Sistema de control de inventario en la ferretería Lopezmar.

Abstract

This case study is a proposal to improve the inventory control system as a strategic factor to streamline procedures and optimize profits at the Lopezmar Hardware Store. The qualitative approach methodology included interviews with the management and staff of the hardware store, whose versions were complemented with an interview with an expert in inventory control. The current problems caused by poor inventory control are mainly the cash flow mismatch between the collection period for products and the payment period for suppliers, mainly due to the purchase of low-rotation products. Loss of sales due to out of stock, or sometimes caused by not having an updated inventory record, was also identified. The lack of identification of product seasonality, losses and theft by staff were also pointed out as problems. Based on the results of the investigation, a proposal was designed to improve the inventory control system as a strategic factor to streamline procedures and optimize profits, which focused on two main strategies. The first corresponds to the classification of current suppliers, according to the terms of quality and efficiency and the second strategy contemplates the automation of the purchasing process using an inventory control system called Open to Buy (OTB).