Keeping up with demand

Any business owner would love to have the problems that we're facing, keeping up with the demand. Production-wise, we have things moving along just fine... it's the inventory that's the issue, or I should say, keeping it stocked.

For example, we have 20 sets of control arms back from powder coat, half of them are already spoken for with distributor PO's and as they are being assembled and packaged, another 5 sets sell, so we stack all of the product on the shelves and there's 20 sets standing tall... but only 5 are available. So the biggest issue we're working on right now, is being able to relate data, that of the order pipeline and the production. A system is being implemented and eventually, we'll have RFID inventory tracking and assembly & machine parts accounted for in a system, even before they get to us.

It's a great position to be in as a business, but the only hardship we're dealing with is making sure we don't sell something twice and have to call a customer and apologize because a PO came in while we were on the phone with him and his part just left.

This is the view from the inside of the shop, packaging and boxed product are staged. The wall was stocked a few days ago and all of this will be gone in within a week.

This is the staging area for outbound orders, pulled product waiting for shipping to handle it. It looks like this everyday.

Things are moving quickly and we're working hard towards a streamlined system that will allow for instantaneous inventory snapshots and the ability to manage and track it online. We don't really have a choice, it's time we built a Carli Suspension system for our own office and our goal is to be there this summer.