Implementing effective stock control in your manufacturing process is essential for ensuring that your operations run smoothly and efficiently. Stock control, also known as inventory management, might seem like a complex task, but with the right steps and tools, you can set up a system that keeps your inventory accurate and your projects on track.
Let’s walk through introducing stock management to your manufacturing job process.
Initial Steps for Stock Control Implementation
When it comes to introducing stock control in manufacturing, the first step is straightforward: ensure your inventory is physically controlled. If your inventory is available to anyone at any time without any controls, such as if the stock is behind a stock cage, stock room, etc., everything else you do won’t matter.
Once your stock is physically under control, the next step is to measure the usage of that stock accurately. Finally, everyone involved in the process must understand how to use the stock control system. It’s a simple process, but it requires consistency.
Setting up stock control in WorkGuru involves marking your products as either non-stock, FIFO (First In, First Out), serial, or batch-controlled. After this, you’ll apply a stocktake to get accurate starting levels.
It’s a straightforward process, but it’s important to remember that stock control has no shortcuts. If you skip a step—like not properly receiving a purchase order or not recording a product used on a project—your stock levels will be off, which can cause major issues down the line.
Tools and Resources for Effective Inventory Control
To effectively set up stock control, you’ll need the right tools. Start by ensuring that the workshop properly controls your stock access. Then, consider using a
WorkGuru kiosk to track stock usage across projects.
Barcoding systems can also be incredibly helpful, allowing you to easily identify and manage individual products.
WorkGuru is compatible with barcoding systems and barcode scanners, making maintaining accuracy in your stock control process easier.
If you’re using a more basic inventory management software like spreadsheets, you’ll quickly run into limitations.
Spreadsheets won’t alert you if an item is out of stock, meaning you could end up using materials that aren’t available for a specific project.
WorkGuru, on the other hand, won’t let you proceed if an item is out of stock. This feature forces you to follow the proper workflow and helps prevent errors that can arise from poor inventory management.
Best Practices for Efficient Stock Control
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.
How WorkGuru Supports Stock Control
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.
Case Study: Conveyor Belt Company’s Success with WorkGuru
Let's consider the case of Conveyor Belt Company as a practical example of how effective stock control can be. Before using WorkGuru, they faced challenges maintaining accurate inventory levels, which affected their operational efficiency.
After integrating WorkGuru into its operations,
Conveyor Belt Company could accurately track stock across multiple locations. This improvement allowed them to make informed purchasing decisions, reduce waste, and avoid stockouts. The result was smoother day-to-day operations and better financial outcomes.
Get Started with WorkGuru for Effective Stock Control
With WorkGuru, your business is efficient, so you can ensure you're doing inventory management right every time. Its tools let you do rolling stocktakes, so you can keep track of your inventory without messing up your operations. Just follow the best practices and use the right tools to bring stock control into your manufacturing process in a smooth, precise, and sustainable way.
Explore how WorkGuru can transform your manufacturing operations by providing the tools to manage your inventory precisely. Get started with WorkGuru and see the difference it can make in your business.
