Position Summary
The Inventory Controller is responsible for overseeing and maintaining accurate inventory levels, inventory records, material flow, and stock organization to support efficient production operations. This position develops and implements inventory control strategies designed to control costs, minimize waste, reduce excess and obsolete inventory, improve inventory accuracy, and maximize working capital.
The Inventory Controller works closely with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, and Management to ensure materials are received, stored, tracked, allocated, and made available to production in a timely and accurate manner.
The position is also responsible for maintaining inventory control systems, conducting cycle counts and physical inventories, investigating discrepancies, monitoring material usage and costs, and ensuring that inventory-related procedures are consistently followed.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
1. Inventory Management & Strategy
- Develop and maintain the company's inventory management strategy with the objective of controlling costs within budget, generating savings, and rationalizing inventory levels.
- Monitor inventory levels to ensure sufficient materials are available to support production requirements without creating unnecessary overstock.
- Identify opportunities to reduce excess, redundant, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory.
- Implement inventory improvement systems and processes to reduce inventory-related setbacks, minimize costs, and maximize working capital.
- Monitor inventory usage, consumption, and material requirements to support operational planning.
2. Inventory Records & Control
- Maintain accurate inventory records for raw materials, packaging materials, consumables, and stocked products.
- Maintain accurate stock locations, inventory profiles, labeling systems, and inventory records within the company's inventory management system.
- Record and account for receipts of new items, returns, back-orders, transfers, allocations, and other inventory transactions.
- Ensure all inventory transactions are entered accurately and in a timely manner while following established accounting, inventory control, and auditing procedures.
- Ensure all stocks are correctly allocated to the appropriate work orders or jobs.
- Ensure work orders are fully and accurately completed from an inventory allocation and material usage perspective.
3. Inventory Accuracy & Cycle Counting
- Maintain perpetual inventory control and ensure inventory records remain accurate.
- Establish and maintain regular cycle-counting practices based on system-generated and computer-monitored inventory listings.
- Conduct and/or assist with monthly physical inventory counts.
- Investigate inventory discrepancies, shortages, overages, and unexplained variances.
- Identify the root causes of inventory inaccuracies and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain appropriate documentation for inventory adjustments and discrepancies.
- Ensure inventory control measures are consistently followed to minimize errors and inaccuracies.
4. Receiving & Material Availability
- Ensure incoming materials and products are properly received, verified, recorded, and organized according to company procedures.
- Ensure materials are available and accessible to Production when required.
- Monitor incoming materials to ensure they are properly stored and accurately reflected in inventory records.
- Follow up on late, delayed, or missing materials that may impact production.
- Communicate material shortages, delays, or other inventory concerns to the appropriate departments and management.
- Maintain accurate records of back-orders and outstanding materials until they are received and properly processed.
5. Warehouse & Inventory Organization
- Organize and maintain the inventory floor and storage areas to promote efficient material storage, identification, movement, and handling.
- Ensure inventory is stored in designated locations and maintained in an orderly manner.
- Establish and maintain effective labeling and identification systems for stock items.
- Ensure materials are stored in accordance with applicable company procedures, food safety requirements, and GMP standards.
- Identify and address storage issues that may create safety, efficiency, quality, or inventory-control concerns.
6. Inventory Reporting & Analysis
- Prepare daily inventory control reports highlighting key areas requiring attention.
- Review inventory reports to identify discrepancies, shortages, unusual usage, errors, and other inventory concerns.
- Provide routine management reports regarding inventory performance.
- Monitor and evaluate material usage, material costs, consumables, waste, and scrap.
- Provide management with relevant inventory data to support operational and purchasing decisions.
- Track and report inventory accuracy and other key inventory performance indicators.
- Ensure identified discrepancies and issues are investigated and resolved in a timely manner.
7. Continuous Improvement & Cost Control
- Identify opportunities to improve inventory processes, controls, and material flow.
- Implement corrective and preventive measures to improve inventory accuracy and efficiency.
- Work with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, and other departments to identify opportunities for cost savings.
- Support initiatives to reduce material waste, excess inventory, obsolete inventory, and unnecessary inventory costs.
- Recommend improvements to inventory procedures, systems, and controls where appropriate.
8. Uniform & Locker Management
- Receive, assign, track, and control uniforms and lockers provided to operational employees.
- Maintain accurate records of uniforms and lockers assigned to employees.
- Ensure uniforms are properly accounted for when sent for cleaning and when returned or shipped back to Company facilities.
- Monitor uniform inventory and identify missing, damaged, or unreturned items.
- Coordinate with the appropriate departments or service providers to maintain accurate uniform records.
9. Food Safety, GMP & Compliance
- Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements at all times.
- Ensure inventory storage and handling practices support the Company's food safety and quality standards.
- Follow all applicable Company policies, procedures, work instructions, and safety requirements.
- Maintain accurate and complete documentation related to inventory activities.
- Immediately report any food safety, quality, safety, inventory, or compliance concerns to the appropriate Manager.
10. Communication & Teamwork
- Maintain consistent communication with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, Maintenance, and Management regarding material availability and inventory concerns.
- Communicate shortages, delays, discrepancies, and other issues that may affect production.
- Work collaboratively with other departments to ensure inventory is properly controlled and production requirements are met.
- Provide support and guidance to employees involved in inventory-related activities as required.
11. Other Duties
- Perform miscellaneous duties and responsibilities that are work-related and assigned by Management.
- Support other operational activities as required to maintain efficient plant operations.
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 3 years of experience in inventory control, warehouse operations, materials management, or a related role, preferably within a food manufacturing or production environment.
- Experience using an inventory management system, ERP system, or computerized stock-control system.
- Strong understanding of inventory control principles, cycle counting, stock reconciliation, and inventory accuracy.
- Experience investigating inventory discrepancies and implementing corrective actions.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to analyze inventory data, identify trends, and prepare reports for management.
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multiple departments.
- Previous experience in a food manufacturing environment and knowledge of GMP requirements is considered an asset.
Core Competencies
- Inventory Management
- Accuracy & Attention to Detail
- Cost Control
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Organization & Time Management
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Accountability
- Continuous Improvement
- Teamwork
- Food Safety & GMP Compliance
Working Conditions
- Work is primarily performed within a food manufacturing and warehouse environment.
- Regular exposure to production and inventory storage areas.
- Must follow all required PPE, food safety, GMP, and workplace health and safety requirements.
- May be required to work flexible hours or overtime based on operational requirements.
Pay: $60,000.00-$70,000.00 per year
Experience:
- Materials management: 3 years (required)
- Food Manufacturing Environment: 2 years (required)
- ERP systems: 2 years (required)
Location:
- Etobicoke, ON M8Z 5L6 (preferred)
Work Location: In person
