Which of the following best defines inventory management?

Inventory management is best defined as the process of ordering and storing products. This involves overseeing the flow of goods and materials in a business to ensure that the right amount of inventory is available at the right time. Effective inventory management helps in maintaining optimal stock levels, reducing carrying costs, preventing stockouts, and ensuring that the organization can meet customer demand without excessive surplus or shortage.

This definition encompasses several critical functions within inventory management, including forecasting demand, considering lead times for ordering new stock, implementing storage techniques, and determining when to reorder products. It is fundamental to supply chain management as it directly impacts a company’s operational efficiency and financial performance.

Other options relate to different aspects of supply chain and procurement functions but do not capture the essence of inventory management itself. Monitoring transportation costs is relevant to logistics, negotiating contracts is fundamental to procurement practices, and measuring supplier performance pertains to supplier relationship management. Each of these plays a role in the broader context of supply chain management, but they are not focused specifically on the ordering and storing of products, which is the core of inventory management.