"As a Stock Controller, it's my responsibility to ensure that the correct amount of stock is available at all times, which means I have to be organised. Also, the job comes with a fair amount of pressure, such as when important shipments are delayed. I used to get frustrated when things went wrong, but these days I remain calm and composed under pressure."

"In my day-to-day duties, I have to coordinate stock control operations with warehouse staff, and also liaise with sales and finance personnel. In addition, part of my job is building strong relationships with vendors and suppliers."

"The first company I worked for was a relatively new and small business. There, we used Easify Small Business Software, which is a package that includes accounting, point-of-sale and stock control systems. In my next position, I worked with the Kerridge stock control system, which provides one with a complete overview of stock levels at the central, regional and branch level."

"At the previous company I worked for, we were expecting a shipment for one of our biggest clients. The client needed a timely delivery of their order to honour their business agreements. When the shipment didn't arrive I phoned the supplier, who told me that their truck had been in a collision. Luckily, I had a good relationship with an alternative supplier, who managed to supply us with stock within a few hours."

"Procurement is most definitely one of the most important aspects of my job. If a Stock Controller doesn't focus on finding the right suppliers and building good working relationships with them, it has a negative effect on the rest of a company's operations. Good supplier relationships provide a space for effective negotiations, and you can also trust that you'll receive quality stock in good time."

"I've used various methods in the different positions I've had. For instance, I used the fixed-time ordering method when I worked for a company that had fixed contracts. Another method, and one that I've used often, is the stock review method, where you reorder stock when it reaches a minimum level. In one company where cash flow was a major concern, I used the Just-In-Time method, which meant I had to be exceptionally organised."

"I really enjoy the different facets of this job. I get to interact with various parties during my workday, including warehouse, transport and sales staff, and also suppliers. In contrast, I also work on my own sometimes, such as when I'm creating reports or am busy with inventory forecasting. In addition, no two days in this job are the same. Something different or unexpected is always happening."

"Through accurate demand forecasting, I have helped the companies I have worked for cut down on labour and warehousing costs. This is because accurate demand forecasting assists a company in predicting labour needs and reduces inventory carrying costs. It also makes it easier to automate reordering processes. Also, when a company carries the correct stock levels, customer satisfaction increases, since they can purchase and receive the products they want without encountering out-of-stock issues."

"My first priority in such situations is to ensure that we have enough stock to meet our clients' demands. I typically contact the supplier in question to ascertain whether they're able and willing to fill a rush replacement order and, if so, whether the new stock will meet our standards. Otherwise, I start contacting alternative suppliers for emergency assistance. I then investigate what happened more closely, and decide whether to deal with the main supplier again."

"There are many exciting innovations taking place in my field. For instance, the use of artificial intelligence for more sophisticated sales and inventory forecasting. Then there's the use of streaming analytics, which also improves demand forecasting and provides up-to-the-minute information regarding where your stock is."