This edition concludes our 4-part series on Inventory Management in which we revealed best practices to achieve desired service levels. In this issue, NML will also address the importance of understanding inventory storage needs and properly designing and utilizing available capacities. Do you have the space needed for sufficient storage?
Perhaps you have heard the phrase "Is the glass half empty or half full". The answer given to this question usually dictates if a person sees things optimistically or pessimistically. When it comes to keeping adequate inventory levels in hospital clinical areas and supply rooms, Materials Managers are often encouraged to take the perceived "safe route" and view on-hand inventory as "half-empty". This practice along with the fact that new items are being added to storerooms everyday, Materials Managers and their staff are challenged to fit everything into as little a space as possible.
Following are some key questions to answer in order to determine if space has been planned effectively for current and future needs.
o If new products were added tomorrow to your storeroom and multiple clinical areas where would they be located and how much would you need?
o Are you ordering the same item multiple times per week because you can't fit the amount required into the existing storage location?
o Can your storeroom support the inventory quantities needed to provide services to off-site locations like clinics, etc.?
o Can the staff that is picking orders pick un-impeded without waiting or creating congestion, competing for space and equipment with bumping other staff pickers?
These are just a few questions that may help determine if there may be a capacity challenge. Keep reading by clicking through to the full article
here.
Sales & Operations Planning Series Part 4 of 4: The Supply Plan 
Capacity Planning in the Supply Room