stockcontrol
Stock control, or inventory control, is the management of a business's stock and materials to balance availability with cost. It covers the planning, tracking, and auditing of items held for sale, production, or internal use, across manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and service providers.
Core concepts include setting target stock levels (minimum, maximum, and safety stock), maintaining inventory accuracy, and
Key processes are forecasting demand, procuring goods, receiving and storing stock, recording movements, picking and packing
Technology supports stock control through inventory management software, ERP systems, barcode scanning, and increasingly RFID. Methods
Common metrics include stock turnover, days of inventory on hand, stockout rate, service level, and carrying
Effective stock control requires data accuracy, integration with purchasing and sales, regular audits, and staff training.