Lean Inventory Dashboard: The 5 Numbers to Watch Weekly to Avoid Stockouts and Surplus

You want to monitor inventory.

You need a simple dashboard.

You need five key numbers.

You need weekly tracking.

Inventory dashboard. Five numbers. Weekly monitoring. Your control.

This guide shows you how.

Dashboard design. Key metrics. Weekly tracking. Your system.

Read this. Set up dashboard. Monitor weekly.

Why Dashboard Matters

Dashboard enables control.

What happens without dashboard:

• Problems go unnoticed
• Trends are missed
• Stockouts occur
• Surplus accumulates

What happens with dashboard:

• Problems are visible
• Trends are tracked
• Stockouts are prevented
• Surplus is minimized

The reality: Dashboard enables management.

Number 1: Inventory Turnover

Track inventory turnover weekly:

Calculate Weekly

Calculate it:

• Use our Inventory Turnover Calculator
• Enter weekly cost of goods sold and inventory
• See turnover ratio

Why it matters: Turnover shows efficiency.

Track Trends

What trends to track:

• Increasing turnover: Improving
• Decreasing turnover: Declining
• Stable turnover: Maintaining
• Volatile turnover: Unstable

Why it matters: Trends reveal direction.

Set Targets

What targets to set:

• Industry benchmark
• Historical best
• Improvement goal
• Minimum acceptable

Why it matters: Targets guide action.

Pro tip: Track turnover weekly. Calculate weekly, track trends, set targets. Use our Inventory Turnover Calculator for calculation.

Number 2: Days on Hand

Track days on hand weekly:

Calculate Weekly

What to calculate:

• Days inventory sits before sale
• Average holding period
• Cash tie-up duration
• Inventory age

Why it matters: Days show holding period.

Monitor Changes

What changes to monitor:

• Increasing days: Slowing
• Decreasing days: Speeding
• Stable days: Maintaining
• Seasonal variations

Why it matters: Changes reveal problems.

Compare to Targets

What to compare:

• Actual days vs. target
• Industry benchmarks
• Historical averages
• Optimal levels

Why it matters: Comparison shows position.

Pro tip: Track days weekly. Calculate weekly, monitor changes, compare to targets. See our inventory turnover basics guide for understanding.

Number 3: Stockout Incidents

Track stockout incidents weekly:

Count Stockouts

What to count:

• Number of stockout incidents
• Items that stock out
• Frequency of stockouts
• Impact on sales

Why it matters: Counting shows problems.

Analyze Causes

What causes to analyze:

• Demand exceeded forecast
• Supplier delays
• Reorder point too low
• Safety stock insufficient

Why it matters: Analysis enables prevention.

Take Preventive Action

What actions to take:

• Adjust reorder points
• Increase safety stock
• Improve forecasting
• Address supplier issues

Why it matters: Actions prevent recurrence.

Pro tip: Track stockouts weekly. Count incidents, analyze causes, take action. See our inventory optimization guide for strategies.

Number 4: Surplus Inventory

Track surplus inventory weekly:

Identify Surplus

What to identify:

• Items with excess stock
• Slow-moving inventory
• Obsolete items
• Overstocked SKUs

Why it matters: Identification enables action.

Calculate Surplus Cost

What costs to calculate:

• Holding costs
• Storage costs
• Opportunity costs
• Obsolescence risk

Why it matters: Cost shows impact.

Take Reduction Action

What actions to take:

• Stop ordering surplus items
• Discount to move
• Clear excess stock
• Adjust reorder points

Why it matters: Actions reduce costs.

Pro tip: Track surplus weekly. Identify surplus, calculate costs, take action. See our SKU profitability guide for analysis.

Number 5: Reorder Status

Track reorder status weekly:

Check Reorder Points

What to check:

• Items at reorder point
• Items below reorder point
• Items approaching reorder point
• Reorder urgency

Why it matters: Checking prevents stockouts.

Monitor Order Status

What to monitor:

• Pending orders
• Order delivery dates
• Supplier performance
• Order fulfillment

Why it matters: Monitoring ensures supply.

Take Reorder Actions

What actions to take:

• Place orders as needed
• Expedite urgent orders
• Adjust reorder points
• Coordinate with suppliers

Why it matters: Actions maintain stock.

Pro tip: Track reorder status weekly. Check reorder points, monitor orders, take actions. See our inventory optimization guide for reorder strategies.

Dashboard Setup

Set up your dashboard:

Weekly Calculation Routine

What routine to establish:

• Calculate turnover weekly
• Calculate days on hand weekly
• Count stockouts weekly
• Identify surplus weekly
• Check reorder status weekly

Why it matters: Routine ensures consistency.

Dashboard Format

What format to use:

• Simple spreadsheet
• One-page summary
• Visual charts
• Color-coded alerts

Why it matters: Format enables quick review.

Action Triggers

What triggers to set:

• Turnover below target
• Days above target
• Stockout incidents
• Surplus identified
• Reorder needed

Why it matters: Triggers enable action.

Pro tip: Set up dashboard. Weekly routine, simple format, action triggers. Use our calculators for accurate data.

Your Next Steps

Set up dashboard. Track five numbers. Monitor weekly.

This Week:

1. Review this guide
2. Set up dashboard format
3. Calculate all five numbers
4. Establish weekly routine

This Month:

1. Track numbers weekly
2. Identify trends
3. Take actions as needed
4. Refine dashboard

Going Forward:

1. Monitor weekly continuously
2. Track trends over time
3. Adjust targets as needed
4. Maintain dashboard system

Need help? Check out our Inventory Turnover Calculator for turnover tracking, our inventory turnover basics guide for understanding, and our inventory optimization guide for strategies.

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