Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Summer Planning – How to Stay on Top of Your Inventory!

Forecasting, Ordering & Order Errors
August 7, 2024

As the sun shines brighter and the temperatures rise, Core Programs are faced with the daunting task of navigating through vacations and increase in demand fluctuations. This can make staying on top of your inventory a challenge – but OHRDP is here to help!

Here are some things to consider that may help you stay on top of your inventory to support your communities needs: 

  1. Cross Train Staff – Vacations, changing hours and staff turnover are common things that can affect availability and accessibility of supplies. If there aren’t any processes in place to continue smooth operation when the primary person who orders supplies is away, it can increase a risk of supplies disruption and good operations. If you are the key ordering person with vacation coming up, consider having another staff person shadow your tasks, or create a checklist of instructions of how things work at your Core Program.
  2. Forecasting, Monitoring, and Adjusting – Forecasting can be tricky! Especially over the summer when there are changing demands. You’ll want to consider vacations, the increased need fluctuations in your region, the opening/closing of sites, or changing hours that can affect the volumes you need for demand. Your OHRDP Toolkit can help. Throughout the summer, monitor your inventory levels and check-in with your forecasts to make sure your levels are maintained and you can adjust when needed.
  3. Communication – Good communication with colleagues, community partners, and service users can help them expect unexpected fluctuations in demand. This might include learning about staff vacation at a community agency, so making sure they have enough supplies and what the process is if they run out. Or, learning from service users of a new trend in drugs or supply use.

We know that summer can be busier for you. We are here to help you make inventory management easy and consistent. Reach out to Ella or Sadi if you have any ordering questions. Remember to submit all orders to orders@ohrdp.ca and look for an email confirmation to ensure it was received and processed by OHRDP.

Have a great summer! 

-Ella-

Related blog posts

Forecasting

No matter where you fit in the harm reduction supply chain of people and supplies, expecting the unexpected is just a part of our work.

Have Questions?

Reach out to our support team at OHRDP.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Share this blog post

Like what you see? Be sure to share!

Page link

   
           
   
Copied!