Inventory Control Specialist
- Westlake, OH, United States
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Job details
- Experience
- 1–3 years of experience in inventory control, warehouse or distribution operations.
- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
The Inventory Control Specialist owns the daily work that keeps our stock accurate, so that what the system says is always what sits on the shelf. You will put away parts and devices from the repair lab and receiving, move stock between bins and buildings, perform cycle counts, and keep the warehouse organized through daily 5S.
You will work across NetSuite, ServiceNow and Service Hub, using an RF scanner for every move. Beyond executing tasks, you will be expected to spot gaps in how inventory is managed, raise them quickly and help fix them. This role suits someone who works with urgency, takes ownership of results and communicates clearly with the lab, receiving, shipping and leadership.
Key responsibilities
Inventory put away and transfers
- Move repaired, refurbished and returned units from the tech lab to their correct warehouse bin locations.
- Put away incoming stock from receiving the same day it is received whenever possible.
- Review staging areas at least twice per shift so nothing sits longer than 24 business hours.
- Complete every bin and building transfer with an RF scanner at the time of the move, so system and physical locations always match.
- Scan and verify serial numbers on serialized devices and parts during put away and transfers.
- Pick, pack, ship and receive transfer orders between company buildings accurately and on schedule.
- Flag damaged, mislabeled or unidentified items, route them to the correct owner and follow up until they are resolved.
- Stage and move stock safely using pallet jacks, hand trucks and forklifts.
Cycle counts and inventory accuracy
- Complete all scheduled HQ cycle counts on time and with accurate results.
- Research and resolve variances: recount, trace transactions in NetSuite and ServiceNow, and document root causes.
- Prepare for and attend monthly Cycle Count Reviews, and carry out assigned corrective actions by their due dates.
- Keep count records complete and audit-ready, following established SOPs.
- Support quarterly and year-end audit counts, including weekend counts when scheduled.
Identifying and closing inventory gaps
- Watch for recurring errors, process breakdowns and system gaps in how inventory moves through the building.
- When the same error happens twice, document it, identify the likely cause and propose a fix to the Inventory Control Manager.
- Build and maintain Excel reports (lookups, filters, pivot tables) that surface aging stock, variances and staging backlogs.
- Support the Inventory Control Manager on process improvement projects from analysis through rollout.
Warehouse 5S
- Apply sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain every day across aisles, bins and staging areas.
- Keep location labels and signage accurate, and recommend bin locations to add, merge or retire.
- Assist with capacity planning and scrapping of obsolete, damaged or end-of-life stock.
Communication and ownership
- Give clear, timely updates to the Inventory Control Manager on task status, blockers and discrepancies.
- Coordinate with the repair lab, receiving and shipping teams to keep stock moving and resolve handoff issues.
- Escalate urgent problems, such as missing high-value units or systemic system errors, the same day they are found.
- Take full ownership of assigned work and its accuracy, seeing each task through to completion.
- Perform other inventory duties as assigned.
Key performance indicators
Performance in this role is measured against the targets below, reviewed monthly with the Inventory Control Manager.
- KPI: Cycle Count Completion. Target: 100% of scheduled HQ counts. How it is measured: Counts completed on schedule, counts scheduled.
- KPI: Inventory record accuracy. Target: 98% or higher. How it is measured: Locations with no variance, locations counted.
- KPI: Scan compliance. Target: 100% of moves scanned in real time. How it is measured: Physical moves vs. RF transactions in the system.
- KPI: Same-day put away. Target: 95% of received stock put away the day received. How it is measured: Receipt date vs. put away transaction date.
- KPI: Variance research. Target: Root cause documented within 2 business days. How it is measured: Date variance found vs. date documented.
- KPI: Transfer order accuracy. Target: 99% or higher, shipped on schedule. How it is measured: Transfer orders without discrepancy divided by total shipped.
- KPI: Corrective actions. Target: 100% closed by agreed due date. How it is measured: Cycle count review action log.
Required qualifications
- High school diploma or GED.
- 1–3 years of experience in inventory control, warehouse or distribution operations.
- Hands-on experience using RF or handheld scanners for receiving, put away, picking or counting.
- Experience processing inventory transactions in an ERP or warehouse management system (WMS).
- Working proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, filters, sorting and basic pivot tables for reports and variance research.
- Ability to safely operate a pallet jack and hand truck, and willingness to obtain forklift certification if not already certified.
- Strong attention to detail, with a track record of accurate counts and paperwork.
- Effective written and verbal communicator who can explain discrepancies clearly and keep teammates and leadership informed.
- Works with a sense of urgency, prioritizing time-sensitive tasks so stock keeps moving and KPIs are met.
- Takes ownership of their work and its outputs, following tasks through to completion without being reminded.
- Proven ability to identify gaps or recurring issues in inventory processes and bring forward practical solutions.
- Able to manage daily priorities independently with minimal supervision.
- Willing to work overtime, sometimes with limited notice, and available to work weekends as needed for counts, audits and projects.
- Reliable transportation to travel between Westlake facilities.
Preferred qualifications
- Current forklift or reach truck certification.
- Experience with NetSuite & ServiceNow.
- Cycle count or physical inventory experience, especially in preparation for an audit.
- Experience performing variance analysis and documenting root causes.
- Experience handling serialized electronics, devices or parts.
- Intermediate Excel skills, such as building pivot tables, conditional formatting or simple dashboards.
Physical requirements and work environment
- Regularly lift and carry up to 50 lbs, and move heavier loads with equipment or team lifts.
- Stand, walk, bend, reach and climb ladders for most of the shift.
- Work in a warehouse environment with exposure to moving equipment, varying temperatures and noise.
- Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all safety procedures.
- Travel between company facilities as needed during the workday.
More about this job
Skills
- Inventory management
- Transfer stock
- Oracle NetSuite
- ServiceNow
- Research
- Process improvement
- Regulatory compliance
- ERP
- WMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Forklift certification
- Attention to detail
- Leadership
- Prioritization
- Reach truck
- Personal protective equipment