Description
Plan, direct, and optimize inventory planning, control, and accuracy across purchasing, warehousing, and distribution. Establish policies, forecasts, and systems to minimize carrying costs, reduce excess and stockouts, and support service, safety, and financial integrity. Oversee the movement, storage, valuation, and processing of inventory across locations and partners.
- • Define inventory policies (reorder points, safety stock, min/max, lot sizes).
- • Analyze inventories to improve turns, cut obsolescence, and optimize service levels.
- • Lead cycle counting and annual physical inventories with reconciliations.
- • Maintain accurate item master, BOM, location, and unit-of-measure data in ERP/WMS.
- • Design and implement slotting and storage strategies to boost picking speed and accuracy.
- • Translate demand forecasts into inventory and replenishment plans with planners.
- • Monitor forecasts and consumption to anticipate shortages, excess, and constraints.
- • Define and track KPIs such as accuracy, days on hand, fill rate, shrink, and E&O.
- • Document inventory workflows, controls, cycle times, and system flows.
- • Configure and maintain MRP/MPS parameters and exception rules.
- • Evaluate and deploy ERP/WMS, barcode, or RFID solutions for visibility and control.
- • Plan and execute intersite and 3PL stock transfers at lowest total cost.
- • Coordinate receiving, putaway, picking, kitting, and shipping to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
- • Determine equipment, space, and staffing levels for inventory handling.
- • Meet with suppliers on delivery reliability, packaging standards, and VMI or consignment.
- • Negotiate lead times, MOQs, packaging, and consignment terms.
- • Monitor supplier on-time, in-full, and quality performance for inventory impact.
- • Manage phase-in/phase-out for engineering changes and launches to minimize scrap and stockouts.
- • Align inventory control procedures with sales, finance, production, and quality.
- • Implement improvements to reduce counting errors, touches, and dwell time.
- • Dispose of excess, obsolete, and returns via RTV, refurbishment, resale, or recycling.
- • Ensure compliance with traceability, shelf life, lot/serial control, and regulations.
- • Reduce inventory-related waste by reusing packaging and recycling materials.
- • Audit 3PL and warehouse partners for accuracy and service; drive corrective actions.
- • Perform root-cause analyses of discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
- • Forecast material and carrying costs; support standard cost and valuation updates.
- • Prepare inventory reports and recommendations for leadership and S&OP.
- • Lead inventory close activities, reconciliations, reserves, and audit support.
- • Assess vendor packaging and labeling for storage, handling, and barcode compliance.
- • Enforce data integrity, cycle-count compliance, and internal control (e.g., SOX) requirements.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
