14403 – Purchasing and inventory control workers

Lead statement

Purchasing control workers process purchasing transactions, resolve supply problems and prepare and maintain files, reports and price lists.

Main duties

• Review requisition orders for accuracy and verify that materials, equipment and stock are not available from current inventories
• Source and obtain price quotations from catalogues and suppliers and prepare purchase orders
• Calculate cost of orders and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts
• Process purchases within purchasing authority
• Contact suppliers to schedule deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed deliveries and other problems
• Prepare and maintain purchasing files, reports and price lists.
• Monitor inventory levels as materials, equipment and stock are issued, transferred within an establishment or sold to the public using manual or computerized inventory systems
• Compile inventory reports, recording the quantity, type and value of materials, equipment and stock on hand, using manual or computerized inventory systems
• Prepare requisition orders to replenish materials, equipment and stock
• Maintain stock rotation and dispose of and account for outdated stock
• Enter data for production scheduling, stock replenishment/relocation and inventory adjustments
• Reconcile physical inventories with computer counts.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Courses in purchasing management may be required for purchasing control workers.
• Courses in production and inventory management and ability to operate a computerized inventory system may be required for inventory control workers.

Example job titles

procurement clerk · supply clerk · purchasing control clerk · purchase order clerk · equipment inventory clerk · inventory control clerk · inventory analyst · inventory planner · inventory auditor

Wages (per hour)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.