Operations managers plan, direct and/or coordinate the operations of a company or organization. Operations managers are typically involved in the layout of a facility, policy formulation, inventory control and distribution, employee scheduling, and other duties. In many organizations the duties of the operations manager may overlap those of the chief executive officer. An inventory control manager may be an operations manager. According to Learnlink, inventory managers ômanage inventory allocations, replenishment, and distributionö (Inventory, 2002, 1). Inventory managers must also analyze and determine store distribution quantities, manage and track rain check percentages, and maintain inventory count schedules. Inventory control takes advantage of technology as the inventory manager is also responsible for ôevaluating system support and inventory decisions, implementing changes when necessary and the monitoring of closeout procedures and inventory aging reportsö (Inventory, 2002, 1).
Working conditions for the inventory manager often require time on the shop floor as well as in an office. Inventory managers typically devote more than 40 hours per week to work and are often required to work late shifts in organizations that operate 24 hours a day. Because of the nature of inventory, the inventory managerÆs work is often interrelated with other departments like sales, purchasing and traffic. The inventory manager often works together with other department heads to ôplan and implement company goals, policies, and procedures, and to ensure plant inventories are maintained at an optimal levelö (Inventory, 2002, 1). Inventory managers are also responsible for the development of inventory strategies, forecasting business trends, placing orders, tracking shipping and receiving, directing the flow if information pertaining to inventory levels, and supervision of the shipping and receiving staff.
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