Shortage exposure
Find materials whose stock coverage ends before the next usable receipt. Keep urgent recovery separate from the quantity suggested for a new order.
PLATFORM / INVENTORY INTELLIGENCE
Spot the gap before the shelf is empty.
Compare usable stock with demand and dated receipts. Give every material a specific next step, with the quantity, timing and context needed to act.
Material availabilityIllustrative
IP-1001 · CHICAGO
Supply needs to
arrive sooner.
Stock coverageOct 10
Supply gap
Planned receiptOct 23
NEXT ACTION
Request 132 units early
against the existing purchase order.
Sample scenario · Timing risk and new-order quantity are separate decisions.
Availability is a timing question.
An open purchase order can look reassuring while arriving after the stock runs out. Keep the receipt date and the coverage date in the same view.
Excess inventory
Review stock above the policy target alongside demand, open orders and other plant needs before deciding what to reduce or transfer.
Stock policy proposals
Compare minimum, maximum and target levels using demand and supplier timing. Review the assumptions before approving a policy change.
A material can serve more than one purpose.
Production, accessory shipments, kitting, service, maintenance, direct fulfillment and interplant supply can all draw on the same stock. Demand-use views make those needs visible without counting the same movement twice.
Keep material number, plant, storage location and base unit in context. A company-wide total should never hide a shortage at the facility that actually needs the material.
| Question | What to review |
|---|---|
| Can we cover demand until the next receipt? | Usable stock, dated demand, confirmed receipts and coverage |
| Should we buy, expedite or transfer? | Existing PO timing, available alternatives and the immediate gap |
| Should the policy change? | Demand history, observed lead time, variability and target service expectations |
Can it recommend minimum, maximum and target inventory levels?
Yes. The inventory workflow presents policy proposals based on the available demand and supplier timing evidence. Review those assumptions alongside coverage, variability and your operating constraints. A proposed policy change is distinct from an urgent early-delivery request and is approved before becoming a customer’s operating baseline.
Can the same material support production, accessories, kits and transfers?
Yes. The sample workflow includes production, accessory shipments, kitting, interplant transfers, service, maintenance and direct fulfillment. Keep those uses tied to the material and plant, and avoid counting the same transfer or kit event twice. Detailed reservations and priorities follow the data and business rules agreed for your deployment.
What happens if our data is incomplete or inconsistent?
The workflow identifies affected records and the specific checks needed. Missing values should not silently become zero. Before production, we reconcile totals with the source system, validate sample materials and agree who resolves issues. A record needing verification remains visible rather than becoming an unsupported recommendation.
YOUR NEXT MOVE
Let’s start with
your operation.
Bring a recurring inventory challenge. We’ll discuss the data, scope and a practical path forward.