T A K I N G S T O C K
No time like the present to take stock of items in your warehouse with shelf life. Perhaps you do this during your annual inventory stock take but regardless, if you don’t have a system for ensuring this is done on a regular basis, let this be a reminder.
Problems encountered with shelf life are at times due to the complex part numbering and let’s take o-rings and life jackets for example where it is easy to miss assigning and tracking shelf life.
O-RINGS:
We have the part number, the part specification, maybe a previous part number, and material specification. Then for a material specification you are confronted with knowing the exact specification, polymer and maximum storage life.
LIFE JACKETS:
Buy a new set for backup – easy to track all of them. Need to take one out of the set for a replacement, now what do you do? You need to have a system where you can track down to the item level and not loose track of any item.
For both o-rings and life jackets, usually a batch number will keep things straight but when in doubt, assign a unique identification to the item. How you do this is up to the item and your ability to perform the task.
Don’t forget to add or update the data in your tracking program – a spreadsheet or better yet a database.
Keep your stock rotating – remember first in / first out for your shelf life items.