2.4.3 Stock control Flashcards
What are the different types of stock?
Raw materials and components
Work in progress
Finished goods
Raw materials and components
- stock that business has purchased from a supplier
- held by firm until ready to process into finished output
Work in progress
- items that have started to be processed by are incomplete
- moving through the production process
- firm may store unfinished products to give it some flexibility to meet customer demand
Finished goods
- product is complete
- selling in large batches or to an individual buyer
What is producing for stock / stock-piling?
-a firm that produces seasonal goods will have most of the years production building stock in preparation for the busy season
What is the opportunity cost for holding more stock or less stock?
More stock - unity costs will rise
Less stock - may not be able to meet customer demand
What are the parts of a stock control chart?
- stock levels
- maximum stock level
- re-order level
- minimum stock level
What are the parts of a stock control chart?
-stock levels
- the line shows how stock levels have changed over this period of time
- as stock is used up, the level of stock gradually falls fro left to right
- delivery = stock levels go up in vertical line - the greater the rise, the more stock has been delivered
What are the parts of a stock control chart?
-maximum stock level
this shows the amount that a firm is willing or able to hold in stock
What are the parts of a stock control chart?
-reorder level
when stocks falls to this level, a new order will be sent in to the supplier
-this line is reaches some time before the delivery due to the supplier needing some lead time to process the order and make the delivery
What are the parts of a stock control chart?
-minimum stock level (buffer stock)
the firm will want to keep a certain minimum level of stock so it has something to fall back on if supplies fall to arrive if there is a sudden increase in demand
Why aren’t stock control charts alway accurate?
- orders may arrive late
- orders may not be the right quantity
- the rate of usage is likely to be constant
Implications of too much stock
- opportunity cost
- cash flow problems
- increased storage costs
- increased finance costs
- increased stock wastage
Implications of too much stock
-opportunity cost
-holding the firm’s money is form of stock prevents it using its capital in other ways such as investing in new technology/machinery, research and development on a new product - could affect competitiveness
Implications of too much stock
-Cash flow problems
-holding wealth in the form of stock may cause cash flow problems if cant sell, insufficient to pay suppliers
Implications of too much stock
-increased storage costs
-rental cost of the space needed and the higher the stock value, the higher the cost of insurance against fire and theft
Implications of too much stock
-increased Finance costs
-if the capital for the extra stock needs to be borrowed, the cost of that capital (interest rate) will be significant added annual overhead