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Funny, how thinking of inventory, (which is something we dont consider much about as children), could revitalize ones memories and with out intent cause one to recall things learned as a child.
Ahhh Memories .. Grade three was a wonderful year, our class was on the other side of the school where the grades eights where located and the play equipment was so much better than what we had the year before. It was also the first year I recall that I could read on my own. I remember going into the library to take out my first three books. One of these was a book of fables and I recall reading with innocent eyes the story of the Emperors NEW Clothes In case you have not read this story I will tell the quick of it.
In the fable of the Emperor's New Clothes, a couple of con men convinced the king that they had magical cloth, which only the wise people could see. The king hires these men to make him the most magnificent suit of clothes, declaring that anyone who cannot see this material was a fool.
As the fable goes, when the con men went to display this magnificent suit made of this magical cloth no one wanted to admit that all they could see was a half-naked king clad only in his boxer shorts, lest they be branded a fool. It took the honesty of a youth who exclaimed; "The king has no clothes!" before the rest of the kingdom was able to see and admit the reality of the king's nakedness.
As with most fables it seeks to impart a valuable lesson.
Well, of course it was only a story, right? Yet is it possible that a fable and the lessons it imbues can take place in reality?
Time passes and we grow up .
So now I take you to our Daily Stock order and that basic premise that it would help dealerships to increase the BREADTH of thier current inventories.
Like most I sat in the various meetings that brought this wonderful new sales tool to our door. Amazed at the simplicity and the excellent way this was to be implemented. With innocent eyes I took it all in. The fire and desire to make this happen stoked by the knowledge that our analysts had done their homework. There seemed no doubt that this new procedure would improve our job and the quality of our inventory. Yet during these meetings something tickled the back of my mind, some distant recollection that at the time eluded me. It was that little nagging feeling you get that tells you something just does not quite add up, but you cannot quite put your finger on. So it was that I set this aside until such time as it might manifest itself.
Sad, how small lessons we learn as children can seemingly be forgotten as we turn into adults. It is the old adage that we seem destined to repeat the mistakes of the past.
For with all the people who heard this very few saw through the transparency to say the King is Naked or in fact that what we where being lead to believe was better off in a book of fables.
Thought .
Several years ago our industry worked hard to bring the average knowledge of parts managers up to snuff. Various groups produced excellent training sessions that dramatically improved inventory knowledge. So it was that many across N. America where on the same page. ... That is, if you are to phase in a new item it should at least have 3 individual sales minimum in a year before stocking. This improvement and training lead the way for most parts inventories increasing their BREADTH.
So now we have the Daily Stock Order coming down the pipe with seminars that tell us this will help us in increasing our Breadth. (Ok now I have that feeling I am missing something again) . MMmmmm lets see ..
How does the daily stockorder increase breadth?
It seems it should be such a simple question.
Answer: It doesn't !
In fact it will never happen as a result of daily orders. For the simple fact that phase in guidelines and when a stock order is placed are two separate entities. They are like mixing oil and water. Separately both have a purpose; it is simply that they dont mix.
How can this be?
Well consider; Inventory managers, who already ran parts departments CORRECTLY before daily stock orders, would have already saturated their phase in point with most parts already residing on the shelf. Unless you drop your phase in value and criteria you cannot increase your breadth.
Here in is again a mystery; why would proponents of this system need to rely on a planned sales marketing spin to sell this incredible system? Perhaps they did not realize there is a difference between a Fable and the telling of fairy tales. More importantly how did so many of us get swept away into believing this propaganda?
May we never loose the lessons learned in our youth. Those ones that taught us to look beyond what others are saying, to what really is. For even as adults we will still find that occasionally the king is naked.
If this is so, and time will tell, more than a few will be caught with their pants down.
Daily stock orders are a fact of life. Yes they do offer some benifits. Personally I am neither for or against this process. However, it does pay dividends to understand all the possible reasons why industries are choosing this supply method.
So why do you think main inventory supply warehouses are moving to daily orders ?
Your thoughts are appreciated.
[This message has been edited by johnnyo (edited 11-20-2002).]