How to Make SKU Analysis In Material Handling Profitable
As material handling companies focus on expanding their product offering to customers, the deployment of Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a viable route to growth. Many companies have turned to “SKU rationalization” which is a method of inventory tracking that reduces model numbers based on poor performance, duplication, or outdated product status.
The most common example is e-commerce retail stores that require consumer packages that differ from regular open inventories. Examples include:
• Product Bundles
• Single Products
• Name
• Color
• Size
• Seasonal Packaging
One interesting question is, “Are SKUs Universal?” the answer is No; they are very common but can vary from retailer to retailer.
SKU numbers are not universal. Each seller for a particular item will have a unique SKU identifier or barcode. Most have their own supplier causing the sellers not to track the same number of items easily. Ideally, suppliers and retailers would use a universal product code UPC barcode to make tracking and inventory management more easily controlled.
The SKU and Material Handling Process
When storing a product in two warehouses, you need to create two storage units to make a more efficient inventory management system. Increasing the number of product names for a product category or product line increases the likelihood of errors happening as they grow. Not having a process to verify the correct UPC number has been selected increases your probability of mistakes in inventory levels.
If the generation of item codes is not controlled, this can significantly impact your ability to operate efficiently. This is where Russell Conveyor can come in and ensure that you operate as smoothly as possible.
When sales improvements cannot offset impaired operational performance, the worst can happen. However, this is an area that can affect your operations’ overall quality and the company’s material handling equipment. Proactive measures such as monitoring the SKU codes can allow you to take the corrective action required during your process.
We would strongly recommend exploring the technological solutions currently available that merge significant data sources with predictive analytics engines. This will help you understand the impact of SKU system distribution on sales, sales volume, and sales performance. We can use attributes-level data such as price, price-to-sales ratio, product type, color, and size to determine the impact of different SKUs and UPCs on the entire product portfolio. We can also analyze point of sale (POS) data as well.
The deepening of the analysis by constructing a questionnaire helps you refine and improve the decisions you make about individual SKUs. Analyzing attribute-level data can also help clarify each SKU’s impact on sales and help managers decide which variations from the distribution should be added or eliminated.
SKU’s and Inventory Management
Suppose you are concerned about the quantity of SKUs in your operation. A high-quality SKU analysis is needed to assess the impact of SKU spread on your ability to do business effectively. Understanding the trade-offs associated with the number of SKUs and product variants can provide managers with critical insights. These insights are essential to making the right decisions for the company.
The goal is not only to prevent the increase in the quantity of SKUs but also to regulate it
The goal is not only to prevent the increase in the quantity of SKUs but also to regulate it.
As stock levels expand, there should be enough space to add SKUs for added value but not impair the company’s ability to effectively run your business. By performing an SKU analysis, companies can better understand how it affects their business and its impact on sales, sales volume, and performance.
Although reducing inventory would be a loss, the phasing out of non-moving SKUs from inventory and the loss’s write-down can reduce storage rack space requirements. This inventory reduction will make the picking process more efficient and cost-effective.
Merging the S&OP product portfolio process with SKU – Level Economic Value Analysis and examining the relevant factors you are targeting is a much smarter and more considered way to manage your SKU portfolio. It’s an essential step in the right direction, but it’s only part of the solution. At Russell Conveyor, we can help you manage your SKU portfolio in a much smarter way.
While SKUs can help identify products, too many of them can lead to an overall complex business operation espeacially for small businesses. This means you should have a strategy or method to remove slow-moving SKUs from your supply chain. While this is an essential part of a distributor’s overall business strategy, it can also create several problems that distributors need to consider.
Why Choose Us?
Not only can we help your SKUs and inventory management, but we can also assist with any Material Handling Technologies needs you may have, from Simple conveyor systems to complex automation like AGVs and AMRs. Our customer service team is here to help you begin filling your purchase orders quickly and efficiently.
