Small changes that make a big difference – Inventory (4)
Welcome to the latest in our series of articles on small changes that can make a big difference to your bottom line. We are looking at storage. Here are some policies that will make it easier for you to stick to the routines we mentioned in our earlier posts.
Storage: be clear on who does what
Stock has a tendency to grow legs and walk out of the building while nobody is looking. It must do, because nobody owns up to taking it with them. Therefore it is a good idea to play safe and lock stores, fridges and freezers whenever they are not in use.Â
But who holds the keys? Establish a clear policy as to who has access or authority to issue or take items from the secure store. Of course, you need to balance this with the need to always have someone who can get the stock when it is required, i.e. you need to roster your authorised staff accordingly.Â
Bizimply is obviously your best friend here!
Do not tempt people – even your most trusted employees! Keep small and expensive food items in a place where you can keep an eye on it, not in a storeroom. That includes both ready-to-consume products such as confectionery and valuable ingredients such as saffron and vanilla.
Make sure that all staff who have authorised access to the storage areas communicate with each other effectively and make it easier for them to keep track of things. E.g. have marker pens available and tied up near the storerooms, fridges and freezers so that items can be labelled easily and quickly.
Next time: fridges and freezers.
