Service Level Formula:
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Service Level (SL) is a key performance metric that measures the percentage of demand periods in which stockouts did not occur. It quantifies how well a supply chain or inventory system meets customer demand without running out of stock.
The calculator uses the Service Level formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the proportion of time that demand was successfully met without stockouts, expressed as a percentage.
Details: Service Level is crucial for inventory management, supply chain optimization, and customer satisfaction measurement. It helps businesses balance inventory costs with customer service expectations.
Tips: Enter the number of stockout occurrences and the total number of demand periods. Both values must be non-negative integers, and stockouts cannot exceed demand periods.
Q1: What is considered a good service level?
A: This varies by industry, but typically 95-99% is considered good for most retail and manufacturing businesses.
Q2: How does service level relate to safety stock?
A: Higher service level targets require more safety stock, which increases inventory carrying costs but reduces stockout risk.
Q3: What's the difference between service level and fill rate?
A: Service level measures the probability of not having a stockout, while fill rate measures the percentage of demand satisfied from available stock.
Q4: How often should service level be measured?
A: It depends on the business cycle, but typically measured weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on sales velocity.
Q5: Can service level be 100%?
A: While theoretically possible, maintaining 100% service level usually requires excessive inventory levels that may not be economically viable.