Dexistències

Dexistències, a term used in Catalan, refers to the goods a business holds for sale or use in production at a given time. It encompasses raw materials, work-in-progress, finished goods, and merchandise intended for sale, as well as spare parts and consumables. Some inventories may be in transit or held on consignment and thus classified as dexistències in transit or under vendor-managed arrangements.

In accounting, dexistències are recorded as current assets on the balance sheet and valued at cost. Common valuation methods include FIFO (first-in, first-out), LIFO (last-in, first-out) where permitted, and weighted average. Under many accounting frameworks, inventories are assessed at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with write-downs for obsolescence or damage.

Inventory management seeks to balance availability with carrying costs. Systems can be perpetual, where every movement is tracked, or periodic. Techniques include ABC analysis to classify items by importance, cycle counting, and regular stock reviews. Ordering strategies include economic order quantity (EOQ) and, in some settings, just-in-time (JIT) approaches.

Risks associated with dexistències include excessive stock tying up capital or insufficient stock causing production stoppages or sales losses. Obsolescence, spoilage, and price declines can require write-offs or impairment. Inventory levels influence working capital, cash flow, and profitability, making dexistències a key metric in operations management. Regular reporting on turnover ratios, days of inventory outstanding, and stock aging helps assess efficiency and resilience.