Loss and shrinkage investigation for warehouses in Uzbekistan

1.Where shrinkage usually comes from

Not every loss is theft. In our experience most discrepancies are a mix of process errors, weak controls and a smaller share of deliberate misuse. Treating every gap as theft damages trust; ignoring the possibility leaves the door open. An evidence-based review separates the causes.

• Receiving errors: goods accepted without a full check, or entered before they arrive
• Picking and shipping errors: wrong items or quantities sent and never corrected
• Unrecorded movements: transfers, samples, returns or production use without documents
• Damage and expiry not written off on time, then found as a lump at year-end
• Unit of measure and code mix-ups between documents and the system
• Deliberate removal, often linked to weak access or approval controls

2.How the investigation works

We begin with the data: the history of counts, adjustments and write-offs, broken down by product, location, period and user. Patterns usually point to a small number of product groups, shifts or processes. We then test those areas in detail, tracing documents, comparing system timestamps with gate and weighbridge records where available, and observing the relevant operations on site.

Interviews are held in a neutral, factual way. We do not accuse anyone; we record what the evidence shows and where it is incomplete. If the findings suggest possible wrongdoing, we tell you promptly and leave any legal or disciplinary steps to you and your local legal advisers.

3.What you get at the end

The report explains each loss driver we identified, how much of the gap it is likely to explain, and how confident we are, given the evidence. It ends with targeted control changes, from simple ones such as a second signature on returns to wider ones such as restricting system rights. You can ask us to recheck the same indicators a few months later to see whether the losses have fallen.

4.Signs that an investigation is needed

Some level of loss is normal in any warehouse, but certain patterns suggest it is time to look deeper rather than simply posting another adjustment. If several of the signs below apply to your site, an investigation is likely to pay for itself.

• The same product groups show shortages count after count
• Write-offs for damage or expiry rise without a change in volumes or products
• Surpluses and shortages of similar items appear together, suggesting substitution or code errors
• Differences grow after a change of staff, shift pattern, supplier or system
• Adjustments are posted late in the period or by users who also handle stock

5.What you receive

1. D1Analysis of losses and write-offs by product, location and period
2. D2List of identified loss drivers with supporting evidence
3. D3Estimate of how much of the gap each driver explains
4. D4Targeted control recommendations ranked by priority
5. D5Confidential report in English, in Excel and PDF

6.Common questions