WorkingPerson Wall To Wall InventoryThe key to a successful inventory is the quality of the planning effort.

Participants?- Count Captain Day 1&2?- Team Leader Day 1?- Team Leader Day 1?- Team Leader Day 2?- Team Leader Day 2?- Barcode CommanderJosh- Upload, Scanner Support

MissionTo provide an accurate beginning inventory balance for the fiscal year by executing a process that does not exceed 12 hours per physical location.

RolesPlanning CommitteePlan all aspects of the inventory, train and act as team leaders.Control Desk (BDO)Visual inspection of the process.Count Captain & Team Leaders Accountable for accuracy of counting teams.Tags scanned areas and investigates large discrepancies.Counting TeamsTwo person team that scans product in assigned areas.Barcode Commander & Recon TeamRepair bad barcodes and ensures the file is updated.On hand to print missing barcodes and to assist the BRT.Scanner UploadUpload data from scanners to the data file.

Best PracticesItems will not be moved, sold, consumed or received during the physical inventory process.Items on each rack are to be counted in a systematic manner- left to right and top to bottom.Indicate counted items by tagging the areas initialed by the count teamTwo person teams- scanner, product mover.

Cutoff ProceduresShut down normal business operations.Turn off phones, notice on retail door(s) one week prior to eventNo sales, shipping, receiving, returns or exchanges are to occur during the count.Notify finance to provide all inventory related activity as of the inventory date and date to reconcile sales and receipts to be agreed upon during the planning stage.

Product MutilationProduct that cannot be resold cannot be counted (dirty or damaged).Returns not worthy of being awarded a vendor credit will not be counted.Product that has no market value cannot be counted and will be transferred out of inventory and donated prior to the count.

PricingEach item must have an accurate cost entered prior to they physical inventory.The inventory team will review their respective brands prior to the count to ensure related items represent the current manufacturers cost(s). Randomly tested by the Count Captain two weeks prior.

Pre Inventory Count ActivitiesOrganize inventory and spot check stocking accuracy. (24 Hours Prior)Spot check application of barcodes. (72 Hours Prior)Pre count slow moving items. (24 Hours Prior)Confirm counting map accuracy. (48 Hours Prior)Test scanners and product/UPC lookup file on the server. (48 Hours Prior)

Inventory/Count MapsDepictions of the rack configurations will be drawn/updated 72 hours prior to the count. Count order will be indicated on the maps to provide direction to the team leaders and a point of reference to the Control Desk and Barcode Commander.

TrainingCount Captain & Team LeadersReview of best practices 72 hours prior.Confirm accuracy of the count maps.Confirm staffing commitments.Day Of CountInstruct on use of scanners.Protocol for counting.Bad skew lookup and missing barcode protocol.Importance of integrity- controlling the oops factor.

Staff ScheduleStaff schedule will be started two weeks prior to the count.Sign up sheets are not permitted. The Count Captain will recruit staff for each available time slot.Staff schedule will be published one week prior to the count via email and physically posted on bulletin boards and doors frequented by staff in all physical locations.An additional shift will be scheduled and on the ready in preparation for the application of Murphys Law.

Record RetentionSupport for the inventory (any count sheets, product/count maps, tags, staffing schedule) will be maintained for two years.