Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Physical Inventory tip: Handheld Tally Counter
If January is time for physical inventory, here's a great item to have on hand: a handheld tally counter. These may be familiar to you from seeing them in action the door checker at a big box store or a bouncer at a nightclub. Click once to count one. Very simple, and helps to avoid "Agh! I have to start over!" syndrome.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Inventory and Gift Cards
It's tempting to buy lots of inventory so you don't run out and you can take advantage of bulk pricing, but it comes with a downside. Buying inventory is like taking cash out of your wallet and turning it into several different gift cards.
Instead of $20, you now have $5 at Starbucks, a $5 Amazon credit, $5 at the local spice shop, and a single $5 bill left over for any other purchases. If you only actually needed $3 worth of coffee, a $3 kindle book, and $4 in sea salt, then you have $5 sitting around in unneeded product. You could have had double the amount of cash in your pocket to use on a different purchase.
Instead of $20, you now have $5 at Starbucks, a $5 Amazon credit, $5 at the local spice shop, and a single $5 bill left over for any other purchases. If you only actually needed $3 worth of coffee, a $3 kindle book, and $4 in sea salt, then you have $5 sitting around in unneeded product. You could have had double the amount of cash in your pocket to use on a different purchase.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
What is a lift gate?
A lift gate is an add-on piece of equipment for the back of a truck that allows cargo to be moved to ground level.
Standard trucks require a loading dock above the ground in order to properly unload. This dock is 48-52 inches above the ground and often has plates and other equipment to assist in unloading. If you're trying to move pallet items or other heavy items from the height of the truck bed to the ground instead, you'll use a lift gate. The gate unfolds to create a small platform, which you roll the pallet onto. Then you lower the platform to the ground to unload.
Lift gate deliveries are essential if you're not in a location built for industrial use. If you're scaling up a production business out of your kitchen and need to have a large shipment delivered, you'll need to let the supplier/carrier know that you need a lift gate. There is often an added fee of $100 or so added to the delivery cost when this service is required.
Standard trucks require a loading dock above the ground in order to properly unload. This dock is 48-52 inches above the ground and often has plates and other equipment to assist in unloading. If you're trying to move pallet items or other heavy items from the height of the truck bed to the ground instead, you'll use a lift gate. The gate unfolds to create a small platform, which you roll the pallet onto. Then you lower the platform to the ground to unload.
Lift gate deliveries are essential if you're not in a location built for industrial use. If you're scaling up a production business out of your kitchen and need to have a large shipment delivered, you'll need to let the supplier/carrier know that you need a lift gate. There is often an added fee of $100 or so added to the delivery cost when this service is required.
Friday, January 4, 2019
What is a PRO number?
A pro number is the freight-related term for tracking number.
If you're getting a pallet or a truckload shipped, to you, you won't have a "tracking" number, you'll have a "pro" number. You can then get the status of the shipment by calling the carrier or sometimes by entering the number on the carrier's website.
If you're getting a pallet or a truckload shipped, to you, you won't have a "tracking" number, you'll have a "pro" number. You can then get the status of the shipment by calling the carrier or sometimes by entering the number on the carrier's website.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Design for Manufacturing pt2
The designers of THIS beer case knew what the case was supposed to look like when it gets assembled. Also, they had probably looked at how cases are assembled in real life and perhaps even seen what happens when they don't consider that assembly in their design. The design works well even when the two flaps don't match up exactly as expected.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Design for Manufacturing pt1
The designers of this beer case knew what the case was supposed to look like when it gets assembled. They didn't keep in mind that assembling cardboard isn't always accurate.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Names for places to make things
Studio
Factory
Workshop
Plant
Laboratory
Kitchen
Shop
Floor
Garage
Do they mean something different to you?
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