Any good business knows that controlling inventory—whether it is a raw material or finished product—is one way to improve the bottom line. Although inventory should never run too low (this can result in halting production and/or disappointing customers), holding on to more inventory than needed also is unwise.
Factors such as a slowdown in sales of a particular item, unstable warehousing conditions, or a change in manufacturing schedules or specification changes, can affect the type or quantity of ingredients needed.