The Evolution of Deep Drawn Inventory Management Programs

The world was a different place fifty years ago. There were no computers, no cell phones, and if someone asked you to message them you wrote words on sheets of paper, folded it neatly, and mailed it. Depending on the distance, it might have taken a day or even a week for your message to be read.

Industries such as deep drawn stamping were no different. Customers placed orders by phone or in person. Details of the order were noted on paper receipts, the pages of which were often separated by a black inky sheet called a ‘carbon’ in order to create multiple copies at one time. Companies then tracked these orders using complicated paper forms, filing cabinets, and overflowing metal trays labeled ‘inbox’.

Technology has come a long way.

In days long past, deep drawn inventory management programs were created using the best available methods. Order intake, production schedules, and warehouse stock was all recorded and managed using tall stacks of paper documents. Information was typically hand carried or distributed by mail to each of the supporting members.

With the advent of computer technology, companies were able to record and manage inventory information using simple programs of the time such as spreadsheets or word processing documents. The dawning of the internet and E-mail made sharing information faster and easier than ever. Collecting the information however, remained a daunting task that required long hours of inventory auditing and sifting through documentation.

The deep drawn inventory management programs of today use cutting edge technology. The introduction of powerful new computer programs has made the process of controlling inventory faster and more precise, allowing companies to operate more fluidly in response to customer requirements.

Evolving technology brought with it new developments in operational processes as well. Better control of inventory from both a physical and financial standpoint allows manufacturers to offer a host of custom crafted options for customers, whether the situation calls for just-in-time operations which provide the customer stock on a demand basis, or more long term inventory management that allows the customer to hold stock until needed.

When applied correctly, technology brings speed and efficiency to any process. To a manufacturer, properly managing inventory reduces waste, saves money, and allows for faster, more flexible response to customer demand.

Not to mention saving paper.