Working in a business that often requires you to use different tools and parts means that you may need a way to keep track of your current inventory. Looking into the means of gaining replacement parts quickly and efficiently, without needing to pay over the odds, can also help you to keep your trade moving. A lack of a proper system for replacing parts could see you unprepared for certain tasks, which can impact your client’s opinion of how reliable you are.
Put in Orders Early
No matter the type of product you require, from the tiniest of screws to hall effect pressure sensors, you want to make sure that you have the parts required for the tasks that needs doing, or the products that you are creating. Putting in orders before you run out of items means that you will be more likely to have replacement parts delivered before your existing stock becomes depleted. You may want to consider paying that little bit more for express shipping to ensure that they are received as soon as possible, otherwise, the alternative is to delay proceedings or sales, which can see you lose out on a lot of work and, therefore, money. This is especially detrimental if the client decides to use one of your competitors who can undertake the task sooner instead.
Track Your Stock
Having your administration team set up a spreadsheet or database which shows current stock levels can go a long way towards helping prevent the likelihood of you running out of a much-needed part. In addition to this, you may also want to carry out an inventory check. This will allow you to physically see how many of each part you have left, and can be a good idea to undertake on a fairly regular basis, in case of any discrepancies with your aforementioned database. This can be a timely procedure, so you may want to consider setting aside a day to complete this, or to do a little each day as and when you have the time.
Look for Trends
During certain seasons or times of the year, different parts may be used more frequently. So, by looking for trends in usage, you can create a potential forecast of parts that are likely to be needed within the next 12 months. While this may not be accurate, it could help you pinpoint parts that you may need a surplus of. Although this may seem like an unnecessary cost in the present, it could help you to avoid running out of parts in the future, especially if the trend you noticed in the previous year is repeated in the coming months.
Finding ways to help keep your business moving, and avoid any client loss through lack of parts in stock, may take some getting used to. By implementing these processes now, you can try to avoid any potential setbacks in the future, allowing you to continue doing what you do best, and keep clients happy without any delays in their service.
