Stock control, otherwise known as
inventory control, is about how much stock you have at any one
time, and how you keep track of it.
It applies to every item you use to produce a product or service,
from raw materials to finished goods. It covers stock at every
stage of the production process, from purchase and delivery
to using the stock and re-ordering.
Efficient stock control using computer software along with barcodes
(and in the near future R.F.I.D.) possibly will mean you have
the right amount of stock in the right place at the right time.
It ensures that capital is not tied up unnecessarily and protects
production when there are problems with the supply chain.
Everything
you use to make your products, provide your services and to
run your business is part of your stock.
There are four main types of stock:
raw materials
and components - ready to use in production
work in progress
- stocks of unfinished goods
finished goods
ready for sale
consumables
- for example, fuel and stationery
The type of stock can influence how much you should keep.
Stock value
You can categorise stock further, according to its value. For
example, you could put items into low, medium and high value
categories. If you feel your stock levels are limited by capital,
this will help you to plan
expenditure on new and replacement stock.
There are several
methods for controlling stock, all designed to provide an efficient
system for deciding what, when and how much to order.
You may opt for one method or a mixture of two or more if you
have various types of stock.
Minimum stock
level - you identify a minimum stock level, and re-order
when stock reaches that level. This is known as the Re-order
Level (ROL).
Stock review
- you have regular reviews of stock. At every review you
place an order to return stocks to a maximum level.
Just In Time
(JIT) - this aims to reduce costs by cutting stock to
a minimum - see our guide on how to avoid the problems
of overtrading. Items are delivered when they are needed
and used immediately. There is a risk of running out of
stock, so you need to be confident that your supplier
can deliver.
These methods can be used alongside other processes to refine
the system.
For example:
Re-order lead
time - allows for the time between placing an order and
receiving it.
Economic Order
Quantity (EOQ) - a standard formula used to arrive at
a balance between holding too much or too little stock.
It's quite a complex calculation, so you may find it easier
to use stock control software.
Batch control
- managing the production of goods in batches. You need
to make sure that you have the right number of components
to cover your needs until the next batch.
If your needs are predictable, you may order a fixed quantity
every time, or at a fixed interval - say every week or month.
This works a bit like a direct debit arrangement and needs regular
monitoring.
First in, first out - a system to ensure that perishable stock
doesn't hang about deteriorating. Stock is
identified by date received and moves on to the next stage of
production in strict order.