What does an inventory coordinator do?

An inventory coordinator specializes in overseeing the supply flow of materials in a warehouse or similar setting. It is their responsibility to manage and handle the inventory, ensuring that the quantity and quality of materials align with company standards. Moreover, they are also responsible for assessing staff's performance, coordinating with different employees to ensure the accuracy of services, gathering and organizing data, maintaining records of transactions, and responding to any inquiries or concerns. As an inventory coordinator, it is essential to devise strategies for optimal performance, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Inventory coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory coordinator resumes:
- Manage several inventory locations within ERP system.
- Manage delivery of raw material to production through communication with material handlers using FIFO.
- Select components for manufacturing assembly/test orders and perform inventory transactions via ERP system.
- Assist customers with their pet care needs, offering advice and recommendations.
- Review existing WMS system, provide input for improvements, and provide end user training.
- Use RF scan gun for daily functions and train for all daily functions of warehouse production.
- Coordinate inbound shipments of products as well as unloading and put-away of product using RF scanner and forklift equipment.
- Organize and conduct annual inventory of warehouse stock, report issues in inventory balances and cycle counts in WMS system.
- Enter inventory items into QuickBooks and POS systematically.
- Provide logistic support sequences and time phasing, anticipate logistics problems relate to operational area and environmental and human factors.
- Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.
- Review bill of materials (BOM) to assure accuracy and completion to plan orders.
- Perform QC analytics testing of samples in a cGMP compliant manner to service manufacturing and production.
- Create a daily cycle count report in order to know which part numbers should be count according to the ABC system.
- Coordinate with buyer to resolve PO discrepancies, and connect with vendor to resolve RTV product issues.
Inventory coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Inventory Coordinators are proficient in Customer Service, Cleanliness, and Sales Floor. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Inventory Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 25%
Obtained inventories for customer materials as needed including determination of inactive materials and responding to Material Return Authorizations from Customer Service.
- Cleanliness, 10%
Maintain construction site cleanliness and appearance, Good verbal communication skills, basic computer skills.
- Sales Floor, 9%
Ensured retail sales floor product display initiatives where implemented and completed according to company standards.
- Physical Inventory, 6%
Performed accurate physical inventory counts and made necessary adjustments by verification, investigation, and research of records.
- Inventory Control, 5%
Inventory control procedures- Daily department ordering- Detail-oriented
- Purchase Orders, 5%
Counted and stocked inventory, verified purchase orders, entered customer inventory into computer, signed and received inventory.
Most inventory coordinators use their skills in "customer service," "cleanliness," and "sales floor" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential inventory coordinator responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for an inventory coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." Additionally, an inventory coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "managed the inventory levels using tally erp 9, tracked customer orders throughout the process and updated the database accordingly. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling inventory coordinator duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." According to an inventory coordinator resume, here's how inventory coordinators can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "helped managed steel coil inventory by manual scans and reconciliation skills used data entry attention to detail"
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of inventory coordinators is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday inventory coordinator duties, as "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "excel, data entry, micro soft word, oracle, imds, problem solving and good communication and organization skills. "
Math skills. For certain inventory coordinator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an inventory coordinator rely on this skill, as "material recording clerks may need 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 coordinators do: "design reports for management including insurance values, usage statistics, and logistics. "
The three companies that hire the most inventory coordinators are:
- Jo-Ann Stores116 inventory coordinators jobs
- Great Wolf Resorts51 inventory coordinators jobs
- Enterprise Holdings21 inventory coordinators jobs
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Inventory coordinator vs. Expeditor
The role of expeditors is to ensure the timely and efficient preparation and delivery of food. To accomplish this task, they also perform other duties, including managing inventory levels, managing supply requisition, and coordinating with subcontractors. They are also responsible for streamlining interdepartmental communication, monitoring job progress, and collaborating with project managers to collect relevant information about job status. This role requires specific skills and qualifications, including a high school diploma or an associate degree in food service, business management, and hospitality management, relevant work experience, and certifications in CCP, CPSM, or CPPB.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between inventory coordinators and expeditor. For instance, inventory coordinator responsibilities require skills such as "sales floor," "physical inventory," "shipping receiving," and "patients." Whereas a expeditor is skilled in "house training," "team work," "good communication," and "food orders." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Expeditors really shine in the construction industry with an average salary of $46,040. Comparatively, inventory coordinators tend to make the most money in the energy industry with an average salary of $40,639.The education levels that expeditors earn slightly differ from inventory coordinators. In particular, expeditors are 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an inventory coordinator. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory coordinator vs. Inventory management specialist
An inventory management specialist is responsible for maintaining the adequacy of stock supplies to support customers' needs. Inventory management specialists help develop inventory processes and strategies to keep the supplies organized and free of any defects while on storage. They also monitor inventory costs and process orders through various software tools, requiring them to have a working knowledge of computer systems and the ability to operate warehouse equipment and machinery on moving merchandise around the warehouse.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that inventory coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "cleanliness," "shipping receiving," "patients," and "logistics." But an inventory management specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "stock merchandise," "safety standards," "cycle counts," and "electric pallet jack."
On average, inventory management specialists earn a higher salary than inventory coordinators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, inventory management specialists earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $65,378. Whereas inventory coordinators have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $40,639.inventory management specialists earn similar levels of education than inventory coordinators in general. They're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory coordinator vs. Distribution coordinator
A distribution coordinator oversees and coordinates the distribution operations of a warehouse, ensuring products get to their destinations in a timely and accurate manner. They typically set guidelines and objectives, perform assessments and inspections, liaise with internal and external parties, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They also monitor and track shipments, resolve scheduling conflicts, and update vendors regularly. Moreover, as a distribution coordinator, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals, all while implementing the company's standards and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, inventory coordinators are more likely to have skills like "cleanliness," "sales floor," "physical inventory," and "patients." But a distribution coordinator is more likely to have skills like "management system," "on-time delivery," "warehouse functions," and "coordinators."
Distribution coordinators make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $44,474. On the other hand, inventory coordinators are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $40,639.Most distribution coordinators achieve a similar degree level compared to inventory coordinators. For example, they're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory coordinator vs. Receiving coordinator
Receiving coordinators keep records and verify the contents of shipping data. It requires arranging transportation of products as well as preparing incoming and outgoing products for shipping. A receiving coordinator will need to be conventional, logical, efficient, orderly, and organized for this role. They also need to follow all company guidelines and meet quality standards.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between inventory coordinators and receiving coordinators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an inventory coordinator might have more use for skills like "cleanliness," "shipping receiving," "patients," and "math." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of receiving coordinators require skills like "hand tools," "cycle counts," "inbound shipments," and "inbound freight. "
Receiving coordinators reach similar levels of education compared to inventory coordinators, in general. The difference is that they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of inventory coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025











