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.

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Inventory Control Specialist Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory control specialist resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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 Job Description

Perhaps the hardest question to answer when deciding on a career as an inventory control specialist is "should I become an inventory control specialist?" You might find this info to be helpful. When compared to other jobs, inventory control specialist careers are projected to have a growth rate described as "little or no change" at 1% from 2018 through 2028. This is in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. What's more, is that the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a inventory control specialist by 2028 is 46,900.

An inventory control specialist annual salary averages $34,507, which breaks down to $16.59 an hour. However, inventory control specialists can earn anywhere from upwards of $23,000 to $51,000 a year. This means that the top-earning inventory control specialists make $20,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become an inventory control specialist. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a warehouse coordinator, shipping and receiving associate, shipping specialist, and receivables specialist.

Learn More About Inventory Control Specialist Job Descriptions

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12 Inventory Control Specialist Resume Examples

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Donald Crawford Inventory Control Specialist Contact Information Jacksonville, FL (690) 555-2853 dcrawford@example.com Skills Special Projects WIS Stock Shelves Mathematics Loss Prevention Procedures Adjacent Departments Logistics Safety Procedures Store Management Employment History Inventory Control Specialist 2019 - Present Walmart Jacksonville, FL Engage in inventory-taking, moving items from warehouse to sales floor and setting up in the proper modular. Transport merchandise to sales floor safely. Trained and practiced proper lifting and safety procedures. Inventory Control Clerk 2016 - 2019 Walmart Atlanta, GA Generated performance reviews and schedules for ICS employees. Received store, issued materials, equipment, and other items from stock room, warehouse, and storage yard. Unloaded merchandise from semi-trucks and brought out to sales floor. Experienced with the use of RF scanners and handheld computers. Loaded trucks with forklifts to drop freight Made deliveries with electric pallet jack. Lumber Associate 2013 - 2016 The Home Depot Atlanta, GA Watered plants, helped load orders and inventory, customer assistance and product knowledge. Give above and beyond, exceptional customer service. Assisted customers with questions related to paint, lumber, and building supplies. Operated a POS system to itemize and complete customer purchases. Identify possible product knowledge training needs for associates. Education Bachelor's Degree Graphic Design 2010 - 2013 Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA


Jose Bennett Inventory Control Specialist Contact Info Paramus, NJ (220) 555-0631 jbennett@example.com Skills LogisticsFilling OrdersUnload TrucksData EntryComputer ProgramsWMSDLAHeavy EquipmentDirect ReportsExternal Customers Employment History Inventory Control Specialist 2016 - Present Staples Paramus, NJ Provide excellent customer service on the sales floor and at cash register. Tracked and adjusted inventory placement, creating systematic inventory adjustments as necessary. Inform supervision of production orders use of excessive raw materials on orders, and investigate why. Displayed clothing on hangers on sales floor. Inventory Control Assistant 2015 - 2016 Bed Bath & Beyond Paramus, NJ Administered all point of sale opening and closing procedures. Worked closely with all departments, including customer service and cashiering. Received watch parts purchase orders placed from Switzerland and input into parts inventory system. Maintained files of purchase orders and various inventory reports. Shipping And Receiving Associate 2014 - 2015 Bed Bath & Beyond Paramus, NJ Unload trucks, price merchandise, and distribute received inventory to designated production areas Run daily replenishment reports for multiple departments to determine what items need to be replenished on the sales floor. Loaded and unloaded trucks and operated heavy equipment such as gas lifts, high lifts, and platforms. Education Certificate Kinesiology 2013 - 2014 Temple University Philadelphia, PA


Denise Rice Inventory Control Specialist Atlanta, GA (500) 555-3794 drice@example.com Experience Inventory Control Specialist2011 - Present Chipotle Mexican Grill•Atlanta, GA Managed a crew of 60+ during each quarterly physical Inventory. Hand truck to organize dough in the truck. Worked on assembly line to fill Mead Johnson customer orders Drove fork truck Managed KQPC area Key Holder -Customer Service -Sales -Ability to open/close -Ability to handle store money and more purchasing decisions Supervised a team of 5 direct reports, 75 indirect reports in the distribution center. Inventory Management Specialist2010 - 2011 Chipotle Mexican Grill•Atlanta, GA Operated and led catering business within Chipotle Mexican Grill: Union Internet research. Worked under strict deadlines and responded to service requests and emergency call-outs. Implemented developed and maintained inventory control policies and procedures. Served fulltime as Communication Security Specialist. Created procedures to safeguard inventory items by determining which items were prone to theft and which items needed specialized security. Apply typical ILS practices and procedures to new Logistics Management Support assignments. Printer Operator2006 - 2010 Berry Co•Evansville, IN Monitored and ensured quality print of productsPrepared good quality products for shippingPrepared paperwork for tracking completion of orders Operate printing press Make necessary adjustments needed to print effectively Inspect and pack product Clean press and surrounding area Machine Operator Maintenance, set up, Trouble shooting, Calibration set and monitored industrial printers,load machines,assured required amount of production,maintain clean and safe work place Skills Stock ShelvesPrint QualityTrouble ShootingProceduresGraphic DesignDigital PressHigh QualityPrint LabelsPrintersDirect Reports Education High School Diploma 2006 - 2006

