skyddslager

Skyddslager is a term used in Swedish inventory management to describe a protective stock kept to guard against stockouts caused by variability in demand or supplier lead times. It acts as a buffer between actual consumption and replenishment, helping to maintain service levels and continuity of operations. In some contexts it is used interchangeably with the term safety stock, although spelling and usage can vary by industry.

The size of a skjoldslager depends on several factors, including the desired service level, historical demand variability, lead time, and supplier reliability. A common approach is to set safety stock based on the statistical variation of demand during lead time. A typical formula is Safety stock = z × σDL, where σDL is the standard deviation of demand over the lead time and z corresponds to the chosen service level (for example, a 95% service level uses a higher z than a 90% level). For example, with an average daily demand of 100 units, a lead time of 5 days, a daily demand standard deviation of 20 units, the standard deviation during lead time is about 44.7 units; with a 95% service level (z ≈ 1.65), safety stock would be about 74 units, and the reorder point would include this buffer in addition to expected demand during lead time.

Implementing skjoldslager involves balancing holding costs against service targets, and it is often item-specific. It is commonly managed within ERP or inventory management systems, and reviewed periodically as demand, variability, or supplier performance changes. While effective for reducing stockouts, overestimating safety stock ties up capital, so ongoing analysis and alignment with overall inventory policy are essential.

In practice, skjoldslager is used across manufacturing, retail, and distribution to preserve continuity, especially for critical or high-variance items.