Now even though this article is about your inventory, you have to document all of the processes that go on in your warehouse. How can you legitimately establish any type of inventory control program if your people are not sure about what they should be doing? The "follow Nancy around" approach to learn processes only works in the restaurant business. Your people need to know different picking (P) and receiving (R) functions: What to do when I go to pick an item and there is no product in the bin? (P) What do I do when the wrong product is in the bin? (P) What do I do when I am receiving and the vendor sends a replacement item? (R) What do I do if the item in the bin is damaged? and What do I do if the item is not in the bin, but I see the item in overstock? (inventory)

Even though some of the processes are picking and receiving-related, improper processes will cause inventory problems throughout the year and will lead to problems during the annual physical. Your people need to know what processes to follow; however, we know your people are not going to consult a training manual every time they encounter a problem so develop "Cheat Sheets" that are brief references showing how to troubleshoot problems. (See figure 1)

Now even though this article is about your inventory, you have to document all of the processes that go on in your warehouse. How can you legitimately establish any type of inventory control program if your people are not sure about what they should be doing? The "follow Nancy around" approach to learn processes only works in the restaurant business. Your people need to know different picking (P) and receiving (R) functions: What to do when I go to pick an item and there is no product in the bin? (P) What do I do when the wrong product is in the bin? (P) What do I do when I am receiving and the vendor sends a replacement item? (R) What do I do if the item in the bin is damaged? and What do I do if the item is not in the bin, but I see the item in overstock? (inventory)

Even though some of the processes are picking and receiving-related, improper processes will cause inventory problems throughout the year and will lead to problems during the annual physical. Your people need to know what processes to follow; however, we know your people are not going to consult a training manual every time they encounter a problem so develop "Cheat Sheets" that are brief references showing how to troubleshoot problems. (See figure 1)