Inventory Management in Detroit

JIT delivery to automotive OEMs requires inventory management that connects inbound supply, production consumption, and outbound delivery timing in a single coordinated view. The system tracks component inventory against open production orders, generates alerts when on-hand inventory is insufficient to fulfill upcoming customer releases from their scheduling system, and calculates optimal reorder timing against supplier lead times to maintain JIT commitments without carrying excess. We design JIT inventory systems for tier suppliers that align with the specific scheduling systems and communication protocols their OEM customers use, including EDI integration for demand signals, customer-scheduled deliveries, and advance ship notices.

Yes. Multi-stage manufacturing inventory is one of the most technically demanding inventory management requirements we address. The system tracks raw material receipts, raw material consumption into production orders, work-in-progress quantities at each production stage, quality inspection holds, finished goods production confirmations, and finished goods shipments. All of these events decrement or increment the right inventory pool at the right time. Production managers see exactly what is on the floor and where it is in process. Finance sees accurate COGS as production occurs. Purchasing sees raw material consumption trends that inform forward buying.

Lot tracking in medical and pharmaceutical distribution must meet FDA traceability requirements and, for controlled substances, DEA record-keeping standards. The system records lot number, supplier, receipt date, and for pharmaceuticals, NDC code on every inbound receipt. Every outbound shipment records which lots were included, the quantity from each lot, and the receiving customer. Recall response uses bidirectional lot traceability to identify affected customers within minutes. Expiration date management ensures products approaching end-of-life are prioritized for use and flagged for disposition before they expire. We design these systems to the regulatory standards applicable to your specific product category.

Timeline depends on complexity. A focused inventory system for a single-location automotive supplier with standard product types and basic ERP integration typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. Systems with EDI integration for OEM demand signals, multi-location warehouse management, and complex production order tracking take 14 to 24 weeks depending on the number of OEM customers and EDI transaction types. We establish realistic timelines during scoping based on your specific requirements and phase delivery so you have working inventory visibility before all features are complete.

Yes. ERP integration is a standard component of most inventory implementations for Detroit's manufacturing and distribution clients. We integrate with SAP S/4HANA and older versions, Oracle ERP Cloud and E-Business Suite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and manufacturing-specific platforms like Plex, Infor LN, and Epicor common in Michigan's manufacturing base. Integration ensures inventory transactions flow to financial accounting automatically, production orders in ERP trigger corresponding inventory reservations, and purchase orders connect to supplier order management. The goal is a single connected system, not parallel tracking that requires manual reconciliation.

Reporting is designed around your specific management needs. Automotive tier suppliers typically need reports covering component inventory versus production order requirements, supplier on-time delivery performance, expedite frequency and cost, and OEM delivery performance metrics. Manufacturing clients need raw material turnover, WIP by production stage, finished goods days of supply, and supplier lead time performance. Healthcare supply companies need lot expiration tracking, recall response readiness, and regulatory compliance documentation. We build the reports your team actually needs to make operational and financial decisions. Detroit businesses ready to build inventory management infrastructure appropriate to their industry should contact Running Start Digital. We will start with a process audit to understand your current state and design the system that serves your operation.