Introduction
Executives normally expect that people at the sharp end know what they are
doing. Of course, they do – well, almost. However, in inventory control
there could be items where the records don’t agree exactly with the real
quantities held in the business; alternatively, sometimes the quantity is
correct – it is just finding where the items are located that is the problem.
Life at the sharp end is usually a mixture of operating the system and reacting
to situations. Often there is great pressure to achieve customer service,
delivery on time, response to queries, meetings etc., which results in the
‘quick fix’ rather than solving the problem.This is especially true for inventory
records.
In reality it is much easier to ensure that procedures work properly in the
first place. However, people are used to chasing round fixing the immediate
problems, and often never get nearer to eliminating the sources of the discrepancies.
It takes a little longer now and needs some thought, so the problem
remains.
Everyone involved with inventory has a potential issue with data accuracy.
The reader who picks up this book is not looking for literary delight, but for
ways of fixing some records. It is a practical step on the way to solving a
potentially damaging situation – and it is only when it improves that people
realize how damaging it really was.
The first step in making data more accurate is to believe that it is possible.
That means admitting that there are better ways of doing things.This book
is intended to support readers who are looking for ways to change the basic
records processes.This does not mean spending a lot of money; it is more a
question of time, effort and application. It is a case of using the techniques
outlined to ensure that records don’t go wrong – a case of ‘Mony a mickle
maks a muckle’, as the Scots would say.
In some cases the methods will be directly usable to improve accuracy; in
other cases the basic idea requires putting into the context of the particular
inventory in question. In fact, many of the techniques discussed are directly
applicable to any type of data.
Record accuracy has become the focus of attention for many businesses
because customers are more demanding, expecting the right item to be delivered
on time, and competitive pressures don’t allow that extra bit of stockholding.
Businesses have been offered the opportunity to become much more
effective, as long as they are allowed
• the correct information
• the development of better communication and
• integration of systems,
but often organizations fail on the first point.
At the same time, inventory management is under pressure (in most
companies) to become more efficient by giving better availability and holding
less inventory – and any inventory inaccuracy has a direct effect on these
two key performance measures, not to mention long-term survival.
The accuracy of the information is an aspect that has therefore gradually
been increasing in importance.The systems only work if the data is correct!
Otherwise people are making decisions based on the wrong situations, or
mistrusting the data entirely and ‘doing their own thing’. With integrated
data, there are wide-ranging repercussions.
Where there is a large amount of data there is the opportunity for many
errors, some of them major. Usually this is the case with inventory, since many
items, large varieties of different items, and fast-changing inventory are
involved.The challenge is to measure how much there is – especially where
inventory changes rapidly in businesses like consumer retailing and manufacturing
processes. With large warehouses there is also the risk of inaccurate
recording so that items are missing or not in the right place.
The ways to improve record accuracy are the core subject of this book.The
author has amassed some techniques, tried them out in practice, and presents
them in a practical style, so that those with the responsibility for record
accuracy can use them easily. This is not quantum physics: many of the
concepts are very simple, but have to be used in the right way. Everyone will
be using some of the techniques.The full benefits result from applying the
right combination of the techniques described.
This handbook starts by discussing how to quantify the problem and set
sensible targets for improvement. It then focuses on how to make the case for
2 IMPROVING INVENTORY RECORD ACCURACY
doing something to improve accuracy, which leads on to the financial case
for accuracy improvement. By this point the reader should have enough
ammunition to go to colleagues who are disinterested and prove to them that
something must be done to change – there are graphs to prove how bad it is,
and there is information to show the real reduction it causes on operating efficiency
and on profits.
OK, do something! The next logical step is to discuss why inventory
records do go wrong (this is not really a difficult task!) and then to identify
what the major causes are likely to be for the particular inventory in question.What
will be more challenging is rectifying the major causes of error.
The remainder of the book illustrates the techniques with which anyone can
make their records very accurate. Although errors will never be eliminated by
more counting, there is a chapter devoted to inventory counting and perpetual
inventory checking for those who need to develop these techniques,
and as a basis for normal data maintenance.The secret of success is simplification,
responsibility, organization, and using a combination of the other
detailed approaches discussed. For those readers who want to get down to it
in a logical manner, Chapter 11 outlines the way to run accuracy improvement
as a project.
It can be used as a logical read, or to find specific solutions to particular
ills in the records. However, the effect of the techniques is cumulative,
and using a variety has a much greater effect than just applying one alone.
Record accuracy is of little theoretical interest in inventory management
but it is vital if systems are going to work properly, although it may also be
useful for anyone studying the tendency of nature to create chaos if left
unchecked.
I have worked with my colleague Elaine Duckworth to create a balanced
way of enabling people to improve record accuracy, which has resulted in
this book.
