Low, critical, out: setting stock signals that work
Not every shortage is equally urgent. Clear levels help teams reorder the right things first.
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One list, ordered by urgency
A flat list of everything below target hides what matters. Ordering by urgency, with out of stock first, then critical, then running low, shows what to act on today.
Teams can then spend their attention where a delay would cost the most.
Set levels per item, not per category
Different supplies have different lead times and different consequences if they run out. Levels set per item reflect that, while a single rule for a whole category usually does not.
Review the signals
If a level is always triggering or never triggering, it is probably set wrong. Revisit levels using real usage so the signals stay trustworthy.