Title: Inventory reduction and management: a partner selection and inventory reduction study

Authors: K. Younis; C.J. Turner; A. Tiwari

Addresses: Manufacturing and Materials Department, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK ' Manufacturing and Materials Department, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK ' Manufacturing and Materials Department, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK

Abstract: Mitigation of cost pressures is an ever present factor in every commercial organisation's corporate strategy. This is especially true for automotive manufacturers. This paper explores the development of a partner selection and inventory reduction process for use within the automotive industry. The research featured in this paper carried out an assessment of the inventory holding of a large automotive manufacturer. This research identifies suppliers with the capability to provide maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) inventory reduction services under the technical constraints of a large automotive manufacturing facility, and then operates a trial of their inventory reduction process against the sponsor company's inventory. The study establishes a process for managing the identification of commodity groups to investigate, and the transfer of parts data and analytical findings between the parties. Validation is provided through the analysis of results recorded during the implementation in the context of the sponsor company.

Keywords: inventory management; inventory reduction; automotive manufacturing; automobile industry; partner selection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISM.2013.058508

International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, 2013 Vol.8 No.4, pp.210 - 232

Received: 19 May 2012
Accepted: 28 Feb 2013

Published online: 02 Jan 2014 *

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