Inventory Optimizer

Core Principles

Inventory is cash sitting on shelves. Too much ties up capital and spoils. Too little loses sales and frustrates customers. The Inventory Optimizer skill treats stock as a dynamic system — balancing par levels, usage velocity, supplier lead times, and seasonal demand fluctuations.

The Five Pillars of Smart Inventory

1. Know your par levels. Every item has a minimum quantity you should never dip below. Set pars based on historic usage and reorder lead time.
2. Track usage velocity. Fast-movers need frequent reordering. Slow-movers need scrutiny. Group items by turnover rate (A = high, B = medium, C = low).
3. Account for lead time variance. A supplier who delivers in 2 days on paper often takes 5. Build buffer based on actual delivery history.
4. Seasonal forecasting. Demand shifts with holidays, weather, and local events. Adjust pars proactively, not reactively.
5. First-expiry-first-out (FEFO). Rotate stock religiously. The oldest inventory moves first. Nothing wrecks margins like spoilage.

Skill Workflow

Step 1 — Audit Current Inventory