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Oct. 3, 2023 - Caldwell recently increased in-stock inventory levels of more than 400 best-selling items.
“In-stock inventory matters in our industry,” said Doug Stitt, president and CEO at The Caldwell Group Inc. “Our in-stock program makes us more efficient, smarter, and better prepared to serve customers than ever before.”
Stitt and his team have worked for more than a year to get manufacturing processes, product management protocols, sales reporting, distributor feedback loops, and warehouse space planning in top working order to support increased levels of on-the-shelf inventory.
The result is faster order turnaround, higher order fill rates, and stronger relationships with the below-the-hook distributor network.
Now, more than 400 items that are in stock ship within one business day without additional shipping charges.
“Our customer service team hears how important in-stock availability is on a daily basis,” said Jeff Ferchen, director of business development. “We know we win orders because we have more equipment on the shelf and are ready to ship. The fact that these items ship via standard ground for free is the icing on the cake.”
Why increase inventory now?
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, signed into law in 2021, authorized funds for things like highways and highway safety.
“That means more bridges being built, more water and sewer pipes being laid, and more highways being improved,” Stitt said.
He added that Caldwell is also seeing higher demand from offshore drilling, aerospace, and energy-related industries. “Certain industries are still enjoying significant growth due to pent up post-COVID demand, I think,” he said.
To make the change possible, Stitt and the team looked at the entire operation.
They made production processes more efficient with a dedication to Lean.
They reviewed historical sales trends and seasonal data.
They streamlined picking and shipping.
“We know distributors don’t want to carry extra inventory, which adds cost to their business. So, they need to count on us to replenish quickly when they need to. We’ve set ourselves up to do just that,” Stitt said.
The bolstered inventory levels include below-the-hook lifters, such as lifting beams, coil grabs, sheet lifters; construction lifters, such as barrier grabs, pipe lifters; forklift attachments, such as fork booms, extensions, drum lifters; plus, Renfroe plate clamps and RUD lifting points.
The most popular Caldwell items on the bolstered in-stock list include selected sizes of the Model 16 Economy Lifting Beam, Model 20 Low-Headroom Lifting Beam, Model 32 Adjustable Spreader Beam, Model 80H Dixon Coil Hook, and Model BEF Spreader Beam End Fittings, Model 416 Dura-Lite Composite Lifting Beam, Rig Release Remote Releasing Hooks as well as pipe picks / carriers, barrier grabs, beam clamps. Renfroe Models FR, SCPA, TLA, LPA, and RUD ACP Turnado, VLBG, VWBG, ABA, and other items are also on the list.
