What is the purpose of inventory control? First off, I think it is important to understand what inventory is before diving into the purpose it may have. According to our course readings, "Inventory is any stored resource used to satisfy a current or future need." Examples of inventory could be the fabric a seamstress uses to make a dress or the cookies sitting on display in a bakery. Inventory is not always the end product, it can be the materials you need to make an item and the item while it is being made. Figure 6.1 gives a great visual aid to understand the components of inventory and the planning that goes along with it being successful. The purpose of inventory planning is to allow an organization to produce the goods and/or services they need to, how many they may need, who they may make them for, etc. It allows an organization to have an optimal amount of supplies for the demand they have. Having too much or too little stock can hurt an organization and inventory control is a way to prevent issues from arising. Inventory control has many important functions to help with the operation at the organization