Improving Inventory Visibility and Operational Efficiency in the Laminate Industry

Abstract

This capstone project looks at the operational gaps for a medium scale laminate manufacturer, looking at the crux where non-digital processes and frameworks create a supply chain disruption. By analysing and mapping the bottle necks at supply chains caused by manual and inefficient methods, and the potential ERP solution, it offers a digital transformation as well the bridges the gap from the distributor to its customers. While examining the company, four issues resurfaced, namely: catalogue information that does not match the inventory stock, no shared visibility present for the inventory list across distributors, people inside the organisation that received no formal training with a common medium for availing the stock list and data, and disconnect between distributors and manufacturers. The results suggest that targeted digital coordination, built around what the operation actually looks like, not what an ideal operation would look like, can improve inventory visibility, reduce dead stock, and move product more efficiently. The framework is intended as a practical starting point for Abhiyan and comparable manufacturers in the surface materials sector.