This document summarizes a webinar titled "Discover Rootstock ERP" Session 2 on the top 5 inventory mistakes and how to avoid them. The webinar was presented by David Bush from Rootstock Software. He discussed the top mistakes of using spreadsheets to manage inventory, not knowing exact stock levels, lacking barcode systems, relying only on backlogs for planning, and inaccurate demand planning. The webinar explained how Rootstock ERP can help manufacturers avoid these mistakes through integrated inventory management tools, barcode scanning, demand forecasting, and analytics. The next webinar in the series would cover how manufacturers can survive and thrive in high growth mode.

1. “Discover Rootstock ERP” Session 2
Top 5 Inventory Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
David Bush
Senior Manufacturing Consultant, Rootstock Software

3. “Discover Rootstock ERP” and “Succeed with Rootstock”
Date Topic
July 18, 2017 Succeed with Rootstock:
Pro-Tech Replaces Spreadsheets and Old Software with Rootstock
August 15, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP: Top 5 Inventory Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
September 19, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP: How Manufacturers Can Survive (& Thrive) in High Growth
Mode
October 10, 2017 Succeed with Rootstock
November 14, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP
December 12, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP

4. Meet Our Speaker
David Bush
Senior Manufacturing Consultant,
Rootstock Software
• 30+ years of manufacturing and MRP/ERP
systems experience
• Previously at General Microcircuits,
Consona Corporation, Relevant Business
Systems, Inc.

5. Today’s Agenda
• Top 5 inventory mistakes and how Rootstock helps you avoid them.
– 1. Using a spreadsheet to manage inventory
– 2. Losing track of inventory availability
– 3. Manual data entry instead of bar-coded entry
– 4. Planning via backlog
– 5. Inaccurate Demand Planning
• Q&A
Let’s jump right into Mistake #1: Using spreadsheets to manage inventory…

6. Mistake #1: Using Spreadsheets for Inventory Management
Why is this a mistake?
• Tracking large quantities of items on a spreadsheet (Excel) increases data entry
errors, especially if inventory moves frequently from location to location or if there are
frequent receipts and issues.
• Having a single Excel workbook limits user access, encouraging work-arounds, late catch-ups
and forgetting to make entries.
• Spreadsheets lack real-time inventory data
• Excel limits the ability to quickly analyze historical data
No doubt, Excel has it's place and can be a huge help to your organization, but NOT for
inventory management! Let's see how your ERP system is far superior.
Use Rootstock Cloud ERP instead of Excel…

7. Use Rootstock Cloud ERP instead of Excel
Detailed Review By Item is just one of many tools the integrated ERP system provides.
Now on to Mistake #2: Not knowing the exact stock of products…

8. Mistake #2: Not Knowing the Exact Stock of Products
When you do not know the exact stock (quantity by location) of parts and products you
have at any given time, it frustrates salespeople and may even stop you from meeting
customer needs.
Let’s see how Rootstock overcomes this problem with an integrated pick list.
Let’s now discuss Mistake #3: Not having a barcode system…

9. Mistake #3: Not Having a Barcode System
• The data encoded in barcodes is scalable to your needs and the needs of your
organization. (When you need more data from your database, you just add more
barcodes or more complex barcodes.)
• Barcoding reduces human error, recognition errors, and transcription errors
• Barcodes provide asset & security tracking
• Barcodes save time, once your team is fully educated in their use and the system is fully
in-place.
Let’s take a look at Mistake #4: Using back logs for top planning source…

10. Mistake #4: Using Back Logs for top planning source
Backlogs are vital for most business, but, like spreadsheets, they have their place.
Stop reactive planning. Back logs should not be your #1 planning tool.

11. Mistake #4: Using Back Logs for top planning source
Know exactly where your inventory is located based on actual transactions, not manual
input. Plan with data you know is current.
Let’s now look at how to properly plan inventory…

12. How to Properly Plan Inventory
When demands and supplies are accurate, using MRP to plan inventory makes sense.
Let’s wrap this up with Mistake #5: Inaccurate demand planning…

13. Mistake #5: Inaccurate Demand Planning
Stop running out of your most popular products!
Demand planning (forecasting) is far more accurate when based on solid demand and
supply data..
All of the tools your Rootstock ERP system provides are keys to helping you never run out of products
and supplies again… For example, let’s look at the detailed item review once again.

14. Never Run Out of Products and Supplies Again
Where do we go from here?

15. Where Do We Go From Here?
• We have now covered in our first two Discover Rootstock ERP
webinars:
– How our customer, Pro-Tech, went from unlinked spreadsheets and
outdated software to an integrated enterprise system
– Top 5 inventory mistakes and how to avoid them
• In our next “Discover Rootstock ERP” webinar we’ll discuss…
– “How to Survive in High Growth Mode – the power of the Salesforce
platform”
Now let’s go back to our moderator, David Cosgrove…

16. Q&A
www.rootstock.com
888.524.0123
marketing@rootstock.com

17. “Discover Rootstock ERP” and “Succeed with Rootstock”
Date Topic
July 18, 2017 Succeed with Rootstock:
Pro-Tech Replaces Spreadsheets and Old Software with Rootstock
August 15, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP: Top 5 Inventory Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
September 19, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP: How Manufacturers Can Survive (& Thrive) in High Growth
Mode
October 10, 2017 Succeed with Rootstock
November 14, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP
December 12, 2017 Discover Rootstock ERP