The size of the order that minimizes the total cost of acquiring and holding stock...

The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) is the ideal order size that minimizes total inventory costs, balancing the ordering cost (costs related to placing and receiving orders) and the holding cost (costs related to storing inventory). The EOQ model is a fundamental concept in inventory management and is derived from the following formula:

EOQ=2DSHEOQ = \sqrt{\frac{2DS}{H}}EOQ=H2DS​​

where:

DDD = demand rate (units per period),

SSS = cost per order,

HHH = holding cost per unit per period.

The EOQ model assumes constant demand and lead time, and it does not consider discounts for bulk purchases. By minimizing both ordering and holding costs, EOQ contributes to overall cost efficiency in inventory management, which is essential for whole-life asset management in balancing long-term expenses.