Messy inventory records are an evergreen problem for lumberyards. One that gets worse with time. Because there is rarely a consistent system for creating items, sales staff can’t find products in the system and routinely create new item codes on the spot. It’s not unusual for a product to have two or three item codes.
Not only do inconsistent item codes and duplicate records make it more difficult to find products, but they also distort key reports. For example, a popular item may look unimpressive if its sales data is spread across multiple item records. Purchasing staff assume the different codes represent different products, none of which looks like top sellers, so they don’t see a need to reorder. The result: high-demand items aren’t in stock.
DMSi Software tackled this challenge with a new feature in their Agility ERP, an integrated inventory management system. Agility’s Item Builder is a seamless system for creating consistent item codes. If a user can’t find an item in the system, they simply enter the product’s attributes in the Item Builder. If the item exists, Item Builder will find it and alert the employee. If the product truly isn’t in the system, Item Builder will create an item code based on a formula defined by the business. (For example, the business may determine that all lumber inventory needs to indicate the species, grade, and thickness within the code itself, or they may require the vendor name, color and style in the item code for all their countertop material, but the width, length should be indicated in the description of the item record). This provides a two-fold benefit, reducing duplicate records and keeping product codes consistent so it’s easier for people to find them.
The Item Builder is only the latest addition to Agility’s lumber-specific features. To learn more about the ways Agility helps lumber yards, stop by booth 400 at the NHLA Annual meeting this October in New Orleans.