Purchasing and inventory control workers

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Purchasing control workers

• Review requisition orders for accuracy and verify that materials, equipment and stock are not available from current inventories

• Source and obtain price quotations from catalogues and suppliers and prepare purchase orders

• Calculate cost of orders and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts

• Process purchases within purchasing authority

• Contact suppliers to schedule deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed deliveries and other problems

• Prepare and maintain purchasing files, reports and price lists.

• Inventory control workers

• Monitor inventory levels as materials, equipment and stock are issued, transferred within an establishment or sold to the public using manual or computerized inventory systems

• Compile inventory reports, recording the quantity, type and value of materials, equipment and stock on hand, using manual or computerized inventory systems

• Prepare requisition orders to replenish materials, equipment and stock

• Maintain stock rotation and dispose of and account for outdated stock

• Enter data for production scheduling, stock replenishment/relocation and inventory adjustments

• Reconcile physical inventories with computer counts.

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.

• Courses in purchasing management may be required for purchasing control workers.

• Courses in production and inventory management and ability to operate a computerized inventory system may be required for inventory control workers.

• The duties of purchasing and inventory control workers may overlap in some establishments.

• Progression to supervisory positions or more senior occupations such as purchasing agent or retail buyer is possible with additional training or experience.