What does an inventory associate do?
An inventory associate is responsible for monitoring inventory supplies, ensuring that the supplies are adequate for customers' orders and business' needs. Inventory associates manage order sheets and record inventory reports, check items for possible defects, prepare merchandise for shipment, inspect delivered inventory supplies and return damaged items, organize shelves, and operate basic warehouse equipment. An inventory associate must have strong analytical and data entry skills to input inventory records in the system efficiently and accurately.
Inventory associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory associate resumes:
- Manage the ordering of shipping supplies through FedEx's web ordering system.
- Train any associate interest in POS system in order to help them achieve their goals.
- Count products in warehouse; preform quality checks on packages being ship out; operate RF gun; update computer system
- Research product (WMS) system to conduct quality control locations.
- Clean store, bag groceries, and assist customers with general needs.
- Assist customers with bagging groceries and assisting them with lifting and carrying groceries.
- Track various transactions to ensure material are reflected in correct location in ERP.
- Train all personnel on laboratory safety, HAZMAT, HAZCOM and OSHA regulations.
- Operate WMS via desktop to complete every task necessary to be complete throughout the warehouse.
- Train new employees on operation of equipment and maintenance procedures as well as OSHA guidelines.
- Fill prescriptions by patients individual need (vial, bubble cards, or cycle fills).
- Work on ERP (GP) system, BOM, conduct daily inventory transaction & running reports.
- Inventory supplies when receipt from the delivery truck and double check items to be deliver to patients.
- Inventory, gps, tag, photograph, record and report damage telephone poles using appropriate computer equipment
- Install security equipment in homes that provide security on doors and windows and secure the entire home from threats.
Inventory associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 31% of Inventory Associates are proficient in Ladders, Strong Work Ethic, and Work Ethic. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Inventory Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Ladders, 31%
Used tools such as ladders, step stools, box cutters.
- Strong Work Ethic, 27%
Demonstrated leadership skills by guiding, empowering and motivating coworkers with a strong work ethic.
- Work Ethic, 27%
Achieved a $1.75 hourly raise within two months of hiring due to excellent work ethic and high regard from superiors.
- WIS, 3%
Perform inventory on clothing outlets, grocery stores and consumer supplies retailers under contract with WIS International Inventory Services.
- Inventory Counts, 3%
Utilized proprietary technology and a skilled workforce in order to efficiently and accurately conduct financial or item level inventory counts.
- Customer Service, 2%
Inventory Lead Responsible for receiving new and used inventory of incoming vehicles, and reconciling inventory and customer services High School Education
Common skills that an inventory associate uses to do their job include "ladders," "strong work ethic," and "work ethic." You can find details on the most important inventory associate responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an inventory associate to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Additionally, an inventory associate resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "organized and reported cycle counts, prepared inventory documentation, and maintained effective communication with all departments. "
Customer-service skills. Many inventory associate duties rely on customer-service skills. "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom.," so an inventory associate will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways inventory associate responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "unload shipments of merchandise - manage backroom inventory storage - assist in stocking, cleaning, and assisting customers when needed"
Detail oriented. inventory associates are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to inventory associate responsibilities, because "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." An inventory associate resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "completed required inventory counts and drafted reports detailing shrinkage. "
Math skills. For certain inventory associate responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an inventory associate rely on this skill, as "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what inventory associates do: "count all merchandise within the store use inventory control procedures use basic mathematics use machines to enter, access and retrieve data. "
The three companies that hire the most inventory associates are:
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Compare different inventory associates
Inventory associate vs. Stock team member
A stock team member is an employee who is responsible for preparing and distributing merchandise from the backroom to the sales floor. Stock team members are required to support the stocking team by helping locate items on the sales floor and assisting with stocking merchandise. They should scan the store bar codes of merchandise that are moved from the backroom to the sales floor. Stock team members must also maintain a well-stocked appearance in-store as well as work closely with store management to ensure company standards.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between inventory associates and stock team member. For instance, inventory associate responsibilities require skills such as "wis," "dexterity," "manual dexterity," and "eagle." Whereas a stock team member is skilled in "store management," "profitable sales," "basic math," and "math." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Stock team members tend to reach similar levels of education than inventory associates. In fact, stock team members are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Inventory associate vs. Stock receiver
A stock receiver is a person who manages and processes stocks in retail stores or warehouses. Stock receivers make sure that all shipments are properly inspected, sorted, and stored or stocked on shelves or warehouses. They manage based on the schedule, which includes new and deleted merchandise. It is part of their job to assist in loading and unloading the trucks on a daily basis. They should have excellent skills in customer service and relation, communication, and attention to detail.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that inventory associate responsibilities requires skills like "ladders," "strong work ethic," "work ethic," and "wis." But a stock receiver might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "hazardous materials," "order pickers," "basic math," and "pallets."
In general, stock receivers achieve similar levels of education than inventory associates. They're 0.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory associate vs. Stock person
A stock person is responsible for managing the stock inventory, ensuring supplies' adequacy, and organizing products on the shelves. The stock person unloads the items from delivery trucks, updates the inventory records, and inspects any defects and mislabeling. A stock person must have excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on responding to customers' inquiries and concerns and resolving complaints. They must also have a broad knowledge of operating mechanical equipment and machinery to track inventory and accuracy.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from inventory associate resumes include skills like "strong work ethic," "work ethic," "wis," and "inventory counts," whereas a stock person is more likely to list skills in "excellent interpersonal," "hand trucks," "store shelves," and "pallet jack. "
When it comes to education, stock people tend to earn similar degree levels compared to inventory associates. In fact, they're 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inventory associate vs. Overnight stocker
An overnight stocker is responsible for monitoring inventories, stocking items, and organizing products on shelves. Overnight stockers' duties also include checking the manufacturing and expiration dates of the products, labeling and validating prices, escalating defective items to the management, and categorizing products for special offers and promotions. An overnight stocker must be detail-oriented and has excellent multi-tasking skills to complete and update the inventory as needed. Overnight stockers should also be strict on following the sanitation procedures to keep the items neat and free of any possible damage.
Types of inventory associate
Updated January 8, 2025
