Two lists worth looking at every week. What has run out, and what is about to go out of date.
Steps
- Go to the out of stock and expiring area under inventory.
- Switch between what has run out and what has expired.
- Work down the list.
Each row shows the Product Name, its Code, the Category, the Quantity left, and for expiring stock the Expiry Date.
Out of stock
Something at zero cannot be sold or used, and a customer asking for it is the worst way to find out.
Check whether it is genuinely gone or whether the count is wrong. Stock that was used without being recorded shows as available until somebody counts, and stock that was miscounted shows as zero when there is a box of it.
If it is genuinely out, raise a purchase order.
Expired
Expired stock matters more for medical supplies than for retail. Anything past its date should be taken off the shelf and out of the count on the same day.
Sort by Expiry Date and look ahead, not just at what has already gone. Something expiring in three weeks is something to use or discount now, while it is still worth something.
Retail and medical are different jobs
The list separates Retail Products from Medical Supplies, and they need different attention. A bag of treats going out of date costs you a few pounds. An expired medicine is a safety problem.
Make it a habit
Once a week, at a quiet time, with somebody who can act on what they find. A list that gets read but not acted on is worse than no list, because it creates the feeling that stock is under control when it is not.