And the biggest benefit, according to Pollak: Having West Coast produce sitting in a refrigerated warehouse on the East Coast will allow grocery stores on the East Coast to shorten their order times, increase their inventory turns and reduce inventory costs.

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Innovative solutions like demand-driven forecasting, in which real-time customer demand information is translated into super-lean production and delivery, have allowed companies to dramatically reduce inventory levels and the costs associated with them.

FORBES: Ash In The Supply Chain

Simultaneously, it will seek to reduce costs through intelligent inventory management and supply chain optimization.

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Companies looking to streamline supply chains should look no further than their storage shelves, where innovations in inventory management can increase efficiency, and reduce long-term costs.

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In addition to the store closures, Sears Holdings said it plans to reduce inventory, focus on improving gross profit dollars, and reduce its fixed costs.

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Generally, this trend with inventory suggests that automotive dealers are striving for just in time (JIT) inventory, hoping to reduce the waste that comes with unnecessarily large inventories and high carrying costs.

FORBES: Auto's Lean Inventory & Shifting Market Share