SLOB Inventory

Let’s face it, we can all be slobs.

SLOB inventory, that which is either SLow-moving or OBsolete, finds a way to build up on exposed surfaces even in well-maintained supply chains.

Who wants to clean up after a slob?

One of the most under-resourced activities in the supply chain manager’s toolkit is the the slow-moving and obsolete review.  Colloquially known as the SLOB review, the name even suggests the wastefulness which it is intended to address.  Like all good meetings, this one involves some prework, a structured agenda for decision making and alignment during the meeting itself, and then a clear set of outcomes and action items for follow-up.

Supply Chain People can be RACI

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed, and describes how we look at who does what within a workflow.  The SLOB workflow, like any other, needs to have a clear RACI, which is supported by Leadership.  The Supply Chain team has an organizing and facilitating role to play, but as with many Supply Chain-led processes, there are many cross-functional touchpoints, and of course Leadership has to embrace this activity and make it part of their own accountability.

Reach out for a deeper discussion about how to add the SLOB Review to your toolkit.  And reference the article below for more on inventory health in the post-COVID era.

https://www.supplychainbrain.com/blogs/1-think-tank/post/39016-three-critical-steps-toward-mastering-total-inventory-optimization-in-2024