ABC Analysis:
ABC Analysis is the basis for material management processes and helps define how stock is managed. It can form the basis of various activity including leading plans on alternative stocking arrangements (consignment stock), reorder calculations and can help determine at what intervals inventory checks are carried out (for example A class items may be required to be checked more frequently than c class stores.
An analysis of a range of items that have different levels of significance and should be handled or controlled differently. It is a form of Pareto analysis in which the items (such as activities, customers, documents, inventory items, sales territories) are grouped into three categories (A, B, and C) in order of their estimated importance. ‘A’ items are very important, ‘B’ items are important, ‘C’ items are marginally important.
For example, the best customers who yield highest revenue are given the ‘A’ rating, are usually serviced by the sales manager, and receive most attention. ‘B’ and ‘C’ customers warrant progressively less attention and are serviced accordingly.
