Optimising Inventory Management With Sage

Effective inventory management is essential in the manufacturing industry, to not only ensure stock levels are maintained but to also improve the efficiency of processes. Managing stock becomes harder as businesses expand, so inventory management software is the key to keeping things on track. Within the manufacturing industry, software such as Sage 200 integrated with Cim/Sicon modules can provide businesses with a streamlined approach to stock control.

The Importance of Inventory Management

Manufacturing relies heavily on stock control not just for the finished product but also the raw materials that need to be delivered. Poor inventory management can lead to over or understocking, both of which can affect production schedules, lead times, and overall negatively impact customers.

Some of the key benefits of inventory management in manufacturing are:

1. Optimised production schedules: by ensuring you have the correct volume of raw materials, production can run smoothly and on time.
2. Reduced expenditure: with proper stock management, there is no need for excess or outdated stock.
3. Improved cash flow: purchasing inventory requires high upfront costs, so by managing this efficiently the minimal amount of cash is used.
4. Better customer satisfaction: meeting delivery deadlines is crucial in the manufacturing industry as one missed deadline has a huge knock-on effect. A well-managed stock system reduces delays caused by stock shortages.

Stock Control in Manufacturing

Within the manufacturing industry, stock control isn’t just about managing the finished goods but the raw materials and the work-in-progress inventory. Manufacturers have the difficult task of tracking multiple stock levels across different stages of production. Some of the challenges faced include:

• Demand forecasting: predicting demand to ensure there is enough stock to meet orders.
• Lead times: managing supplier lead times is essential to prevent disruptions in production.
• Multi-location inventory: many manufacturers have several warehouses, so stock needs to be tracked at multiple locations.

With the help of inventory management software, lots of these tasks can actually be automated to ensure a smooth stock control process.

Leveraging Sage 200 For Stock Control

Sage 200 is an incredibly powerful business management solution designed to help SMEs. When integrated with Cim or Sicon modules, it offers a whole host of solutions for manufacturers.

The Commercials module within Sage 200 plays a huge role in stock control, allowing for the precise management of inventory. Some of the key features include:

1. Stock transactions – the ability to track every stock movement, from goods received to goods dispatched, ensuring real-time visibility of stock levels.
2. Batch/serial number tracing – this allows for full traceability throughout the production process.
3. Multiple warehousing – this module allows for the management of stock across multiple locations or warehouses, so all inventory is visible within the system.
4. Replenishment rules – with the ability to set minimum and maximum stock levels, re-ordering has never been easier.
5. Stock valuations – keep track of stock with different costing methods to ensure accurate financial reporting.

Cim/Sicon Manufacturing Modules in Sage 200

To make the most out of Sage 200 Professional in a manufacturing environment, it is best combined with either Cim or Sicon modules.

The Sicon manufacturing modules integrate seamlessly with Sage 200 and have features for managing Bills of Materials, shop floor data capture, and resource planning. All of these help manufacturers to plan production runs, manage work orders and ensure resources are available when needed.

Cim 200 manufacturing includes a range of features to help control each stage of the manufacturing process such as production scheduling, quality control, shop floor data capture and a graphical scheduler to help visualise the shopfloor workload.

Why Choose Inventory Management Software?

For manufacturing businesses that are wanting to be competitive, inventory management software is a must. Managing raw materials, work in progress and finished goods across several locations needs a system that can track every stock movement in real-time. Sage 200 combined with Sicon/Cim modules gives a bespoke solution tailored to the needs of each individual manufacturing business. Helping to ensure operations run smoothly, and customer demand is met. 

For more information on how these software solutions can help your manufacturing business, get in touch with the Sage experts at Reality Solutions today.

​​*This article contains general information in order to assist all of our customers and is meant for guidance only – there are no guarantees that the information we provide will be suitable for your particular needs. If you require specific assistance, we recommend that you seek professional guidance on your individual circumstances. Reality Solutions are in no way responsible for any loss or damage arising from any information contained within our articles.