The management value.
Generally, when you are looking to optimize processes
to reduce costs, many focus on the management carried out with inventories, the
level of stocks and management in warehouse administration, seeking to find
anomalies in the internal processes taking place in the organization, but few
consider to analyze from inbound logistics.
Good management, on inbound logistics, will result not
only count on the availability of inputs required for products manufacturing or
service that the company provides
Today, it is inconceivable that supply management it
is not integrated into the company´s strategic planning. The concept of
performance evaluation based on the reaction, compared with urgent orders to
avoid breaks in the stocks ("putting out fires") through a reactive
policy; it´s outdated, since it effects the customer fidelization with company.
Good management, on inbound logistics, will result not
only count on the availability of inputs required for products manufacturing or
service that the company provides. It will also allow a close relationship with
suppliers (vendor management), whom, far away from to be considered just as a
provider, they must be considered as a vital link in the process; thanks to a good
management, they can obtain long-term agreements and above all ensure the
quality of products the company needs to develop its activities and deliver
their own products or services on quality, place, time and required amount. The
impact of their behavior directly affects the whole process, not only in
fulfilling its mission as an organization; because the product or service will
be done, but at what cost?
The inbound logistics, therefore, is important or so
important like inventory management, storage and dispatch. Hence the importance
of adequate logistics policy as part of the strategic planning of the company.
Today, it is inconceivable that supply management it
is not integrated into the company´s strategic planning.
By setting production levels, as defined objectives,
will allow an orderly inventory planning. It is noteworthy that the analysis
performed based on the objectives of the organization, may establish operating
levels for each SKU (stock keeping unit), independent of the definitions of maximum,
minimum and security levels. The logistics policy established, should seek and
handle variables in order to find a balance to keep it within operating
margins, investment and acceptable risk, to enable it sustain the operations of
the organization (something not easy), if furthermore, must consider the
market´s behavior and the existing data on historical records of acquisition
and production, to predict scenarios, visualize trends and thus make decisions
that enable it to achieve the optimal level of investment. The activity is
complex.
The warehouse management is the other part of inbound
logistics and also something to be considered. There are enough literature
about storage, but inexplicably, the experience it is not applied (except in
large chains), generally being at the discretion of the warehouse manager, who
does not respect the provisions and stowage conditions set. A bad management
can affect the SKU condition or increase losses. Finally, an extra cost.
The ideal is to plan in a joint environment with the
highest degree of empathy for the function and costs that everybody must take
as a part of the organization, but the reality is far away from that. On one
hand, everyone wants to reduce costs and on the other a maximum availability of
SKU for production. Is on this stage, where managerial leadership is key to
bring closer both costs and production process to the company´s objectives. Although
they are not all well received by some actors in the chain, since it is not
possible proper management when there are partial views of a problem whose
genesis and implications have strategic nature.
Imperative is to consider inbound logistics since the
strategic planning process stage, up to product or customer service delivery.
Largely responsible for decisions materialized in the
inventory, are the result of the uncertainty generated by external factors and
economic decisions, based on technical analysis, which must reconcile data with
a different complex operating environment and whose behavior affects differently
each organization.
This entails decisions that could even consider
outsourcing stages in order to achieve the objectives and the desired balance
between cost, production and service quality.
Therefore, the reader will agree with the fact of how
imperative is to consider inbound logistics since the strategic planning
process stage, up to product delivery or customer service, through a logistic
policy (appropriate to the objectives of the organization), which will optimize
procurement, internal control processes and adding value, something that will
not only reduce costs; but will also contribute to the corporate image and
increase the competitive advantage of the company.