What is meant by Inventory management?
The term "inventory management" refers to the administration and organization of goods and stock within a warehouse. This includes all activities and processes necessary to optimize and ensure the availability, storage, and movement of goods, ensuring that the right products are available at the right time and place. Efficient inventory management is crucial for reducing storage costs, improving delivery capability, and minimizing inventory risks.
Typical software functions in the area of "inventory management" include:
- Stock Management: Monitoring and managing inventory levels in real-time, including recording of goods receipts and shipments.
- Storage Location Management: Organizing and optimizing storage locations to enhance accessibility and efficiency in storage and picking.
- Inventory Tracking: Tracking and monitoring inventory movements, including tracking of batches and serial numbers.
- Automatic Reordering: Automatically generating reorder requests based on minimum stock levels and forecasts.
- Inventory Management: Conducting and managing regular inventory counts to verify stock accuracy and identify discrepancies.
- Reporting and Analysis: Generating reports and analyses for inventory optimization, turnover rates, and cost control.
- Error and Discrepancy Management: Capturing and managing inventory errors or discrepancies, including implementing corrective actions.