Learn how it works, keys to success & answers to common concerns.
www.datalliance.com
Streamline Government Processes. Learn How SAP Software Can Help.
www.SAP.com
Collaborative Forecasting, S&OP, Replenishment planning, vendor mngt
www.RockySoft.com
Fishbowl is true Inventory Control. Inv. Control for SMB w/ QuickBooks
www.fishbowlinventory.com
On-Demand Inventory Management. Unlimited Users for Only $500/Month
www.SmartTurn.com
Manage transactions, brand your business & track inventory w/ a Mac
www.apple.com/business
Supply Chain Technology Solutions. Increase Your Business Efficiencies
www.Intermec.com/United-States
Shipping Company Ensures Smooth Sailing & Enhanced Customer Service
Microsoft.com/PeopleReadyBusiness
Automate HW/SW Inventories & Audits with One Appliance. See How.
www.KACE.com/InventoryManagement
Advanced Software License Monitoring Capabilites. Trial Demo.
networkd.com/LANDeskInventory8.8
Developer of apparel business management software to help manage inventory control, distribution, purchasing, general ledger, imports and order processing. The software uses UNIX, C, SGL and Java technologies. Products are sold to multiple ind...
www.actinc.com
Article by Jon Schreibfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management; cited by Associated Equipment Distributors.
www.aednet.org
Article from AutoInc. magazine by Rick Lavely that pertains to inventory control.
www.asashop.org
Article by Lonnie Robertson on efficient systems of counting and maintaining inventory; published by the Automotive Service Association.
www.asashop.org
Site dedicated to inventory control and management; lists sites, articles, and resources on related topics.
www.cris.com
Recent articles by Jon Schreibfeder, president of Effective Inventory Management, on various inventory-related topics and subject matter.
www.effectiveinventory.com
Business management company that specializes in inventory chain optimization.
www.gainsystems.com
Site lists multiple articles on inventory management and related subjects in supply chain management and logistics.
www.inventorymanagement.com
Paper by Henry H. Jordan, a Certified Management Consultant; published by the Center for inventory Management.
www.inventorymanagement.com
Articles authored by Inventory Operations Consulting; site also contains links, dictionary, and search capabilitites.
www.inventoryops.com
An article written by Ronald E. Wajer, CMC for Industrial Distribution Magazine on warehousing efficiency.
www.manufacturing.net
Article published by Brian Maskell Associates, a consulting firm assisting manufacturers and distributors.
www.maskell.com
Statistics and research on the material handling industry; published by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).
www.mhia.org
MHIA page linking various statistics on multiple subjects and topics.
www.mhia.org
Developer of distribution, shipping, warehouse management software for IBM AS/400 computers. Developer of an EDI interface for the MSS/HD(tm) and client/server applications software. Products are sold to multiple industries. This company was ...
www.mincron.com
Developer of accounting, retail and materials management software. The accounting software includes general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable/payable, housing finance management, public housing management and time and billing software. The ...
www.mitas.com
Developer of accounting software and provider of computer consulting services. The software is an integrated accounting system for fuel oil distributors, which is used for delivery scheduling, tank reconciliation, inventory control and general ...
www.mjfassoc.com
A supply chain management magazine, whose editorial mandate is to inform, educate, and help readers involved in the dynamics of integrated logistics; published by Rogers Media.
www.mmdonline.com
A supply chain management magazine, whose editorial mandate is to inform, educate, and help readers involved in the dynamics of integrated logistics; published by Rogers Media.
www.mmdonline.com
Compilation of white papers by Charles J. Bodenstab, an early practitioner of inventory control and management; site published by National Business Data systems.
www.nbds.com
Paper by Charles J. Bodenstab on the frequency of ordering, vendor lead times and reliability, and minimum qualntities.
www.nbds.com
Developer of Trend(R), WDS-II(tm)and SHMS(R) software. Applications include inventory management, order processing, customer service, warehouse logistics and strategic business analysis. The software runs on UNIX systems. Products are sold to...
www.nxtrend.com
Developer of accounting and inventory management software. The software includes accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, payroll and inventory management capabilities and runs on IBM PCs and compatibles. Products are sold to mul...
www.pacsoft.com.au
Articles published by Susan M. Recchia Consulting Services in Tips and Techniques Magazine.
www.suerecchia.com
Online program that allows users to forecast future inventory needs, calculate inventory reorder point, and determind order scenarios; published by the TinkerShop, an open source resource for applications and platforms.
www.tinkershop.net
A survey form by Sameer Prasad, Professor of Operations Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater; the survey contains questions with explanations on multiple inventory-related topics.
facstaff.uww.edu
Manufacturer of portable, durable and programmable data collectors utilized in applications such as inventory, warehousing, building security, asset tracking, field inspections and virtually any application requiring data collection at the work ...
www.videx.com
Learn how it works, keys to success & answers to common concerns.
www.datalliance.com
Streamline Government Processes. Learn How SAP Software Can Help.
www.SAP.com
Collaborative Forecasting, S&OP, Replenishment planning, vendor mngt
www.RockySoft.com
Guide to Material Management
Using material management systems to stay on track with raw materials and parts for production![]() |
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Basics of Materials Management
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What these bustling businesses have in common is a huge demand for material management systems and material management software. Someone is in charge of making the syringes, the car parts, the cement show up on time and be available to working hands. Materials management software is a help, but it's also a lot of brain power to keep material management in business on track and in budget.
Covered in this guide:
1. Best practices and resources for material management
2. Materials management software for big operations
3. Supply chain and material management software
4. The importance of specializing material management systems
and material management software
Action Steps for Materials Management Strategies
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Get a handle on the practice and art of material management
No need to reinvent the wheel. The material management industry is wide and full of excellent, generally free best practices white papers and research.
I recommend:
Take a look at CAPS Research, a joint operation of the Institute for Supply Management and Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business. The International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management has publications as well. Learn more about materials management systems through materials management associations and organizations at Business.com.
Finding materials management software products
Materials resource planning (MRP) software is beginning to become common, but it's still sometimes lumped in as a module of more popular ERP (enterprise resource planning) software.
I recommend:
While ERP is more robust, it's also expensive. If managing materials is your main concern, look at MRP softtware from QA Software, Frederick Group, and Power Purchase. Catch up on supply-chain management at Business.com.
Major league material management software
The bigger picture on material management systems is overall supply chain management. Software now track the part or crate of material from a factory in Shanghai through your shop and on to the customer.
I recommend:
Some makers of supply chain software for materials management include da Vinci, Manhattan Associates and Ross Systems. See additional resources for materials resource planning software at Business.com.
Specialized material management systems according to need
While general materials management software can go a long way, some industries require specialized help in managing materials, like healthcare.
I recommend:
Trade publication Modern Materials Handling magazine has a very good site with detailed case studies and links to nearly every materials association. See more on just-in-time materials management at Business.com.
Tips & Tactics for Benchmarking Material Management Systems
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide- There's a lot of confusion in the industry between inventory, supply chain and materials management. Material management in business relates specifically to feeding a production process -- raw materials or supplies -- while inventory and supply chain could be actual products for manufacture or sale.
- Before you put out a request for quotes on materials management software, it may be money better spent to have a consultant come in and overhaul your entire process first.
- Managing materials is a cornerstone of profitability in some industries. Too much materials inventory eats capital, not enough slows production. Do your own return on investment review. Money spent improving material management or buying material management software could be recaptured pretty quickly.












