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Most companies are sitting on hidden profit, capacity, and risk they can’t see. In this first article of the Hidden in Plain Sight series, Tim Van Mieghem explains why capable leaders miss hidden value, where it typically hides, and what it takes to uncover “Shocking Profit” before a crisis or buyer forces the deeper look.

Most companies carry more inventory than they need because they apply one blanket policy to very different products. A Volume by Volatility approach helps right-size inventory by segment—running predictable items lean, buffering the truly critical few, and shifting slow-moving, unpredictable products to make-to-order. The result: freed cash, reclaimed floor space, and capacity already hiding inside the business.

Excess inventory is rarely the real problem—it’s a warning signal. Learn how segmenting inventory by volume and volatility reveals upstream issues in planning, lead times, quality, and capacity use, helping companies reduce inventory while improving service.