Inventory Management
Achieving controlled and optimized inventory levels aligned with actual needs is a major challenge for companies. It enables them to optimize cash flow while ensuring a high service level.
We support you in defining target inventory levels and the associated management methods.
Our convictions
- Inventory exists to address a key customer service challenge: the mismatch between expected lead times and actual product availability.
- To ensure the right inventory levels, the service offering must be clearly defined beforehand.
A single management approach cannot be successfully applied to all flows and items.
Products must be segmented (e.g., ABC/XYZ analysis) to adapt management methods to their behavior, in alignment with the service offering.
Regularly reassessing inventory management practices is essential.
This avoids focusing efforts on optimizing irrelevant parameters (such as safety stock) and enables continuous adaptation of product categories throughout their lifecycle (design, production, storage, end-of-life).
Inventory management methods should require a level of effort proportional to the importance of each product.
This importance may depend on factors such as warehouse space utilization, product hazard level or unit value, associated working capital, and the promised customer service level.
- Safety stock must be continuously optimized based on its actual usefulness. For example, if inventory levels never fall below the safety stock threshold, it indicates low variability and suggests that the level can be reassessed.
Our solutions and approach
Inventory Health Assessment
- Diagnosis of inventory health
- Analysis of item distribution and associated replenishment methods
- Root cause analysis of inventory and work-in-progress drivers
- Identification of optimization opportunities to improve overall supply chain efficiency
Target Inventory Definition and Roadmap
- Definition of target inventory levels and associated roadmap
- Design of management methods for different product families: MRP with reorder points and/or safety stock, DDMRP, Kanban, etc.
- Alignment of inventory policies with defined item segmentation and target customer offering
- Identification of inventory optimization levers through a concrete action plan
Performance Implementation Support
- Implementation of KPIs and inventory management governance processes
- Upskilling of operational teams in inventory management and replenishment practices
- Development of tools to improve visibility into inventory and its health status, facilitating monitoring and control
Our Certifications and Training Programs
A project? Contact us
Partner, Head of Supply Chain Consulting
Raphael is a Director at Citwell and Head of the Lille office. He began his career at Decathlon, where he spent six years working within their supply chain organization, both in operations and project roles.
With strong experience in transforming operating models, Raphael supports his clients in continuous improvement initiatives and long-term development.
Throughout his career, he has led major supply chain projects, including process transformation, development of strategic vision, end-to-end planning, and inventory management (both components and finished goods).
Among our references
Portfolio Rationalization and Inventory Management
5-Year Forward-Looking Study of Central Warehouse Requirements
Definition of Storage Policy for Spare Parts in Repair Workshops
Improvement of Spare Parts and Consumables Inventory Management for Comilog (Gabon) and SLN (New Caledonia)
Warehouse Sizing and Optimization of Inventory and Replenishment Management
COVID-19: Inventory Forecasting, Equipment Distribution, and Knowledge Transfer
Client Testimonials
" This collaboration has been a success in improving the rationalization and operational efficiency of Haulotte’s industrial footprint. In terms of inventory management, we’ve made significant progress—placing the right stock in the right place, calibrated to actual demand. "
Patrice Métairie, Industrial Director, Haulotte Group
« Citwell is a key partner in driving change management and reorganizing our supply chain—helping us both address internal capability needs and meet the growth challenges of our industry. »
Olivier Himpe, Supply Chain Director, Customer Services Business Unit, Nexter (KNDS)
« Citwell’s insights encouraged our partners to improve their bottle inventory management, helping reduce costs across the entire organization. We highly recommend Citwell for its pragmatism, reliability, and agility. »
Frédéric Mairesse, Chief Executive Officer, Champagne Barons de Rothschild