Storage and Inventory Management

After a commodity has been procured and received, it must be stored until needed to be prescribed or used. There are several important items to help ensure this applies. Determining how much stock should be stored is an important decision. An inventory control system gives information on when to order or issue, how much to order or issue, and how to maintain an appropriate stock level of all products to avoid shortages and oversupply. Storage is a basic part of warehousing. Warehousing and storage are more than just shelving products. To have viable products avail¬able for distribution, a manager must ensure the quality of a product and its packaging. Excessive quantities of damaged and expired goods could mean that some products will not be available when needed. All products require procedures for safe storage that maximize their shelf life and make them readily available for distribution. Assessing stock status gives information on how long supplies will last.