Updated · Rulomatik
Plan stock from recorded towel sales, replenishment lead times and a deliberate safety allowance. Keep machine stock separate from warehouse stock, and assign refill responsibility. Order early enough to cover the period between placing an order and having products ready for sale.
Which inventory records do you need?
Record towels held in storage, loaded into each machine, sold and removed for other reasons. Reconcile deliveries and refills with those records. Warehouse stock can look sufficient while a high-demand location is empty, so review both levels.
Use the product and loading instructions for the selected machine. Confirm how original Rulomatik towels are supplied under your commercial arrangement. Products that appear similar should not be assumed to fit the same dispensing configuration.
How do you calculate a reorder point?
A planning formula is expected demand during replenishment lead time plus safety stock. Replenishment lead time includes the relevant order processing, production or dispatch, transport, import handling and local preparation. Use confirmed supplier information and your own delivery experience.
For an arithmetic example only, an assumed average of 10 towels per day over an assumed 14-day replenishment period gives demand of 140 towels. Adding an assumed 40-towel allowance gives a reorder point of 180. These are invented inputs, not Rulomatik sales or delivery promises. Different demand or lead time requires a different calculation.
How should you plan refill visits?
Group locations into service routes that fit their demand and your available stock. Do not use the same refill interval automatically for every machine. Review weekends, unusual demand and access restrictions when planning a visit.
- Check estimated machine stock before travelling.
- Prepare the required towel quantities for each location.
- Record the quantity loaded and the time of the refill.
- Check the machine's condition using the applicable operating procedure.
- Report any discrepancy between expected and observed inventory.
Can remote monitoring replace physical checks?
Remote information can help prioritise visits when the selected machine and communication configuration support it. It does not remove the need for replenishment or the checks required by the equipment's operating instructions.
Review stockouts, emergency refill trips and inventory discrepancies. Use these records to adjust your order quantities and route plan. A dependable supply plan supports machine availability, but it does not guarantee customer demand.
What routine keeps inventory records reliable?
Use a simple stock ledger with a consistent unit of measure. Record each supplier delivery into storage, each transfer to a machine, each refill, and any damaged or otherwise unusable towels. When sales data is available, compare expected stock with a physical count. Note the date and person who made the count so that differences can be investigated later.
A practical variance is counted stock minus expected stock. Investigate repeated differences instead of adjusting the record without an explanation. Possible causes to check include missed sales data, an incomplete refill entry, an incorrect count or stock moved between locations. Use the operating and transaction records available for your configuration; do not assume that remote readings are a substitute for all physical counts.
Set reorder rules by product and delivery route. A central warehouse may hold enough total towels while one machine is close to empty, so track site stock separately. Review the reorder point after demand changes, a supplier lead-time change or a new import process. For seasonal locations, use recent comparable periods where available and document why you adjusted the estimate.
- Record opening stock, receipts, refills, sales and adjustments separately.
- Count high-priority or high-variance locations more often if your records show a need.
- Use first-in, first-out handling where it suits the product and supplier instructions.
- Escalate unexplained shortages and recurring stockouts to the responsible operator.
Common questions
Does every machine need the same refill schedule?
No. Use each location's actual demand, capacity and access requirements to plan its refill schedule.
Does the example state Rulomatik's delivery lead time?
No. Its figures are arithmetic assumptions. Confirm actual product lead times and order conditions with Rulomatik.
What should I do when expected and counted stock differ?
Check sales, delivery and refill records for the same time period, recount where appropriate and document the reason for any adjustment. Investigate repeated differences before changing the process.
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