Despite what many data processing salespeople will tell you, computers do not provide solutions to inventory management problems. Computers are tools. They must be used in the proper business environment in order to work effectively. This environment is comprised of several elements. All of them must be present in order for your new inventory management system to live up to its potential.
Pilferage is a larger problem than most distributors realize.
Order only the amount of non-stock or special order items that your customer has committed to buy. Before adding an item to inventory, try to get a purchase commitment from your customer. If this is not possible, inform the salesperson who requests the item that he or she is personally responsible for half the carrying cost of any part of the initial shipment that isn t sold within nine months. Assign primary and surplus bin locations for every stocked item. With correct bin locations on documents, order picking is probably the least complicated job in your warehouse.