A Product Has a Reorder Point of 110 Units, and Is

question 175

Essay

A product has a reorder point of 110 units, and is ordered four times a year. The following table shows the historical distribution of demand values observed during the reorder period.
$$\begin{array} { | c | c | } \hline \text { Demand } & \text { Probability } \\\hline 100 & .3 \\\hline 110 & .4 \\\hline 120 & .2 \\\hline 130 & .1 \\\hline\end{array}$$ Managers have noted that stockouts occur 30% of the time with this policy, and question whether a change in inventory policy, to include some safety stock, might be an improvement. The managers realize that any safety stock would increase the service level, but are worried about the increased costs of carrying the safety stock. Currently, stockouts are valued at $20 per unit per occurrence, while inventory carrying costs are $10 per unit per year. What is your advice? Do higher levels of safety stock add to total costs, or not? What level of safety stock is best?

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Definitions:

Current Asset

An asset that can reasonably be expected to be converted into cash, sold, or consumed within one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer.

Fixed Asset

A fixed asset is a long-term tangible piece of property or equipment that a firm owns and uses in its operations to generate income, and is not expected to be consumed or converted into cash within a year.

Usefulness

The degree to which something serves a practical purpose or satisfies a need.

Physical and Functional

Characteristics referring to the tangible aspects and performance capabilities of an asset or system.