Birgðastýringu

Birgðastýringu, also referred to as inventory management, is the planning and control of the procurement, storage, and movement of materials and finished goods to meet demand while minimizing costs. It encompasses forecasting, ordering, stock-keeping, tracking, and reconciliation of inventory across procurement, production, warehousing, and distribution.

Its primary objective is to maintain appropriate stock levels so that products are available when needed while avoiding excess capital tied up in stock. Effective birgðastýring supports high service levels, stable production, and efficient working capital management, and it helps minimize obsolescence and waste through regular review and adjustment of stock policies.

Core processes include demand forecasting, safety stock calculation, reorder point and order quantity determination, and stock level monitoring. Techniques such as ABC analysis, periodic or continuous review, and cycle counting are used to prioritize attention and maintain accuracy. Just-in-time and Kanban approaches may reduce inventory in lean environments, while complementary practices like cross-docking can accelerate movement of goods through warehouses.

Technologies used in birgðastýringu include enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with material requirements planning (MRP) modules, warehouse management systems (WMS), and inventory optimization software. Barcoding and RFID enable real-time tracking, while data analytics support demand forecasting and scenario planning.

Common challenges include demand variability, supplier reliability, lead-time fluctuations, data accuracy, and integration across functions and systems. Effective birgðastýringu requires clear policies, reliable data, cross-functional collaboration, and ongoing optimization to balance availability with cost efficiency.

See also: birgðastjórnun, lagerstýring, innkaup, framleiðslustýring.