Bestandshaltung

Bestandshaltung, or inventory holding, is a component of supply chain and operations management that concerns the maintenance of stock across raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods to ensure demand can be met, lead times are absorbed, and supply disruptions are mitigated. The goal is to balance the availability of items with the costs of carrying them.

Stock is categorized into raw materials, WIP (work-in-progress), and finished goods. Key decisions include setting target stock levels, safety stock, and reorder points, as well as choosing replenishment policies. Common techniques are ABC analysis for prioritizing items, demand forecasting, and capacity planning. Information systems such as ERP, MRP, and WMS support accurate tracking, planning, and optimization of inventories.

Holding inventory incurs carrying costs, including capital tied up, storage and handling, insurance, and risk of obsolescence or spoilage. Excess stock ties up liquidity and increases risk, while insufficient stock can cause stockouts and lost sales. Therefore, organizations seek an optimal service level that reflects forecast accuracy, variability in demand, and supplier lead times. Inventory strategies range from just-in-time approaches to buffer or safety stock that decouple production stages from demand fluctuations.

Key performance indicators for Bestandshaltung include service level, inventory turnover, days of inventory on hand, and stockout rate. Management practices such as cycle counting, regular audits, and continuous improvement are used to maintain accuracy. The concept interacts with procurement, production scheduling, and distribution, and policy choices are often tailored to industry characteristics, demand volatility, and product shelf life.