How do you keep track of inventory in multiple locations?

Inv. mgmt can be well managed by interlink of Decentralized resource deployment to manage the Physical WH and centralized deployment of technology to manage the virtual WH and both has to be synchronized to manage the inventory.

GRN of all locations should be store in a single database (cetralised)with all location codes. This will not only provide inventory tracking of all locations but, will record consumption at each locations and can decide storage system for particular parts.

DO NOT TOLERATE STOCK RECONCILIATIONS.....If it's a must to reconcile then this should be done by a single person. With very good reasons to do it. I have found this to be very helpful. I even develop a saying..."If the system says it's available..then it's available. If it's not someone is sleeping on their job...find him"

I agreed but is importa to have in consideration the customer orders and supplier frequency delivery. With a inventory system you can track from order until customer release. Is important have a system like SAP ti monitoring raw material availability and orders placed. That kind of system runs across entire manufacturing process giving a real time of material consumption. In addition to use a Kaban system as part of a lean manufacturing methodology.

GRN of all locations should be store in a single database (cetralised)with all location codes. This will not only provide inventory tracking of all locations but, will record consumption at each locations and can decide storage system for particular parts.

If you have a good system like SAP, you already have a structure. The key to control is Materials Requirement Planning (MRP). It is essential that you use this and take the time to configure it correctly. If you do, it does the work for you. The system will identify future shortages and present you with recommended Purchase Orders taking lead times into account. Get this right, and you will be an Inventory Superhero

Scanning bar codes/inventory tags inside a WMS/ERP system is essential in todays age. Perspective on 80/20 or ABC layout is great for efficiency in materials management but if scanning is not the baseline for training material handlers and inventory personnel, you will spend an awful lot of time chasing your tail for both MRP and distribution requirements.

Better to us QR codes on each box from the supplier. This also should interface with your system. Then scan in and out by locations and have visibly of each location and the total centralized ??

Stock control is important on several fronts knowing what to order, when to order and how much to order. This can be achieved by several methods, first is barcode scanning, and registered to the main system as it is scanned by item and then location, secondly once barcode is scanned it can then be given an expiry date on the main system to be Red flagged if it is out of date or coming to a best before end of. When it comes to dispatching, it is easy to know how much you have and if it's in date and it's location. This will save money by reducing waste and storage. Doing this gives you greater control of knowing when an important delivery has arrived so not to hold up production.

Often times, I have found, that items that are A items at plant 1, maybe a B or even C item at plant 2. To reduce working capital throughout he organization, it is beneficial to identify these items and utilize internal plants to supply needed materials. For example, Plant 1 has an item that is an A item with 15+ turns per year and is ordered weekly. Plant 2 has the same item but it is a C item, only used rarely (2-4 times per year in total) and only for special orders. Instead of ordering from the raw material supplier, set system up that Plant 1 supplies Plant 2 as needed thereby avoiding MOQ issues and potentially slow or obsolete inventory down the road.

Is important have procedures to standardize the process for all employees and keep the same way to perform the different tasks to sustain a good inventory system. Every change, any improvement, need to be documented for future references and usage as a guideline for trainings.

In my experience, you will always experience human error when you manage inventory. You can train individuals and have a very simplistic binning system, but as humans we are still error prone. With small levels of inventory, the risk can still be minimised. But, with larger inventory levels it becomes much more difficult. I have found that knowing your space and being able to navigate it with your eyes closed and by memory, has minimised the level or degree to which mistakes are made. The problem is finding or identifying those individuals with that level of passion for what they do, to be able to teach them to operate with minimal supervision.

Adopt a multilocation inventory management system. The right software can take you a long way when it comes to multilocation inventory management.

In my experience in the utility sector we kept our “dead or non active inventory at various locations. These items were only accessible by inventory specialists. They would come up in cycle counts and verified for accuracy at least twice a year. We had two off sight locations treated this way. This items were usually overhead transmission line items line we were required to have along with rarely used overhead distribution items. Our strict control access ability method kept things accurate the old fashioned way.

One thing i found very helpful "cycle count" Even if you have the best system and there is human transaction like scaning, puaway using RFID. There will always be a possiblity of error.

Use advanced analytics extensively. The robust and cost effective way to integrate inventory present in multiple locations is by integrating analytics into the manufacturing operations and supply chain. The produced goods are internally stored in various locations which needs to be standardized and modelled and followed across the various locations firstly. On top of this, we can integrate the live ERP system which contains records of production, stores area, quality hold areas and finished goods areas and there is an average time of inventory holding which can be expressed in days. Along with this we can represent this value in terms of sales and get the actual DIO (Days inventory outstanding) through live dashboard models.