What are Cycle Counts?

Use Cycle Counts to increase operational efficiency and support food waste reduction.

Definitions

• Cycle Count: A cycle count is the physical act of counting all on-hand items at a given point in time. Cycle Counts can be taken as often as they are needed, and are used to adjust purchasing quantities.
• Inventory: Also referred to as "theoretical inventory", this is an at-a-glance look at the current quantity and value of all items you actually have on hand. Inventory is updated based on cycle counts taken and receiving events that are submitted.

Cycle Count Types

There are multiple types of Cycle Counts supported by Galley. You may use either -- or both -- of these cycle count types as dictated by your organizational needs.

• Menu-Based Cycle Count (aka Demand-Based Cycle Count): These represent the most efficient way to take a physical count of on-hand ingredients before purchasing for upcoming menu production. 
  
  When you take a menu-based cycle count, you are counting only the ingredients and items that are needed for upcoming menus(s).
  • Pros: 
    • Time-saving, only count what you need
    • Only take one cycle count
    • Prevents over-purchasing of ingredients for upcoming production
  • Cons:
    • Does not count every item/ingredient in-house
    • Does not include sub-recipes (i.e. sauces, dressings, etc). 

• Cycle Count Template (aka Full Cycle Count): Cycle Count Templates are used to create Cycle Counts with pre-loaded lists. You may have an unlimited number of cycle counts to cover all items you need to count, including packaging, ingredients, recipes, and more. Cycle Count Templates allow you to sort items on your count sheet in a specific sequence -- which supports "Sheet to Shelf" counts of all your storage areas.
  
  

  Cycle Count Templates are pre-defined lists of items (components/recipes/sub-recipes) that can be used as a framework for creating new cycle counts. 
  
  Both the items included and the order of a Cycle Count Template will be preserved when it is used to create a new cycle count. 
  
  One of the biggest benefits of using a cycle count template is that you can add both components and recipes to it. This way you count any sub-recipes as well as ingredients, allowing you to get an accurate on-hand value of everything you have in stock.

  • Pros: 
    • Sheet to shelf
    • Customizable lists and sortable orders
    • Includes ingredients & recipes
  • Cons:
    • Might not include all items needed for an upcoming production cycle
    • More time-consuming than Demand-Based

Considerations when selecting a Cycle Count Type

Before taking cycle counts in Galley, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that the setup works for whatever your business needs. Keep the following things in mind when planning and taking cycle counts:

• Type: Demand-based or Cycle Count Template? 
• Cadence: Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly?
• Item List organization: Split by item type? Storage area? Something else?

Conclusion

Understanding the types of available Cycle Counts & their function inside Galley will enable you to select the cycle count structure that works best for your organization.