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Inventory Management is one of those tasks that isn’t hugely rewarding while you’re doing it, but the benefits from good record-keeping are profound. Managing the cycle of raw materials, dry goods and finished products will allow your business to grow and react to changes. In today’s world of disrupted supply chains, staying on top of inventory is even more important.
First off, let’s take a moment to recognize that distilled spirits plants (DSPs) have it pretty good compared to other industries. It is generally held that spirits properly bottled or stored in stainless tanks do not age or deteriorate. While the same cannot be said for grain or empty glass bottles, those items do still have a multi-month or even 1yr+ shelf life if stored properly. This means you can get away with being a little less disciplined in following “First In First Out” (FIFO) inventory best practice if you need to.
So how do you stay on top of your inventory? Some distilleries use spreadsheets, and others use QuickBooks or other generalized inventory management software. Those solutions can work, but since they generally don’t model the complexities of our regulated industry, a proprietor must spend an excess amount of time reformatting data for reporting and record-keeping.
Our software solutions (DISTILL x 5 and Whiskey Systems) were purpose-built from the ground up to support your inventory operations as a distilled spirits plant. You can build and track Purchase Orders, and log their receipt (with gains or shortages). Those received inventory items flow directly into your books and can then be consumed as ingredients for your finished product(s). Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) can be tracked automatically, from batch level down to the bottle, with every ingredient included. Both systems allow you to have multiple vendors for any given inventory item and are flexible enough to react to changes in pricing, ship/lead time, and more.
By tracking inventory in either Dx5 or Whiskey Systems you gain insights into your operations & profitability that are otherwise hard to come by. These insights let you make better purchasing and planning/forecasting decisions. Plus, your governmental reporting burden is lessened through a full suite of logging and reporting. Our mission at FIVE x 5 is making it easier to make great things. Reclaim your time and gain better insights!
If you would like to schedule a demo today, contact us here.
Tyler Derheim is Fx5’s in-house consultant, using his expertise to help distilleries of all sizes make it easier to make great things. Tyler first entered the regulated beverage industry in 2010, when he started working harvest and crush at a midsize winery in Slovenia. After returning to California in 2017 he joined a startup DSP, with responsibilities for formulation, production, compliance, lab services, and more. In 18 months, he led the DSP from mason jars and buckets to tankers and trailers, then moved into a freelance consulting role, helping distilleries of all sizes with every aspect of production, operations, and compliance. A long-time Fx5 user, Tyler brings a wealth of experience unmatched in the industry.