แนะนำผู้บริหารปกติคาดว่า คนที่ปลายคมรู้คืออะไรทำ แน่นอน พวกเขาทำได้ – ดี เกือบ อย่างไรก็ตาม ในการควบคุมสินค้าคงคลังอาจมีสินค้าที่ข้อมูลไม่ยอมรับว่า จริงปริมาณที่จัดขึ้นในธุรกิจ หรือ ในบางครั้งปริมาณคือถูกต้อง – มันเป็นเพียงการค้นหาซึ่งสินค้าที่อยู่ที่เป็นปัญหาชีวิตที่ปลายคมโดยปกติจะเป็นการผสมผสานระหว่างระบบการปฏิบัติการ และปฏิกิริยากับสถานการณ์ มักจะมีความดันที่ดีเพื่อให้บริการลูกค้าจัดส่งตรงเวลา ตอบแบบสอบถาม ฯลฯ ซึ่งผลการประชุม'แก้ไขอย่างรวดเร็ว' แทนที่แก้ปัญหา นี้เป็นจริงโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งสำหรับสินค้าคงคลังเรกคอร์ดในความเป็นจริง ได้ง่ายขึ้นมากเพื่อให้แน่ใจว่า ขั้นตอนการทำงานอย่างถูกต้องในการสถานที่แรก อย่างไรก็ตาม ใช้คนเพื่อไล่รอบแก้ไขในทันทีปัญหา และมักจะไม่ได้รับคำแนะนำเกี่ยวกับการกำจัดแหล่งมาของความขัดแย้งที่มันใช้เวลาเพียงเล็กน้อยขณะนี้ และต้องคิดว่าบางอย่าง ดังนั้นปัญหายังคงอยู่ทุกคนที่เกี่ยวข้องกับสินค้าคงคลังมีปัญหาอาจเกิดขึ้นกับความแม่นยำของข้อมูลอ่านที่เลือกหนังสือเล่มนี้กำลังมองหา สำหรับวรรณกรรมดีไลท์ แต่สำหรับวิธีการแก้ไขบางระเบียน เป็นขั้นตอนที่ปฏิบัติมาเพื่อแก้ตัวอาจสร้างความเสียหายสถานการณ์และเป็นเฉพาะ เมื่อเป็นการปรับปรุงคนที่รู้วิธีทำลายมันจริง ๆ เป็นขั้นตอนแรกในการทำให้ข้อมูลถูกต้องมากขึ้นเชื่อว่า จะสามารถได้That means admitting that there are better ways of doing things.This bookis intended to support readers who are looking for ways to change the basicrecords processes.This does not mean spending a lot of money; it is more aquestion of time, effort and application. It is a case of using the techniquesoutlined to ensure that records don’t go wrong – a case of ‘Mony a micklemaks a muckle’, as the Scots would say.In some cases the methods will be directly usable to improve accuracy; inother cases the basic idea requires putting into the context of the particularinventory in question. In fact, many of the techniques discussed are directlyapplicable to any type of data.Record accuracy has become the focus of attention for many businessesbecause customers are more demanding, expecting the right item to be deliveredon time, and competitive pressures don’t allow that extra bit of stockholding.Businesses have been offered the opportunity to become much moreeffective, as long as they are allowed• the correct information• the development of better communication and• integration of systems,but often organizations fail on the first point.At the same time, inventory management is under pressure (in mostcompanies) to become more efficient by giving better availability and holdingless inventory – and any inventory inaccuracy has a direct effect on thesetwo key performance measures, not to mention long-term survival.The accuracy of the information is an aspect that has therefore graduallybeen increasing in importance.The systems only work if the data is correct!Otherwise people are making decisions based on the wrong situations, ormistrusting the data entirely and ‘doing their own thing’. With integrateddata, there are wide-ranging repercussions.Where there is a large amount of data there is the opportunity for manyerrors, some of them major. Usually this is the case with inventory, since manyitems, large varieties of different items, and fast-changing inventory areinvolved.The challenge is to measure how much there is – especially whereinventory changes rapidly in businesses like consumer retailing and manufacturingprocesses. With large warehouses there is also the risk of inaccuraterecording so that items are missing or not in the right place.The ways to improve record accuracy are the core subject of this book.Theauthor has amassed some techniques, tried them out in practice, and presentsthem in a practical style, so that those with the responsibility for recordaccuracy can use them easily. This is not quantum physics: many of theconcepts are very simple, but have to be used in the right way. Everyone willbe using some of the techniques.The full benefits result from applying theright combination of the techniques described.This handbook starts by discussing how to quantify the problem and setsensible targets for improvement. It then focuses on how to make the case for2 IMPROVING INVENTORY RECORD ACCURACYdoing something to improve accuracy, which leads on to the financial casefor accuracy improvement. By this point the reader should have enoughammunition to go to colleagues who are disinterested and prove to them thatsomething must be done to change – there are graphs to prove how bad it is,and there is information to show the real reduction it causes on operating efficiencyand on profits.OK, do something! The next logical step is to discuss why inventoryrecords do go wrong (this is not really a difficult task!) and then to identifywhat the major causes are likely to be for the particular inventory in question.Whatwill be more challenging is rectifying the major causes of error.The remainder of the book illustrates the techniques with which anyone canmake their records very accurate. Although errors will never be eliminated bymore counting, there is a chapter devoted to inventory counting and perpetualinventory checking for those who need to develop these techniques,and as a basis for normal data maintenance.The secret of success is simplification,responsibility, organization, and using a combination of the otherdetailed approaches discussed. For those readers who want to get down to itin a logical manner, Chapter 11 outlines the way to run accuracy improvementas a project.It can be used as a logical read, or to find specific solutions to particularills in the records. However, the effect of the techniques is cumulative,and using a variety has a much greater effect than just applying one alone.Record accuracy is of little theoretical interest in inventory managementbut it is vital if systems are going to work properly, although it may also beuseful for anyone studying the tendency of nature to create chaos if leftunchecked.I have worked with my colleague Elaine Duckworth to create a balancedway of enabling people to improve record accuracy, which has resulted inthis book.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..