For the CFO & VP Finance
The CFO's Guide to Trapped Working Capital
Last updated July 2026
To free working capital tied up in inventory, raise inventory turns and cut days sales of inventory (DSI) by removing excess and obsolete stock and right-sizing safety stock — without dropping fill rate. Maintained targets the exact SKUs holding cash hostage and protects service levels while it does.
What you're measured on
Speak in cash conversion cycle, ROIC, carrying cost as a percent of value, and write-down reserve.
- Cash conversion cycle
- Days sales of inventory
- Working-capital-to-sales
- Write-down reserve
- ROIC
Where the value is
- Raise inventory turns / cut DSI on the SKUs holding the most cash
- Remove excess and obsolete stock that never sells
- Right-size safety stock without dropping fill rate
- Give finance one trustworthy view of inventory value and risk
The pains this removes
- Cash trapped in inventory — often the largest current asset
- Recurring obsolescence write-offs hitting earnings
- Carrying cost of 20–30% of inventory value per year
- No clear view of idle-asset value on the balance sheet
The numbers behind it
Frequently asked questions
How should a CFO approach free up working capital tied in inventory?
Speak in cash conversion cycle, ROIC, carrying cost as a percent of value, and write-down reserve. To free working capital tied up in inventory, raise inventory turns and cut days sales of inventory (DSI) by removing excess and obsolete stock and right-sizing safety stock — without dropping fill rate. Maintained targets the exact SKUs holding cash hostage and protects service levels while it does.
What outcome should a CFO expect?
Release the cash frozen in stock without hurting service. Raise inventory turns / cut DSI on the SKUs holding the most cash
See what your inventory is really costing you.
Tell us where the cash is trapped — excess stock, idle surplus, slow RFQs — and we'll show you the outcome Maintained can unlock.