Inventory management is a large part of what keeps the manufacturing side running smoothly at Tekmos. Due to the high volume at which parts are manufactured and sold, we require inventory to match up precisely with our accounting software. This is so sales may be able to quote correct quantities available for purchase, as well as start new inventory lots when needed.
At the start of each month, our inventory room and test floor is cross reviewed against our digital backlog and adjusted according to the physical inventory we have on hand. It is my job as the inventory control manager to track down any inconsistencies we have, and correct them. This can consist of entering any missing travelers into our database, converting untested stock to finished goods stock, and removing any parts deemed as rejects due to production failures or other testing.
Often times, our engineers will need various amounts of parts in order to do further testing into the quality and reliability of our microchips, along with other studies. In these instances, we use a logged tracking system to check in/out parts, record where these parts are going, who has them, and whether or not they will be returning to finished goods to be sold.
As our stock levels currently hold over 600 different types of microprocessors for various applications, monthly inventory can seem overwhelming at times. Luckily we have implemented small but impactful changes in the systems we use to make this task a bit easier on everyone. We keep track of our chips using the systems previously described, as well as others such as physically marking inventory boxes to clearly show which parts have had significant movement over the past month, and those that have not.
Another way we maintain and keep a strong hold of inventory is in visibility, segregation, and separation. This focuses on where the parts are in their journey from production to customer and how they are marked along the way.
When inventory first arrives at Tekmos, it is clearly marked as untested product while being kept in a designated untested area. Once testing has begun, parts are assigned a traveler, listed as ‘At Test’ and noted as to which step in the testing procedure they are undergoing. Parts that have failed testing are moved to a segregated area, marked to be scrapped, or moved to an engineering shelf for future analysis as to why they failed. Good parts are then moved into our finished goods room. From there they are stored until an order is placed for the parts.
Once our manufacturing team has received an order, parts are logged, removed, and packed to a customer’s specifications. This may include programming, labels or any other requirements needed by the purchaser. Once packed, the order is shipped out to a customer. If an order is being packed ahead of its ship date, the package is placed on our pre-packed shelf with all the shipment plus customer information, to await shipment.
We have various categories in which we store and track our parts to maintain a clean and accurate inventory at Tekmos. These are just a few of the methods we utilize to ensure the timely delivery and production of parts at our company, and to keep everything running smoothly.