accurate to prevent future complications. Managing change effectively is crucial so your team is fully on board with the new stock control processes.
WorkGuru is designed to support and enforce best practices in inventory management. Here’s how:
- Three Types of Stock Control: WorkGuru supports FIFO, batch, and serial stock control, allowing you to choose the best method for your needs.
- Units of Measure: It ensures that products are tracked consistently with the correct units of measure.
- Min-Max Levels and Locations: You can set minimum and maximum levels for products, track stock locations, and monitor product levels across different sites.
- Barcode Compatibility: WorkGuru’s compatibility with barcode systems simplifies the stock control process, reducing the chances of errors.
- WorkGuru Kiosk: The kiosk is a simple way to add stock usage to a project. It integrates with other modules within the job management software for seamless tracking.
- Purchasing Automation: You can automate purchasing based on forecasted needs or current stock levels, ensuring you never run out of essential materials.
- Multi-Currency and Landed Costs: WorkGuru supports multi-currency transactions and landed cost calculations for manufacturers dealing with international suppliers.
- Multi-Warehouse Functionality: Manage stock across multiple locations in real-time, ensuring a clear view of inventory levels no matter where your stock is stored.