{"id":16978,"date":"2025-03-25T09:06:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T15:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/?p=16978"},"modified":"2025-05-30T12:58:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T18:58:29","slug":"inventory-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/limblecmms.com\/blog\/inventory-control\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Inventory Control?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inventory control<\/span><\/a> refers to the processes and procedures involved in overseeing your organization\u2019s inventory. <\/span>Inventory control<\/span> is just one element of your broader <\/span>inventory management system<\/span>. Sometimes also referred to as <\/span>stock control<\/span>, <\/span>inventory control<\/span> specifically concerns aspects of inventory management like monitoring <\/span>stock levels<\/span>, tracking inventory movements, and optimizing <\/span>inventory turnover<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, your organization\u2019s <\/span>inventory control<\/span> program is meant to ensure that the right items are available and accessible in the necessary quantities when your <\/span>maintenance team<\/span> needs them. <\/span>Inventory control<\/span> best practices can play a crucial role in <\/span>minimizing maintenance costs,<\/span><\/a> preventing stockouts, and improving overall operational efficiency<\/a> across a wide variety of industries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why <\/span>inventory control<\/span> is critical for your maintenance team<\/span><\/h3>\n

For instance, <\/span>inventory control<\/span> in the <\/span>manufacturing sector<\/span><\/a> may involve keeping oversight of <\/span>stock levels<\/span> for <\/span>raw materials<\/span>, monitoring movement of spare parts between facilities, and reassessing <\/span>inventory levels<\/span> after the delivery of <\/span>finished goods<\/span>. In <\/span>retail<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>inventory control<\/span> may be focused on tracking <\/span>stock levels<\/span> across multiple locations, calculating the impact of sales trends on those levels, and establishing <\/span>reorder points<\/span> based on <\/span>customer demand<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In any industry, the ability of your business to effectively control your inventory will have a direct impact on your maintenance team\u2019s ability to manage your physical assets, prevent prolonged <\/span>downtime<\/span><\/a>, and maximize your organization\u2019s productivity. Businesses that struggle with <\/span>inventory control<\/span> risk facing costly operational issues. In fact, according to an article from <\/span>Reliant Funding,<\/span><\/a> inventory failures such as shrinkage, stockouts and <\/span>overstock<\/span> are costing businesses an estimated $1.1 trillion globally every year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The value of an <\/span>effective inventory control<\/span> program cannot be overstated. Below, we\u2019ll discuss some of the key components of <\/span>inventory control<\/span>, including the challenges involved in <\/span>effective inventory control<\/span>, some popular inventory <\/span>optimization<\/span> techniques, and the role emerging <\/span>inventory control software<\/span> now plays in <\/span>streamlining<\/span> inventory management processes<\/a> for many businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

But first, let\u2019s define some key terms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inventory control<\/span> vs. inventory management<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inventory control<\/span> and <\/span>inventory management techniques<\/span> are closely related, but there are some important distinctions. The most important distinction is the scope of these related concepts. <\/span>Inventory control<\/span> is a dimension of inventory management. Whereas inventory management refers comprehensively to the systems, strategies, and processes surrounding your organization\u2019s inventory, <\/span>inventory control<\/span> refers more specifically to the aspects of inventory management related to monitoring in-house <\/span>stock levels<\/span>, tracking stock movement in your <\/span>facilities<\/span><\/a>, and identifying <\/span>reorder points<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below, we take a deeper look at some of the key distinctions between the concepts of <\/span>inventory control<\/span> and inventory management.<\/span><\/p>\n