What does an inventory specialist do?
An Inventory Specialist's responsibility is to oversee the inventory in a warehouse or establishment. Most of the tasks of an Inventory Specialist revolve around monitoring the requisition, storage, and deliveries of supplies and merchandise to ensure the quality and quantity of the products. Moreover, the Inventory Specialist also has the responsibility to coordinate with store management when issues arise, train newly hired staff to be a valuable part of the workforce, and provide inventory reports and records to the administration.
Inventory specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory specialist resumes:
- Manage assign commodities by communicating MRP changes to the suppliers, minimizing obsolete inventory while achieving the optimum inventory targets.
- Manage JDE ERP module for service department of finish goods for sale and field support.
- Achieve establish average per hour (APH) counting goals while ensuring accuracy and integrity of the data collect.
- Used WIS scanners to scan stock and download scanner information to computer.
- Strategize to balance demand and delivery schedules due to expiration date of perishables.
- Pick and pack any shipments for the customer and ship them through WMS application.
- Price merchandise, stock shelves and take inventory of supplies utilizing a WIS gun.
- Establish average per hour (APH) counting goals while ensuring accuracy in all inventory work.
- Fast pace work environment with constant movement including bending, stooping, climbing ladders, etc.
- Used forklift when need to move large pallets, and delegate job duties to the warehouse team.
- Provide daily stock replenishment base on FIFO for packing team and re-arrange bin location for warehouse utilization.
- Train and certify ICS associate would be require to operate power equipment depending on associate or management needs.
- Require to have a good memory, excellent math skills, and the ability to work quickly and accurately.
- Use MRP to procure critical commodities and insure components are deliver on time so that production schedules are meet.
- Create PowerPoint presentations that include overall standing of the department for that month, as well as safety topics.
Inventory specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Inventory Specialists are proficient in Customer Service, Sales Floor, and Reservations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Inventory Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 26%
Demonstrated understanding of and compliance with all company inventory, shipping and receiving, and customer service-related standard operating procedures.
- Sales Floor, 9%
Unloaded merchandise from trucks, matched inventory to BOL's, organized back room & stocked the sales floor when needed.
- Reservations, 7%
Developed and presented monthly company-wide training sessions regarding the role inventory plays in reservations and passenger satisfaction.
- Pallet Jack, 6%
Operated necessary equipment (pallet jacks, portable electric rising/declining elevator, flatbeds) according to safety procedures and regulations.
- Safety Standards, 5%
Maintained high levels of outgoing order completion * Organized warehouse to maintain safety standards * Monitored excess in inventory flow
- Strong Analytical, 5%
Acknowledged for strong analytical and problem solving skills on all performance reviews
Common skills that an inventory specialist uses to do their job include "customer service," "sales floor," and "reservations." You can find details on the most important inventory specialist responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for an inventory specialist to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what inventory specialists do because "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom." Additionally, an inventory specialist resume shows how inventory specialists use customer-service skills: "worked in loss prevention utilizing closed circuit monitors observing customer behaviors maintaining safety and preventing theft. "
Communication skills. Many inventory specialist duties rely on communication skills. "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.," so an inventory specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways inventory specialist responsibilities rely on communication skills: "inventory control procedures highest level of integrity strong communication skills team player professional customer interactions"
Detail oriented. inventory specialists are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to inventory specialist responsibilities, because "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." An inventory specialist resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "completed detailed inventory in retail and grocery stores, using a hand held electronic device. "
Math skills. A big part of what inventory specialists do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to inventory specialist responsibilities because "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical inventory specialist tasks: "drive to stores and count inventory for the store floor and stock room.skills usedmath"
The three companies that hire the most inventory specialists are:
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Compare different inventory specialists
Inventory specialist vs. Warehouse coordinator
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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an inventory specialist are more likely to require skills like "sales floor," "reservations," "strong analytical," and "develop team." On the other hand, a job as a warehouse coordinator requires skills like "shipping receiving," "warehouse functions," "warehouse operations," and "wms." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Warehouse coordinators tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,509. In contrast, inventory specialists make the biggest average salary, $36,144, in the technology industry.On average, warehouse coordinators reach similar levels of education than inventory specialists. Warehouse coordinators are 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inventory specialist vs. Inventory control clerk
An inventory control clerk is responsible for managing the stock inventory, recording incoming and outgoing deliveries, and inspecting proper labeling before moving the products to the storage areas. Inventory control clerks resolve inventory discrepancies, checking and reviewing product details and reports from the warehouse software database. They also monitor shipment details, confirm orders, and process payments. An inventory control clerk must have excellent knowledge of data processing since this job requires them to perform various administrative and clerical tasks as needed to ensure the smooth operations within the department.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that inventory specialist responsibilities requires skills like "reservations," "pallet jack," "safety standards," and "strong analytical." But an inventory control clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "data entry," "management system," "forklift training," and "shipping receiving."
Inventory control clerks earn a lower average salary than inventory specialists. But inventory control clerks earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $36,946. Additionally, inventory specialists earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $36,144 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Inventory control clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than inventory specialists. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory specialist vs. Inventory control coordinator
An inventory control coordinator is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of office inventory to ensure that the company has enough supplies to support the employees' needs for business operations. Inventory control coordinators manage supply chain systems, conduct inventory checks regularly, write inventory reports, create purchase requests, and file inventory documents on the database. They must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in analyzing the chain processes, and strictly adhere to the company's internal guidelines and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, inventory specialists are more likely to have skills like "sales floor," "reservations," "pallet jack," and "safety standards." But a inventory control coordinator is more likely to have skills like "logistics," "data entry," "inventory control procedures," and "shipping receiving."
Inventory control coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the transportation industry, where they receive an average salary of $38,327. Comparatively, inventory specialists have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $36,144.inventory control coordinators typically earn similar educational levels compared to inventory specialists. Specifically, they're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Inventory specialist vs. Inventory controller
An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations. They maintain inventory reports, manage stock supplies, negotiate with third-party vendors for orders of quality products, monitor deliveries, verifying orders for shipment, handling the employee and customers' requests for supplies, and receiving orders efficiently. Inventory controllers keep receipts of all inventory transactions, as well as inspecting the quality of the inventory items, requiring them to have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Types of inventory specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
