The rate of stock turn (inventory turnover ratio) measures how often inventory is sold and replaced over a period. A lower turnover ratio indicates that inventory is sitting longer, tying up working capital. Calculating this rate helps procurement and finance assess inventory management efficiency, a key focus in whole-life asset management for optimizing working capital and reducing holding costs.

Work in progress is the stock part-way through a manufacturing process; in the service sectors the term is also used for anything between order and delivery.

For JIT manufacturing to succeed, companies must have steady production, high-quality workmanship, glitch-free plant machinery, and reliable suppliers.
JIT production systems cut inventory costs because manufacturers do not have to pay storage costs. Manufacturers are also not left with unwanted inventory if an order is canceled or not fulfilled.
Reference:
- Just in Time (JIT)
- CIPS study guide page 122-124
LO 2, AC 2.3

RFID technology offers higher security compared to barcodes, as tags are harder to replicate. RFID also enables wireless scanning, without line-of-sight, and can store more information than barcodes. This enhances asset tracking and security, essential in whole-life asset management for tracking valuable assets and reducing losses due to theft or misplacement.