Reasons That Firms in a Supply Chain Will Hold Inventory

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Firms in a supply chain will hold inventory because it is a mismatch between supply and demand. Also, it increases the demand that can be satisfied by having the product available to a buyer. For example, “Push process” anticipates demand while inventory also make the supply chain more responsive. In addition, volume discounts from suppliers may make it attractive to purchase in bigger orders shows that inventory take an important roles in economies of scale in sourcing. At the same time, it is also important in economies of scale in production. For example, for steel production, companies make a lot in a run and store products since long and large production runs are much lower cost. Moreover, seasonality of production requires firms to hold inventory. Many commodities (food) are produced during a single growing season, and must be stored to ensure availability at other times while Demand can also be seasonal such as pumpkins in Halloween. Some basic costs of holding inventory are cost per unit purchased, fixed ordering costs and holding costs. Cost per unit purchased may be constant or include volume discounts. Often, buying a larger amount at one time lowers the average cost. For example, cost per unit for < 500 is $20/pair while cost per unit for 500+ is $18/pair. The same cost for each order called fixed ordering cost. It includes transportation costs, receiving costs and buyer time to place an order. For example, if a firm needs to transport 900 boxes while the truck’s capacity is 1000. The firm still need pay same price for transporting 900 boxes as 1000. Here, costs does not vary with size of order. Holding cost is cost of carrying inventory for a given time. It includes cost of capital, obsolescence or spoilage cost, handling costs and occupancy costs. Cost of capital is value of money firms have tied up in inventory that they could be doing something
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