Why Maximize Visibility in your Work-In-Progress Inventory?
When creating lean operations, manufacturing plants often struggle with managing, incoming materials for future orders, known as work-in-progress (WIP) inventory. If left unchecked, unidentified WIP inventory can increase operational costs by at least 20%[1] while ultimately leading to:
- Increased labor and downtime costs
- Dwindling storage space
- Difficulty tracking assembled orders
- Missed opportunities as decision must be based on available space instead of demand
Better identification equals better visibility
To ascertain material identification for WIP inventory, Barcodes, Inc. recommends modernizing your labeling system. Industrial printers such as Zebra’s ZT610 ensure barcode legibility for both barcode labels and RFID tags, so your team can accurately identify materials as they move throughout the production floor.
By accelerating printing speeds, industrial printers empower teams to quickly tag incoming materials, securing proper storage in the correct location before materials leave the receiving dock. Furthermore, high-resolution barcodes facilitate more successful first-time scans, simplifying your inventory management process as materials move down the supply chain.
However, while industrial printers offer a good place to start enhancing operations, there are many more ways to continue eliminating inefficiency. As a Zebra Premier Business Partner, Barcodes, Inc. works closely alongside your team to design, deploy and support enterprise-grade hardware into your operations. Contact us today to see how you can pair printers like the ZT610 to scanners, mobile computers, and consumables to expand inventory visibility.
[1] Reduce Work-in-Process (WIP) Inventory and Costs. General Electric.
