1、附录 A Inventory Optimization in Supply Chain: Zero Inventory Approach Kanaka B* Managing optimal inventory in the supply chain is critical for an enterprise. The ability to increaseinventory turns and the use of best inventory practices will reduce inventory costs across the supply chain.Moving towar
2、ds zero inventory will result in effective inventory management in the business process.Inventory Optimization Solutions can be implemented easily using inventory optimization software.With Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, inventory can be updated in real time withoutproduct movemen
3、t, scanning or human involvement. Companies have to adopt best practices to optimizeoperational processes and lower their cost structure through inventory strategies. Introduction With supply chain planning and latest software, companies are managing theirinventory in the best possible manner, keepi
4、ng inventory holdings to the minimumwithout sacrificing the customer service needs. The zero inventory concept has beenaround since the 1980s. It tries to reduce inventory to a minimum and enhances profitmargins by reducing the need for warehousing and expenses related to it.The concept of a supply
5、chain is to have items flowing from one stage of supply to thenext, both within the business and outside, in a seamless fashion. Any stock in thesystem is caused by either delay between the processes (demand, distribution, transfer,recordingand production)orby thevariation intheflow. Eliminating/red
6、ucing stockcan be achieved by: linking processes, making the same throughput rate on processes,locating processes near each other and coordinating flows. Recent advanced software hasmade zero inventory strategy executable. Inventoryoptimizationis an emerging practical approach to balancinginvestment
7、 and service-level goals over a very large assortment of Stock-KeepingUnits (SKUs). In contrast to traditional one-at-a-time marginal stock levelsetting, inventory optimization simultaneously determines all SKU stock levels tofulfill total service and investment constraints or objectives. Inventory
8、optimization techniques provide a new logic to drive the system withinformation systems. To effectively manage inventory, businesses must also optimize thecosts of buying, holding, producing, moving and selling inventory. The objective of inventory optimization is to sustain minimal levels of invent
9、orywhile providing the maximum possible levels of service. Supply Chain Design and Optimization (SCDO) is an inventory optimization solution which helps companies satisfy customer demands while balancing limitations on supply and the need for operational efficiency. Inventory optimization focuses on
10、 modeling uncertainty and variability and minimizing the risks they impose on the supply chain. Inventory optimization can help resolve total supply chain cost options like: In-house manufacturing vs. contract manufacturing； Domestic vs. off shore； and New suppliers cost vs. current suppliers cost.
11、Companies can benefit from inventory optimization, provided they control their supply chain processes and the complexity of supply chain. In case the supply chain is very complex, besides inventory optimization, network design has to be used to reap the benefits fully. This paper covers various inve
12、ntory models that are available and then describes the technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and networking used for the optimization of inventory. The paper also describes the software solutions available for achieving the same. It concludes by giving a few examples where inventor
13、y optimization has been successfully implemented. Inventory Models Hexagon Model The hexagon model was developed due to the need to structure day-to-day work, reduce headcount and other inventory costs and improve customer satisfaction.In the first phase, operation strategies were established in ali
14、gnment with inte-rnal customers. Later, continuous improvement plans and business continuity pl-ans were added. The five strategies used were: forecasting future consumption,setting financial targets to minimize inventory costs, preparing daily reports to monitor inventory operational performance,st
15、udying critical success indicators to track the accomplishments, to form inventory strategic objectives and inventor-y health and operating strategies. The hexagon model is a combination of two triangular structures (Figure 1). The upper triangle focuses on the soft management of human resources, cu
16、stomer orientation and supplier relations； the lower focuses on the execution of inventory plans with their success criteria, continuous improvement methodology and business continuity plans. The inventory indicators are: total inventory value, availability of spares, days of inventory, cost of inve
17、ntory, cost saving and cash saving output expen-diture and quality improvement. The hexagon model combines the elements of the people involved in managing inventory with operational excellence (Figur2). Managing inventory with operational excellence was achieved by reducing the number of employees i
18、n the material department, changing the mix of peo-ple skills such as introducing engineering into the department structure and reducing the cost of ownership of the material department to the operation that it supports. Normally, this is implemented with reduction in headcount of material departmen
19、t, having less people with engineering skills in the department. Operation results include, improvement in raw material supply line quality indicators, competitive days of inventory and improved and stabilized spares availability. And the financial results include, increase in cost savings and reduc
20、ed cost of inventory. It can be established by outsourcing some of the inventory functions as required. The level of efficiency of the inventory managed can be measured to a specific risk level, changing requirements or changes in the environment. Just-In-Time (JIT) Just-in-time (JIT) inventory syst
21、em is a concept developed by the Japanese, wherein, the suppliers deliver the materials to the factory JIT for their processing, eliminating the need for storage and retrieval. The rate of output and the rate of supply of inputs are synchronized, to manage a zero inventory. The main benefits of JIT are: set up times are significantly reduced in the factory, the flow of goods from warehouse to shelves improves, employees who possess multiple skills are utilized more efficiently, better consistency of scheduling and
