I would like to welcome Mobile Shop number 648, managed by Curt Murphy, and Quality Control, managed by Allen Heintz, as the latest additions to the ever growing Manatt’s inventory family.  Currently, including three concrete plants in the Des Moines area that are stocking tires; there are eleven active ‘parts and tire’ inventory locations in operation. 

With the help of Jason Reever, Patsy Peters, and Serena Shaull, the amount of new part numbers that are being added has increased tremendously. They have been gathering parts purchasing information, assisting with identifying part numbers that need to be entered, and generally making the task easier. 

Within the next few months, the amount of information contained in the Manatt’s parts database will include the parts and supplies that are being purchased on a regular basis by every location.  This includes locations that are not currently using the inventory system within Viewpoint.  With the addition of these part numbers, switching a non-inventoried parts location to an inventoried location will be much easier.  Having the majority of the part numbers either cross-referenced to an existing number, or a new one created prior to a location being inventoried will result in substantial timesavings during the initial inventory setup.   

WK#4 Favorite Hobby: Golf; Favorite Food: Prime Rib; Spouse’s name starts with R and kids’ names start with B & E; Pets: Dog named “Lucky”; Favorite Vacation Spot:  Jamaica; Pet Peeve:  Slow Computers and Pessimism; Job:  What's next?; Describes Self:  Busy; When I was a kid, I was more athletic The thing that I regret the most is not Learning to play piano; If I were a vegetable I would be a potato; If I were a color,  I would be blue; As a Fear Factor Contestant I would love the adventure!

However, you don’t have to wait until your location has an active inventory to access this information. All of this information is currently available to personnel at any location that has access to the Viewpoint program.  Whether the location has an active inventory or not, the information concerning costs, vendor part numbers, and which vendor an item can be purchased through can be used to help parts and shop personnel make informed, cost effective, purchases of parts and supplies.  For the locations with an inventory, there are also ‘usage’ reports to assist in determining what quantity should be kept on hand of any given item and how many to reorder when stock runs low.  With the proper use of the inventory and purchase order reports that are available, personnel have access to hard data concerning monthly, seasonal, and yearly sales of any item or category of items.  This information can greatly assist parts and shop personnel in keeping enough inventory parts on the shelf without overstocking.

If you would like additional information concerning inventory, the use of it, or the reports that are available, please feel free to contact me at the Brooklyn Parts Department ext. 243 or 344.

Inventory is a tool; use it.