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Inventory manager vs supply manager

The differences between inventory managers and supply managers 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 manager and a supply manager. Additionally, a supply manager has an average salary of $96,971, which is higher than the $62,768 average annual salary of an inventory manager.

The top three skills for an inventory manager include PET, direct reports and customer service. The most important skills for a supply manager are supply chain, patients, and supplier performance.

Inventory manager vs supply manager overview

Inventory ManagerSupply Manager
Yearly salary$62,768$96,971
Hourly rate$30.18$46.62
Growth rate-6%-6%
Number of jobs30,71730,833
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does an inventory manager do?

An inventory manager is responsible for supervising the overall inventory operations, monitoring supplies and materials, and checking the accuracy of data reports from the inventory associates. Inventory managers' duties include validating stock levels using record software tools, determining the availability of stocks for purchase orders, inspecting the incoming and outgoing shipments, and addressing product concerns by communicating with suppliers and third-party vendors. An inventory manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the staff's performance and manage customers' inquiries and complaints.

What does a supply manager do?

A supply manager or supply chain manager is an individual who supervises the import or creation of raw materials that are to be used by the company to form new products. Supply managers are required to coordinate all aspects of the supply chain to ensure that they are efficient and cost-effective. They must maintain low costs and high efficiency by building and maintaining relationships with the company's partners. Supply managers should also recruit staff members and provide training to help them learn and master their jobs.

Inventory manager vs supply manager salary

Inventory managers and supply managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Inventory ManagerSupply Manager
Average salary$62,768$96,971
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $91,000Between $68,000 And $137,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAFremont, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew York
Best paying companyNVIDIAPVH
Best paying industryRetailTechnology

Differences between inventory manager and supply manager education

There are a few differences between an inventory manager and a supply manager in terms of educational background:

Inventory ManagerSupply Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Inventory manager vs supply manager demographics

Here are the differences between inventory managers' and supply managers' demographics:

Inventory ManagerSupply Manager
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 69.4% Female, 30.6%Male, 70.0% Female, 30.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 8.5% White, 65.3% 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 Percentage10%10%

Differences between inventory manager and supply manager duties and responsibilities

Inventory manager example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish and operate MRP and produce purchasing orders to optimize inventories of materials and supplies necessary to achieve production demands.
  • Manage a wide variety of customer service and administrative software such as TallyWizard and QuickBooks.
  • Manage control measures to ensure mistakes, inaccuracies and discrepancies are highlight, addressed and resolve.
  • Manage credit control, monthly reconciliations, management analysis and internal control.
  • Reduce new parts inventory and increase cash flow level each year with JIT deliveries.
  • Create and implement numerous processes, reports, and indicators for MRO inventory management.
  • Show more

Supply manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage global supply partners for PCB assembly from product introduction through mass production.
  • Manage supplier relationship, conduct quarterly supplier reviews to ensure suppliers are meeting predetermine KPI's.
  • Lead, organize and complete all assignment and/or replication of OEM software contracts for Lucent/AVAYA spin-off.
  • Manage supplier MRP by identifying and tracking critical component changes, board spins, and lead-time analysis.
  • Develop detail CapEx requirements, secure CapEx funding, and manage the supply and qualification of production equipment.
  • Manage hedging of key commodities to reduce volatility in their prices and generate cost savings for manufacturing centers
  • Show more

Inventory manager vs supply manager skills

Common inventory manager skills
  • PET, 75%
  • Direct Reports, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Inventory Control, 2%
  • Logistics, 2%
  • Manage Inventory, 2%
Common supply manager skills
  • Supply Chain, 25%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Supplier Performance, 6%
  • Supplier Relationships, 5%
  • Cost Savings, 5%
  • Chain Management, 5%

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