Inventory Isn’t Just Math—It’s Strategy (ft. Effective Inventory Management, Inc.)

Inventory can make or break a business, but managing it isn’t just about crunching numbers—it’s about strategy. In this episode, we're joined by the inventory legend, Jon Schreibfeder, President of Effective Inventory Management (EIM) and author of Achieving Effective Inventory Management (now in its 7th edition).

With over 45 years of experience guiding thousands of companies worldwide, Jon shares practical insights that help businesses rethink their approach to stock.

We cover:
• How to decide which products deserve a spot in your inventory
• Identifying and eliminating obsolete or unwanted stock
• Common causes of stockouts, and how to balance sporadic vs. steady demand
• Forecasting mistakes and how to improve accuracy
• Adjusting for lead times and safety stock in uncertain conditions
• The EOQ formula: what it is and when it works
• Best practices for replenishment and how software/automation fits in
• Warehouse layout, habits, and cycle counting made easier
• Which KPIs actually matter when measuring success
• ROI timelines and where Jon sees the future of inventory management

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I carrying too much stock—or not enough?” this episode is packed with frameworks, strategies, and stories to help you find the right balance.

📖 Resources:
• Follow Jon! https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-schreibfeder-7433524/
• Calculate your carrying cost: https://effectiveinventory.com/inventory-management-tools/carrying-cost/
• Sell excess inventory (in the U.S.): https://www.warehousetwo.com/

0:00 - Intro
1:40 - How did you get into the world of inventory?
2:56 - What inspired you to start Effective Inventory Management Inc?
4:47 - What are common misconceptions in inventory?
5:57 - What do your services include at EIM?
7:00 - What’s one of your most memorable client stories?
11:05 - What are the most common inventory challenges?
12:16 - How do businesses decide what items truly deserve a place in their inventory?
18:27 - How do you identify obsolete inventory?
20:57 - What’s the best way to get rid of unwanted stock?
23:01 - Which sites do you recommend selling on?
23:33 - What’s the most common reason to run out of stock? 
23:50 - How do you handle sporadic vs. steady demand?
30:45 - Where do most businesses go wrong with demand forecasting?
32:51 - The meaning of usage, sales, and disbursements
35:28 - How should businesses adjust for lead times and safety stock?
42:30 - Are there common traps companies fall into while chasing incentives?
40:04 - What is the EOQ formula and how is it used?
50:55 - What should you consider in the replenishment process?
51:10 - What role do software and automation play?
57:26 - What do you look for in a warehouse?
1:00:06 - What operational habit or process should warehouse teams adopt?
1:03:03 - How do you make cycle counting easier?
1:08:06 - How do you measure success with KPIs?
1:17:09 - How long does it usually take for clients to see ROI?
1:19:18 - Where do you see the future of inventory management?

Stay connected:
https://www.facebook.com/inFlowInventory/
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/5276148/admin/feed/inflowinventory
https://www.instagram.com/inflow.inventory/
https://www.tiktok.com/@inflowinventory
https://twitter.com/inflowinventory

#inventory #inventorymanagement #demandforecasting #effectiveinventorymanagementinc #inflow #inflowinventory

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:40 How did you get into the world of inventory?
• 2:56 What inspired you to start Effective Inventory Management Inc?
• 4:47 What are common misconceptions in inventory?
• 5:57 What do your services include at EIM?
• 7:00 What’s one of your most memorable client stories?
• 11:05 What are the most common inventory challenges?
• 12:16 How do businesses decide what items truly deserve a place in their inventory?
• 18:27 How do you identify obsolete inventory?
• 20:57 What’s the best way to get rid of unwanted stock?
• 23:01 Which sites do you recommend selling on?
• 23:33 What’s the most common reason to run out of stock?
• 23:50 How do you handle sporadic vs. steady demand?
• 30:45 Where do most businesses go wrong with demand forecasting?
• 32:51 The meaning of usage, sales, and disbursements
• 35:28 How should businesses adjust for lead times and safety stock?
• 42:30 Are there common traps companies fall into while chasing incentives?
• 46:02 What is the EOQ formula and how is it used?
• 50:55 What should you consider in the replenishment process?
• 51:10 What role do software and automation play?
• 57:26 What do you look for in a warehouse?
• 1:00:06 What operational habit or process should warehouse teams adopt?
• 1:03:03 How do you make cycle counting easier?
• 1:08:06 How do you measure success with KPIs?
• 1:17:09 How long does it usually take for clients to see ROI?
• 1:19:18 Where do you see the future of inventory management?