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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.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Inventory Control Specialist Resume templates

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Most inventory control specialists list "customer service," "inventory control procedures," and "work ethic" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important inventory control specialist responsibilities here:

The most important skills for an inventory control specialist to have in this position are communication skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a inventory control specialist resume, you'll understand why: "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." According to resumes we found, communication skills can be used by a inventory control specialist in order to "handle key inventory task/monitored for inventory discrepancies computers skills/microsoft/emails prepare inventory reports communication skills/vendors loading and unloading academy"

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many inventory control specialist duties rely on customer-service skills. This example from a inventory control specialist explains why: "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom." This resume example is just one of many ways inventory control specialists are able to utilize customer-service skills: "provide excellent customer service, efficient inventory counts of clients in stock merchandise. "

Detail oriented is also an important skill for inventory control specialists to have. This example of how inventory control specialists use this skill comes from a inventory control specialist resume, "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "inventory integrity/loss prevention/personnel & product investigations truck receiving/loading/processing/detailing product shipping/daily paperwork reporting. "

In order for certain inventory control specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires the skill "math skills." According to an inventory control specialist resume, "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." As an example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies: "organized and detail-oriented inventory control specialist with ability to utilize great mathematics and auditing skills to control warehouse inventory. "

See the full list of inventory control specialist skills.

Before becoming an inventory control specialist, 31.2% earned their bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree, 2.3% inventory control specialists went for the extra education. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, some inventory control specialists have a college degree. But about one out of every three inventory control specialists didn't attend college at all.

Those inventory control specialists who do attend college, typically earn either business degrees or accounting degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for inventory control specialists include general studies degrees or criminal justice degrees.

Once you're ready to become an inventory control specialist, you should explore the companies that typically hire inventory control specialists. According to inventory control specialist resumes that we searched through, inventory control specialists are hired the most by Floor & Decor, Builders FirstSource, and Canon. Currently, Floor & Decor has 43 inventory control specialist job openings, while there are 32 at Builders FirstSource and 21 at Canon.

But if you're interested in companies where you might earn a high salary, inventory control specialists tend to earn the biggest salaries at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Regeneron, and Oracle. Take JPMorgan Chase & Co. for example. The median inventory control specialist salary is $68,882. At Regeneron, inventory control specialists earn an average of $67,995, while the average at Oracle is $51,031. You should take into consideration how difficult it might be to secure a job with one of these companies.

View more details on inventory control specialist salaries across the United States.

The industries that inventory control specialists fulfill the most roles in are the retail and manufacturing industries. But the highest inventory control specialist annual salary is in the technology industry, averaging $36,114. In the manufacturing industry they make $34,402 and average about $33,663 in the transportation industry. In conclusion, inventory control specialists who work in the technology industry earn a 8.7% higher salary than inventory control specialists in the retail industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious 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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What Warehouse Coordinators Do

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.

We looked at the average inventory control specialist annual salary and compared it with the average of a warehouse coordinator. Generally speaking, warehouse coordinators receive $412 lower pay than inventory control specialists per year.

While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both inventory control specialists and warehouse coordinators positions are skilled in customer service, safety standards, and purchase orders.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. An inventory control specialist responsibility is more likely to require skills like "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," "sales floor," and "stock merchandise." Whereas a warehouse coordinator requires skills like "shipping receiving," "math," "warehouse functions," and "warehouse operations." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Warehouse coordinators really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $36,509. Whereas 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.

What Are The Duties Of a 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.

Next up, we have the shipping and receiving associate profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to an inventory control specialist annual salary. In fact, shipping and receiving associates salary difference is $2,099 lower than the salary of inventory control specialists per year.

A similarity between the two careers of inventory control specialists and shipping and receiving associates are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "customer service," "sales floor," and "safety standards. "

But both careers also use 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," some 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 side of things, inventory control specialists receive higher paychecks in the technology industry where they earn an average of $36,114.

In general, shipping and receiving associates study at 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.

How a Shipping Specialist Compares

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.

The shipping specialist profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of inventory control specialists. The difference in salaries is shipping specialists making $1,042 lower than inventory control specialists.

Using inventory control specialists and shipping specialists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "purchase orders," "inventory management," and "rf," but the other skills required are very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, 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. Whereas inventory control specialists are paid the highest salary in the technology industry with the average being $36,114.

When it comes to education, shipping specialists tend to earn similar education levels than 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.

Description Of a 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.

Receivables specialists tend to earn a higher pay than inventory control specialists by about $198 per year.

While both inventory control specialists and receivables specialists complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, sales floor, and purchase orders, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap, 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 receivables specialists might include skills like "shipping receiving," "data entry," "logistics," and "cleanliness" on their resume.

Receivables specialists earn a higher salary in the automotive industry with an average of $37,075. Whereas, 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 to inventory control specialists. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.1% more. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Updated October 2, 2020