tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post7373080467477483370..comments2023-10-18T08:32:17.510-07:00Comments on Kevin Hillstrom: MineThatData: Multichannel Retailing Week: Inventory ManagementUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-65612540654466179102007-09-30T05:54:00.000-07:002007-09-30T05:54:00.000-07:00what is the major of challenges of inventory manag...what is the major of challenges of inventory manager in JIT case?Ezuan Hudzairi Esahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02105287151946139445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-31360682196311741372007-07-15T19:51:00.000-07:002007-07-15T19:51:00.000-07:00Willyzekid --- well said, a great comment, thanks ...Willyzekid --- well said, a great comment, thanks for contributing! <BR/><BR/>Many multichannel retailers have inventory leaders responsible for each channel. It has not been my experience that everybody enters information into one unique information system, though most people talk about this, and many are heading down this path.<BR/><BR/>Some of the challenges depend upon the size of the company. I've seen big challenges in smaller and larger businesses, more coordination in medium-sized businesses. Sometimes, smaller businesses cannot afford solutions, bigger organizations have more complexities involved in finding solutions to integrate inventory across channels.MineThatDatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014200122021988374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-2026899223924093422007-07-15T16:44:00.000-07:002007-07-15T16:44:00.000-07:00From my experience, most (all?) large multichannel...From my experience, most (all?) large multichannel companies have at least one person ("demand planner", "forecast manager"?) <B>in each channel</B> responsible for forecasting. The supply chain managers working for all channels then aggregate forecasts vs stocks to place orders to factories/copackers. Ideally, forecasts would be entered in one unique information system (SAP, to name only one vendor, sells such a system) so aggregation and stock allocation is made easy. That effectively solves most of the problems you've highlighted.<BR/><BR/>Point 5 is definetely true but the situation is getting much better. While inventory managers (or rather demand planners) may still not be rewarded financially, they definitely get their share of praises when they're right on target. More importantly, their experiences with finance, marketing, supply chain and information systems eventually make them versatile and invaluable individuals for a company.<BR/><BR/>One last challenges of inventory manager I would highlight is the management of actual in-store inventory (excluding franchises) vs warehouse inventory. It requires pure retailing skills that very few multichannel companies master.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com