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What does an inventory manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
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.

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Inventory manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory manager resumes:

  • 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.
  • Work with FDA, compliances and Sox reports.
  • Complete all RFQ's timely.
  • Utilize RF equipment to receive and complete product movement.
  • Coordinate with outside auditors to maintain compliance with SOX requirements.
  • Scan and file all orders and review and prepare RFQ's.
  • Serve as senior internal auditor for the success in maintaining ISO certification.
  • Represent WIS by acting as a liaison with recruiting vendors and applicants.
  • Create and maintain final inventory reports for store managers and WIS office.
  • Work on the implementation of WMS and ASN transmission systems for the company.

Inventory manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 75% of Inventory Managers are proficient in PET, Direct Reports, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Negotiating skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Inventory Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PET, 75%

    Supervised multiple departments including: Pet care, stock, customer support, grooming, and inventory.

  • Direct Reports, 4%

    Developed several direct reports and collaborated with other team members to identify legacy systemic errors, resulting in sub-optimal in-stock scenarios.

  • Customer Service, 4%

    Advised sales and customer service teams of potential purchasing requirements and identified availability of comparable products to minimize revenue loss.

  • Inventory Control, 2%

    Tracked operational status of all assigned facilities, maintaining positive inventory control, ensuring sufficient inventory levels to accommodate anticipated demands.

  • Logistics, 2%

    Managed verification of 18 critical weapons and engineering system upgrades as Integrated Logistics Operations Coordinator resulting in 100% equipment validity.

  • Manage Inventory, 2%

    Manage inventory and order guitar accessories; provide knowledgeable and experienced information to prospective buyers of Taylor guitars.

Most inventory managers use their skills in "pet," "direct reports," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential inventory manager responsibilities here:

Negotiating skills. One of the key soft skills for an inventory manager to have is negotiating skills. You can see how this relates to what inventory managers do because "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents often must negotiate the terms of a contract with a supplier." Additionally, an inventory manager resume shows how inventory managers use negotiating skills: "demonstrated exceptional customer service abilities while communicating extensive product knowledge through negotiating with consumers. "

Math skills. inventory manager responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must possess math skills." This resume example shows what inventory managers do with math skills on a typical day: "provide quantitative reporting tools using various information systems to monitor and measure the effectiveness of inventory management levels. "

Analytical skills. Another common skill required for inventory manager responsibilities is "analytical skills." This skill comes up in the duties of inventory managers all the time, as "when evaluating suppliers, purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents must analyze their options and choose a supplier with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service." An excerpt from a real inventory manager resume shows how this skill is central to what an inventory manager does: "assisted gary complex with erp readiness scorecard to prepare for oracle go-live by monitoring inventory and creating reports for data cleanup. "

All inventory manager skills

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Compare different inventory managers

Inventory manager vs. Distribution supervisor

A distribution supervisor is in charge of overseeing all distribution processes in a warehouse or similar setting, ensuring accuracy and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating deliveries and shipment, managing schedules, delegating tasks, assessing the performance of the workforce, and maintaining records of all transactions. Should there be any issues or concerns, it is essential to resolve them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a supervisor, it is vital to lead and encourage the employees to reach goals and deadlines, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average inventory manager annual salary with that of a distribution supervisor, we find that distribution supervisors typically earn a $310 lower salary than inventory managers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between inventory managers and distribution supervisors are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like direct reports, customer service, and inventory control.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between inventory managers and distribution supervisor. For instance, inventory manager responsibilities require skills such as "pet," "manage inventory," "purchase orders," and "highlighted." Whereas a distribution supervisor is skilled in "continuous improvement," "osha," "shipping receiving," and "corrective action." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Distribution supervisors tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $68,278. In contrast, inventory managers make the biggest average salary, $66,537, in the retail industry.The education levels that distribution supervisors earn slightly differ from inventory managers. In particular, distribution supervisors are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an inventory manager. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory manager vs. Supply chain management internship

Supply chain management (SCM) interns are responsible for performing various tasks related to SCM. The typical duties they perform include conducting quality audits, assisting with developing process controls, creating training documents, and providing assistance in the development and implementation of a material requirement planning system. As an SCM intern, you are expected to work closely with the supply chain manager to ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operations of the supply chain. You are also expected to assist in analyzing data related to business operations.

Supply chain management internship positions earn lower pay than inventory manager roles. They earn a $24,679 lower salary than inventory managers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Inventory managers and supply chain management interns both require similar skills like "customer service," "inventory control," and "logistics" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that inventory manager responsibilities requires skills like "pet," "direct reports," "manage inventory," and "highlighted." But a supply chain management internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "supply chain," "chain intern," "chain management," and "continuous improvement."

Supply chain management interns earn a lower average salary than inventory managers. But supply chain management interns earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $51,982. Additionally, inventory managers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $66,537 annually.In general, supply chain management interns achieve higher levels of education than inventory managers. They're 9.1% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory manager vs. Warehouse operations manager

Warehouse Operations Managers oversee the whole operations of a company's warehouse. They are in charge of setting up processes to ensure the efficiency of warehouse operations. They oversee the processes involved in product handling, storage solutions, the shipment of goods, schedule of operations, and delivery of items. Warehouse Operations Managers also handle the layout of the warehouse so that space is properly used. They create forecasts on product volume to ensure that the warehouse is capable of housing the high volume of goods. They continuously review and evaluate warehouse policies, procedures, and systems to ensure that everything is updated and working efficiently.

On average, warehouse operations managers earn lower salaries than inventory managers, with a $27,897 difference per year.By looking over several inventory managers and warehouse operations managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "pet," "direct reports," and "customer service." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

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 manager is likely to be skilled in "manage inventory," "purchase orders," "highlighted," and "inventory procedures," while a typical warehouse operations manager is skilled in "pallets," "basic math," "excellent interpersonal," and "groceries."

Warehouse operations managers earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $38,012. Comparatively, inventory managers have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $66,537.warehouse operations managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to inventory managers. Specifically, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory manager vs. Distribution manager

A distribution manager is responsible for managing the distribution of goods and services, ensuring the adequacy of merchandise in the storage, and monitoring the products' timely delivery to appropriate locations. Distribution managers process shipments and utilize software systems to track stock levels and order status, negotiate contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors, identify business opportunities to boost maximum productivity and performance, and develop supply strategies to minimize costs without compromising quality. A distribution manager must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage business performance by coordinating with different teams on achieving business goals and objectives.

Distribution managers typically earn higher pay than inventory managers. On average, distribution managers earn a $26,496 higher salary per year.According to resumes from inventory managers and distribution managers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "direct reports," "customer service," and "inventory control. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "pet," "manage inventory," "purchase orders," and "highlighted" are skills that commonly show up on inventory manager resumes. On the other hand, distribution managers use skills like continuous improvement, osha, operational procedures, and distribution operations on their resumes.distribution managers enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $85,060. For comparison, inventory managers earn the highest salary in the retail industry.distribution managers reach similar levels of education compared to inventory managers, in general. The difference is that they're 2.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of inventory manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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