A user-friendly instrument designed to collect and calculate indicators of effective inventory management. The IMAT guides the user through a process of collecting data on the physical and theoretical stock balance and the duration of stockouts for a set of up to 25 frequently-used products, calculating indicators, analyzing the results, and identifying strategies for improving record-keeping and stock management practices. The IMAT comes as a computerized spreadsheet in Excel and includes instructions, a data collection form, analysis guidelines, recommendations, and a graphical display of the indicator results.
The IMAT is intended to be used in warehouses and other organizations that manage inventory (e.g. contraceptives, essential drugs, vaccines, IEC materials, surgical equipment). It is recommended to use the IMAT as a team exercise for identifying record-keeping and stock management problems and developing solutions to improve them. The assessment should be led by managers who are responsible for the warehouse's overall performance, in collaboration with other warehouse staff. The IMAT can also be conducted by a Technical Assistant as part of a consultancy.