What does an inventory control specialist do?
Inventory control specialist ensures company inventory is accurate in all levels to increase the company's profitability. The specialist should maintain stable stocks and should manage the procurement of inventories. He/She or she is responsible for managing the flow of inventory in and out together with the shipment, package, and the storage activities then record them accurately for audits and reporting to the management. Specialists are often employed by various industries. They usually work in warehouses or in local retail locations.
Inventory control specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory control specialist resumes:
- Generate and manage ammunition records within an oracle database.
- Participate in material management meetings, offering information on processing of depot support manage items.
- Train new users on DMLSS, GSA, DOD Emall, and ECAT sites.
- Load ups and fed ex grind.
- Research and compiles information to develop the BOM.
- Produce monthly PowerPoint presentation for management meeting recapping sales highlights of the month.
- Audit all processes and procedures pertaining to the movement of products within the WMS side of the building.
- Experience with RF scanning technology in all the functions of the operation as well as with operating the powered equipment.
- Inventory management of incoming repair windows
- Maintain meticulous inventory records using the ERP system to document inventory and equipment.
- Attend inter/intra-organizational meetings & conferences, maintain close contact with all DOD logistics elements.
- Manage assign commodities by communicating MRP changes to the suppliers, minimizing obsolete inventory while achieving the optimum inventory targets.
- Schedule and order LTL and long haul trucks; perform dispatching.
- Assist in bill entering, paying and processing incoming bills into QuickBooks.
- Gather information on vehicles that have been add to lot and record specific vehicle information to add to CarMax computer database.
Inventory control specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Inventory Control Specialists are proficient in Customer Service, Inventory Control Procedures, 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 Control Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 18%
Provided analytic support for planning objectives, facilitated marketing product direction to customer service and international affiliate distribution centers.
- Inventory Control Procedures, 10%
Conducted daily inventory analysis to solve inventory related problems while developing and implementing inventory control procedures.
- Work Ethic, 6%
Demonstrated reliability, excellent problem-solving skills, and a strong work ethic.
- Sales Floor, 6%
Control total inventory levels on sales floor and backroom by utilizing modular integrity and company stocking strategies.
- Safety Standards, 5%
Ensured adherence to established safety standards conducting routine inspections of equipment and personal protective wear.
- Stock Merchandise, 5%
Maintained accurate inventory control by categorizing merchandise in bins by department, labeled overstock merchandise and scanned merchandise daily as instructed.
Most inventory control specialists use their skills in "customer service," "inventory control procedures," and "work ethic" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential inventory control specialist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an inventory control specialist 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 control specialist resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "handle key inventory task/monitored for inventory discrepancies computers skills/microsoft/emails prepare inventory reports communication skills/vendors loading and unloading academy"
Customer-service skills. Many inventory control specialist 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 control specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways inventory control specialist responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "provide excellent customer service, efficient inventory counts of clients in stock merchandise. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for inventory control specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how inventory control specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an inventory control specialist: "inventory integrity/loss prevention/personnel & product investigations truck receiving/loading/processing/detailing product shipping/daily paperwork reporting. ".
Math skills. For certain inventory control specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an inventory control specialist 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 control specialists do: "organized and detail-oriented inventory control specialist with ability to utilize great mathematics and auditing skills to control warehouse inventory. "
The three companies that hire the most inventory control specialists are:
- Floor & Decor43 inventory control specialists jobs
- Builders FirstSource32 inventory control specialists jobs
- Canon21 inventory control specialists jobs
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Compare different inventory control specialists
Inventory control specialist vs. Warehouse coordinator
A warehouse coordinator is responsible for monitoring the supply and distribution operations of a warehouse, loading and unloading merchandise from the delivery trucks, and storing items appropriately on the facility. Warehouse coordinators assist in packing and labeling items, pulling out products from delivery, and ensuring the correct quantity and quality of the items before release. They also inspect the efficiency and performance of warehouse tools and equipment, especially on schedule for regular maintenance, and call for repairs as needed.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an inventory control specialist are more likely to require skills like "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," "sales floor," and "stock merchandise." On the other hand, a job as a warehouse coordinator requires skills like "shipping receiving," "math," "warehouse functions," and "warehouse operations." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Warehouse coordinators really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $36,509. Comparatively, inventory control specialists tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $36,114.warehouse coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than inventory control specialists. In fact, warehouse coordinators are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Inventory control specialist vs. Shipping and receiving associate
Usually, shipping and receiving associates work in retail or a warehouse to manage the incoming and outgoing materials and products. Shipping and receiving associates keep records of all the materials received and shipped. They develop the mailing labels as well as the shipping documents. It is their job to make sure that orders are filled appropriately. The skills necessary for this job include basic math, communication, organization, and attention to detail.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real inventory control specialist resumes. While inventory control specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," "stock merchandise," and "wms," shipping and receiving associates use skills like "shipping receiving," "pallets," "hand tools," and "logistics."
Shipping and receiving associates may earn a lower salary than inventory control specialists, but shipping and receiving associates earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $35,683. On the other hand, inventory control specialists receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,114.In general, shipping and receiving associates achieve similar levels of education than inventory control specialists. They're 1.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory control specialist vs. Shipping specialist
A shipping specialist is a person who packages, manifests, and tracks all the items requested by the customers - external and internal. They keep strict item handling practices as per the recommended business practices and accurately update the needed tracking systems such as external data sources, spreadsheets, and modules. Besides filing and maintaining shipping document records as per the departmental guidelines, shipping specialists also make it easy to trace shipments by creating or printing identifying labels. Moreover, shipping specialists maintain excellent customer relationships and give timely updates relating to shipments to origin and destination.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an inventory control specialist is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," and "sales floor," while a typical shipping specialist is skilled in "logistics," "shipping receiving," "pallet jack," and "data entry."
Shipping specialists make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $36,575. On the other hand, inventory control specialists are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $36,114.When it comes to education, shipping specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to inventory control specialists. In fact, they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inventory control specialist vs. Receivables specialist
A receivables specialist is in charge of overseeing and processing account receivables, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They typically perform bookkeeping tasks, update records and databases, reconcile accounts, and develop strategies to optimize collection procedures. They must also maintain streamlined and organized systems, addressing any issues and resolving them promptly and efficiently while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Moreover, a receivables specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between inventory control specialists and receivables specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an inventory control specialist might have more use for skills like "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," "safety standards," and "stock merchandise." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of receivables specialists require skills like "shipping receiving," "data entry," "logistics," and "cleanliness. "
Receivables specialists enjoy the best pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $37,075. For comparison, inventory control specialists earn the highest salary in the technology industry.The average resume of receivables specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to inventory control specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of inventory control specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
