Inventory Controller

Job description / Role

As the name suggests, an inventory controller is the person who handles tasks that are related to inventory in a warehouse setting for an organization. His role includes maintaining inventory levels, making monthly inventory reports, recording and labeling inventory items to be used in the future and maintaining accurate records. This professional constantly communicates with departmental managers to make sure items are replenished and maintain proper levels. He may also need to perform some physical tasks, such as moving and lifting materials, occasionally. Generally put, he oversees the flow of inventory in and out of the warehouse, which covers a variety of tasks, such as ordering, delivery, loading, shipment, maintenance and storage.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under general supervision from a supervisor or manager, an inventory controller performs an array of tasks that are essential to the company’s operations and success. Here are the essential roles of this professional:

• Develops the inventory management strategy of the company with the goal to control costs within budget, generate savings, rationalize inventory and maximize the working capital available.
• Maintains and manages inventory of materials and stocked products, which include stock locations and profiles. Using a mainframe computer, he accounts for receipts of new items, returns, back-orders and associated issues, and inputs essential data on all the handled materials, while adhering to strict accounting and auditing procedures.
• Controls perpetual inventory stock counting and accuracy checks, processes and approves payment invoices, and investigates discrepancies and shortages to minimize overstocks and remove redundant and obsolete raw materials.
• Ensures that the inward goods and stock control department is properly controlled and organized for sufficient production support and for the achievement of corporate goals.
• Based on suggested and computer-monitored order listings, he performs regular cycle counts of inventory materials and assists in conducting yearly physical inventory counts.
• Ensures inward products are received and managed according to the company’s standard procedure, so materials will be readily available for production or whenever needed.
• Organizes and maintains the inventory floor area to ensure efficient material storage and handling. He also maintains labeling systems on the stock items.
• Makes sure that any late materials or those that hold up production for a certain reason are followed up until they are received. Also, he sees to it that sub-contract processes are received back and ensures no late deliveries in the future with suppliers.
• Provides routine management data regarding inventory performance, which involves evaluating and monitoring usage and cost of materials, consumables and scrap.
• Creates and maintains accurate written procedures for the primary inventory control functions and processes, ensuring accuracy and integrity of the stock management system implemented.
• Implements improvement systems and processes to reduce inventory setbacks, while minimizing costs and maximizing working capital. He also ensures that work orders are fully and properly completed and that all stocks have been correctly allocated to corresponding jobs.
• Creates daily reports to control the key critical areas of the stock system and address any discrepancy. This task involves managing control measures to make sure inaccuracies and errors are highlighted and resolved.
• Coordinates periodic safety inspections and testing of any specialized piece of utility equipment.
• Performs miscellaneous duties, which are work-related, as assigned

Requirements

As an inventory controller, you must possess a high school diploma or something equivalent, but most of the time, a post-secondary degree is required. Due to the nature of the job, numerical skills are highly preferred by employers.

Should also ideally have relevant professional qualifications or suitable background experience in controlling inventory and purchasing, which means that it would be more helpful to have a detailed understanding of material requirements planning (MRP) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are also sought out by employers as the work might be in a demanding and customer-focused working environment. This also means that business administration and personal organization skills in accordance with the modern best practice methods are also favored.

To be more effective in his position, an inventory controller should also be able to establish and maintain good working relationships with other members of the company and vendors.

About the Company

WATERMASTER is a 40-year-old, market-leading company that specializes in water-related projects encompassing Wellness & Pools, Water Features, and Water/ Waste Water Treatment. With over 6,000 completed projects around the world and three branches in Lebanon, Qatar and UAE, we have the in-house capabilities and resources to undertake and deliver turnkey projects from A to Z in the role of a complex solution provider.