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The Global Insight

What is the days of supply?

Author

James Williams

Updated on February 15, 2026

It measures how long the inventory on hand will last. If, for example, a manufacturer consumes 100 units a day of a certain component in manufacturing and has 800 units on hand, it has an eight-day supply.

How do you calculate weeks of supply?

How to calculate WOS

  1. Weeks of Supply Formula. Formula: ‍ Weeks of Supply = Beginning of Period Inventory in Units / Weekly Rate of Sale in Units. WOS = BOP Units / ROS Units‍
  2. Forward Weeks of Supply Formula. Formula: Weeks of Supply = Beginning of Period Inventory in Units / Forecasted Weekly Rate of Sale in Units.

How is inventory tracked?

The barcode, also known as the universal product code (UPC), remains one of the most common inventory tracking methods. The majority of grocery stores and retailers use the barcode found on products to scan the items at the point of sale terminal. Barcodes track the movement of inventory throughout the supply chain.

How do you start a tracking inventory?

Here are some of the techniques that many small businesses use to manage inventory:

  1. Fine-tune your forecasting.
  2. Use the FIFO approach (first in, first out).
  3. Identify low-turn stock.
  4. Audit your stock.
  5. Use cloud-based inventory management software.
  6. Track your stock levels at all times.
  7. Reduce equipment repair times.

What is the week of supply?

A metric fundamental to managing the retail supply chain is weeks of supply (WOS). Weeks of supply tells the inventory manager how long the current on hand will last based on current sales demand. By keeping your eye on weeks of supply, you can avoid inventory stock outs and lost sales.

What is the purpose of EOQ?

The goal of the EOQ formula is to identify the optimal number of product units to order. If achieved, a company can minimize its costs for buying, delivering, and storing units.

How do grocery stores track inventory?

Most grocery stores use inventory management software, which manages stock lists in real-time. This software scans products in when received at the backdoor. Then keeps track of what gets sold through the register. Some stores even use automatic purchasing systems that re-order when items get low.