How to Use Weighing Scales For More Efficient Inventory Management

It is crucial for every single business which deals with inventory to keep track of it. However, keeping track of each and every piece of inventory can be extremely challenging, especially if the inventory consists of small parts. In fact, counting such parts by hand is rather impractical. So what do you do? You implement reliable weighing scales in your inventory management such as industrial floor scales that enable you to count many pieces of the same part quickly by using the weight of each piece. This article will explain why you should use weighing scales in inventory management and how you can benefit from it.

Here are 5 tips on choosing the right weighing scales to make inventory more efficient:

Consider the Scale’s Scope and Application

In case you are not sure how to choose floor scales for inventory, then consider your inventory process and the volume of the stock that needs to be counted. If you have small pieces of inventory, then a large scale wouldn’t be ideal as bench scales would be more efficient for the job. Not only can a bench-scale do parts and check to count but it can also be connected to a remote platform to increase its capacity. You also need to consider the size of your inventory as well as the scale to ensure your stock fits into the weighing pan. Implement scales that can accurately measure even the smallest variation in weight. Lastly, ensure that the scale is fully adapted to your products.

Program the Scales

Several scales have features that allow you to program them. For example, you can:

•   Set a sample size by using a numeric keypad, allowing the counting scales to count the items based on that or by checking the weight of an initial sample. These ways will ensure the accuracy of the scales.

•   Make sure you measure and store the weight of your pallets initially. This will help in weighing palletized goods as it will remove the weight of the pallet, thus the final displayed weight would be that of just the goods.

By programming the scales, you can be sure that they are optimized for the necessary weighing tasks, thus saving time and energy. Moreover, some scales can be connected to multiple scales and platforms in order to be more efficient.

Calibrate the Scale Before Each Process

The accuracy of all measuring devices, including weighing scales, will degrade over time. It can be caused due to normal wear and tear, hazardous manufacturing environment, electric or mechanical shock, etc. All these cause errors in readings, which can be eliminated by regular calibration. You must calibrate your scales before starting the inventory-taking process. If the scale is being used to manage the inventory throughout the year, then you need to ensure that it is calibrated frequently as it will eliminate the errors and produce accurate results.

Choose a Scale Based on Your Goals

Weighing scales can be applied in various industries to measure different types of inventory. For example, industrial weighing scales are ideal for big warehouses and heavy products, bench scales and floor scales can be used for versatile inventory and smaller counting scales are great for small parts. Choose the right weighing scale based on your requirements.

Integration and Remote Access

The scales can be easily integrated using a standard network to connect to an existing network (Ethernet). This connection allows remote access to inventory levels in addition to increasing the efficiency and convenience of the working process. This makes walking back and forth to constantly check the inventory unnecessarily. Integration also helps in ensuring that you never run out of supply with its feature of remote monitoring of stock. This feature also enables optimization of the entire supply chain and trend analysis from the comfort of your computer.

Weighing scales not only help you improve the inventory management process but also increase the overall productivity and profitability. Therefore, it is a good idea to implement them in your processes, if they are applicable.

Author’s Bio

Kevin Hill heads the marketing efforts at Quality Scales Unlimited in Byron, CA. Besides his day job, he loves to write about the different types of scales and their importance in various industries. He also writes about how to care for and get optimized performance from different scales in different situations. He enjoys spending time with family and going on camping trips.