How to secure your inventory

Stock management has been on every manufacturer’s mind for the last two years, as businesses adapted their operations to keep up with changing demand. While supply chain issues have turned much attention to the acquisition of inventory, controlling how it is used on site is also an important issue. Chris Billinge highlights some of the key technologies that help manufacturers secure their inventory

Though every business may have a slightly different definition of high-value inventory, each one will have resources that require careful management, be it power tools, adhesives or personal protective equipment (PPE). Traditional ways of securing high-value inventory include lockable security cages and upper bay storage rack slots. These can be put in areas of reduced access where only authorised personnel can enter — typically in the back of the warehouse, away from the main traffic areas. 

However, these methods give manufacturers limited visibility. There is a chance that equipment will be misplaced, delaying operations when that tool is needed. Without an updated audit trail, warehouse managers lack visibility on which employee is entering restricted areas and which item they are taking. Introducing a logbook is a partial solution but can slow down access to inventory and are still at risk of human error.

Having total visibility of the movement of high-value inventory can protect items from being lost, damaged or misplaced, reducing costs and limiting downtime. So, how can businesses achieve this?

Increased security, real-time visibility

Locker-based systems are growing in popularity as a way for production managers to easily track high-value assets and control their use. With a locker-based industrial vending solution, employees can use their clocking cards or a four-digit pin to access the machine, which automatically creates a log of what was taken, by who and when.

Cloud-based vending solutions ensure employees have access to the correct products, while also giving production managers the ability to monitor and control how much of each product employees are consuming. If a locker-based system is integrated with the supplier’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, it can also trigger automated replenishment — making an automatic reorder when stock is low. 

Locker-based solutions mean employees can access high-value inventory efficiently and can even keep electronic equipment charged and ready for the next use. For the management of consumables like PPE, industrial vending can drive down consumption by 30%, reducing costs as well as keeping an accurate audit trail for health and safety purposes.

When considering the use of new technology on your production line, partnering with an inventory solutions provider can help you get the most from your investment.

Chris Billinge is business development director of supply chain specialist TFC, an AFC Industries company.