Losgröße

Losgröße, also known as lot size or economic order quantity (EOQ), is a concept in production and inventory management that determines the optimal quantity of goods to be produced or ordered at one time. The primary goal of calculating the losgröße is to minimize the total costs associated with holding inventory and ordering or producing the goods.

The calculation of the losgröße involves balancing two opposing cost factors. The first is the ordering cost or setup cost, which is incurred each time an order is placed or a production run is initiated. These costs can include expenses like administrative fees for placing an order, transportation costs, or the cost of setting up machinery for a new production batch. As the losgröße increases, the number of orders or production runs decreases, thus reducing the total ordering or setup costs.

The second cost factor is the holding cost or carrying cost, which is the expense of storing and maintaining inventory. These costs include warehousing expenses, insurance, obsolescence, and the opportunity cost of capital tied up in inventory. As the losgröße increases, the average inventory level also increases, leading to higher holding costs.

The most common formula used to calculate the losgröße is the Wilson EOQ formula, which mathematically finds the quantity that minimizes the sum of ordering costs and holding costs. The formula requires estimates of annual demand, the cost per order (or setup cost), and the annual cost of holding one unit of inventory. While the EOQ model is a foundational concept, it relies on several assumptions, such as constant demand and lead times, which may not always hold true in real-world scenarios. Therefore, adjustments and more sophisticated methods are often employed to account for complexities in actual business operations.