Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast

How to Build a Profitable Inventory System

Craft Brewery Financial Training Podcast

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0:00 | 39:57

Inventory is often the largest asset on a brewery’s balance sheet  and the biggest source of hidden margin leaks. 

In this episode, we break down how to build a profitable inventory system that protects cash, improves COGS accuracy, and creates operational discipline. 

You’ll learn how to install simple standard operating procedures, use scorecards to quantify what “good” looks like, and turn inventory management from a monthly headache into a competitive advantage. 

Plus, we’ll share a practical SOP template you can use immediately.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Install Clear Inventory SOPs
    Learn how to document and standardize receiving, transfers, adjustments, and returns so inventory accuracy doesn’t depend on memory or good intentions.
  • Move from Guesswork to Measurement with a Scorecard
    Identify the key metrics (turnover, days on hand, shrinkage %, slow-moving SKUs) that quantify what strong inventory management actually looks like.
  • Protect Gross Margin Through Better Valuation & Reconciliation
    Understand how counting discipline and consistent valuation methods improve COGS accuracy and prevent margin distortion.
  • Identify and Plug the “Inventory Leaks”
    Discover the most common breakdown points — from receiving errors to production yield loss — and how to install controls that prevent them.
  • Free Up Cash Without Increasing Sales
    See how improving inventory turns and reducing excess stock can unlock working capital and strengthen your financial position.

Resources

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