Inventory management specialist vs supply chain consultant

The differences between inventory management specialists and supply chain consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an inventory management specialist and a supply chain consultant. Additionally, a supply chain consultant has an average salary of $88,400, which is higher than the $56,032 average annual salary of an inventory management specialist.

The top three skills for an inventory management specialist include customer service, inventory management system and purchase orders. The most important skills for a supply chain consultant are supply chain, logistics, and supply chain planning.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain consultant overview

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Consultant
Yearly salary	$56,032	$88,400
Hourly rate	$26.94	$42.50
Growth rate	1%	28%
Number of jobs	108,982	42,265
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does an inventory management specialist do?

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.

What does a supply chain consultant do?

A supply chain consultant specializes in performing research and analysis to develop strategies for optimal services. Typically working in the manufacturing industry, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the inventory and supply flow of materials, liaising with vendors and suppliers, coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, identifying strengths and weaknesses in the operations, and suggesting actions on areas needing improvement. Furthermore, as a supply chain consultant, it is essential to create and recommend business plans, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain consultant salary

Inventory management specialists and supply chain consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Consultant
Average salary	$56,032	$88,400
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $81,000	Between $69,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City	Tracy, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Maryland	Washington
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Cordis
Best paying industry	Government	Technology

Differences between inventory management specialist and supply chain consultant education

There are a few differences between an inventory management specialist and a supply chain consultant in terms of educational background:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Consultant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain consultant demographics

Here are the differences between inventory management specialists' and supply chain consultants' demographics:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Consultant
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%	Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between inventory management specialist and supply chain consultant duties and responsibilities

Inventory management specialist example responsibilities.

Plan, purchase and manage various commodities through the use of various MRP systems.
Experience decision-maker in high-pressure environments; efficiently manage vital decision points autonomously to ensure mission accomplishment in multiple combat deployments.
Scan product bins with RF scanner for refills.
Update the department's inventory with the RF scanner.
Update on hand counts to ensure accurate ordering through the POS system.
Create purchase requisitions base on MRP recommendations, as well as external factors.

Supply chain consultant example responsibilities.

Manage any procurement activities including RFP s
Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
Consult clients on efficient use of their ERP and SCM methods to effectively plan all the resources in the business enterprise.
Assist transition from existing legacy ERP applications to PeopleSoft by investigating and troubleshooting errors.
Create implementation strategy to improve supply chain logistics and supplier relationships for largest pieces of equipment.
Drive lead time reduction KPIs, data generation and review.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain consultant skills

Common inventory management specialist skills

Customer Service, 23%
Inventory Management System, 15%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Sales Floor, 5%
Stock Merchandise, 5%
Safety Standards, 5%

Common supply chain consultant skills

Supply Chain, 22%
Logistics, 7%
Supply Chain Planning, 7%
Project Management, 6%
Order Management, 6%
Prototyping, 5%

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Inventory Management Specialist
Inventory Management Specialist vs Supply Chain Consultant

Updated January 8, 2025

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