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What is Make to Stock?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 11,268
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Make to stock is a type of production approach that seeks to match the pace or rate of a manufacturing production line with the anticipated demand for those goods by consumers. The idea is to use demand forecasts to set production schedules and generate enough product to meet those needs, without stockpiling huge amounts of finished goods in warehouses. If successful, a make to stock strategy makes it easier to control costs and minimizes the taxes paid by the company on finished goods held in an inventory.

The efficiency of using a make to stock method rests in accurately predicting consumer demand. This means looking closely at a number of relevant factors. An accurate projection will consider historical data that identifies shifts in demand based on seasonality or certain events occurring within the economy. Those findings will be kept in mind when assessing the potential for those events to occur in the upcoming production period. For example, if the historical data indicated that consumers purchased twenty percent less of a given product during a period of recession, and there is evidence that a recession is imminent, the manufacturer may adjust production quotas downward to match the anticipated decrease in demand.

Businesses are able to minimize a number of expenses by using the concept of make to stock. The purchase of raw materials is conducted based on the projections. If demand is anticipated to drop for a given period of time, the business may choose to cut back on the amount of raw materials kept on hand and also scale back the hours of production. At the same time, an anticipated upswing in demand may require purchasing additional raw materials, which may generate some savings based on the volume of those purchases. The company can also utilize the most cost-effective means of scheduling additional labor for the production process, which in turn helps to keep the rate of return on each produced unit within a reasonable range.

While a make to stock approach can be extremely beneficial when the demand projections are accurate, this strategy can be devastating should those predictions prove to be false. The company may experience an influx of orders that cannot be filled within a reasonable period of time, prompting customers to seek out the services of a competitor. At the same time, an inaccurate projection involving an increase in demand could lead to a huge finished goods inventory that incurs a much larger tax obligation.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Discussion Comments
By Wisedly33 — On Jun 09, 2014

I'm a complete dunce when it comes to anything like production and methods of doing it, so this article educated me. Like Scrbblechick, I can see where this works well when it's working, but there have been times when I've ordered something online, or gone to a store to buy something, only to have the salesperson tell me the item has been back ordered because it became unexpectedly popular.

It's frustrating to want something, but have it delayed because the predictions were off, and a lot more people wanted it than the schedule predicted. In one way, it's a good problem for a company to have -- they have a popular product -- but it can also be very frustrating at the same time.

By Scrbblchick — On Jun 08, 2014

I can certainly see both the advantages and disadvantages of this production method. I would imagine it works better when the demand is fairly level most of the time, or when demand is predictable.

For instance, a company that makes Christmas ornaments can probably get by with making a small number during the year, but they probably ramp up production in September or October for the Christmas season, and they can drop production in December, knowing demand will drop back after Christmas. Then, they don't have to ramp production back up, or they can make other products, until the following year.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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