Sometimes, it pays to just throw out the schedule and follow your instincts, especially when it comes to cycle counting. Sure, you have a timetable for counting “A” items, “B” items and “C” items, but there are other opportunities or triggers when additional counting can keep you from getting bushwhacked somewhere down the road.

A few of those instances:

• When the bin record, or the bin itself, shows empty. Why would you count nothing? Because it’s a pain-free opportunity to make sure nothing is there. If there’s been a mistake or miscount, it’ll be immediately evident — right before your eyes.
• At re-ordering time. Again, there should be fewer to count, which makes it easier to maintain accuracy. Also, it can tell you if your re-order trigger is correct or if it might need some re-adjustment.
• In the wake of updates. Soon after the Inventory system has been updated — often the next morning — and before any parts have been pulled for the day is a great time. You don’t have to count everything. Select a few high-traffic or high-dollar items and match them against the update.
• When a bin record shows “less than needed.” Obviously, there’s a problem. But more importantly, this is a golden opportunity to track back and determine what went wrong in this instance. If you can diagnose the problem, it’s much less likely to happen again.

Tags: bin record, count, cycle counting, inventory