What Is Inventory? Definition, Types, and Examples

What Is Inventory?

The term inventory refers to the raw materials used in production as well as the goods produced that are available for sale. A company's inventory represents one of the most important assets it has because the turnover of inventory represents one of the primary sources of revenue generation and subsequent earnings for the company's shareholders. There are three types of inventory, including raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. It is categorized as a current asset on a company's balance sheet.

Understanding Inventory 

Inventory is a very important asset for any company. It is defined as the array of goods used in production or finished goods held by a company during its normal course of business. There are three general categories of inventory, including raw materials (any supplies that are used to produce finished goods), work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods or those that are ready for sale.

As noted above, inventory is classified as a current asset on a company's balance sheet, and it serves as a buffer between manufacturing and order fulfillment. When an inventory item is sold, its carrying cost transfers to the cost of goods sold (COGS) category on the income statement.

Inventory can be valued in three ways. These methods are the:

• First-in, first-out (FIFO) method, which says that the COGS is based on the cost of the earliest purchased materials. The carrying cost of the remaining inventory, on the other hand, is based on the cost of the latest purchased materials
• Last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. This method states that the COGS is valued using the cost of the latest purchased materials, while the value of the remaining inventory is based on the earliest purchased materials.
• Weighted average method, which requires valuing both inventory and the COGS based on the average cost of all materials bought during the period.
  

Special Considerations 

Many producers partner with retailers to consign their inventory. Consignment inventory is the inventory owned by the supplier/producer (generally a wholesaler) but held by a customer (generally a retailer). The customer then purchases the inventory once it has been sold to the end customer or once they consume it (e.g., to produce their own products).

The benefit to the supplier is that their product is promoted by the customer and readily accessible to end users. The benefit to the customer is that they do not expend capital until it becomes profitable to them. This means they only purchase it when the end user purchases it from them or until they consume the inventory for their operations.

Types of Inventory

Remember that inventory is generally categorized as raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. The IRS also classifies merchandise and supplies as additional categories of inventory.

Raw materials are unprocessed materials used to produce a good. Examples of raw materials include:

• Aluminum and steel for the manufacture of cars
• Flour for bakeries that produce bread
• Crude oil held by refineries

Work-in-progress inventory is the partially finished goods waiting for completion and resale. WIP inventory is also known as inventory on the production floor. A half-assembled airliner or a partially completed yacht is often considered to be a work-in-process inventory.

Finished goods are products that go through the production process, and are completed and ready for sale. Retailers typically refer to this inventory as merchandise. Common examples of merchandise include electronics, clothes, and cars held by retailers.

Inventory Management

Possessing a high amount of inventory for a long time is usually not a good idea for a business. That's because of the challenges it presents, including storage costs, spoilage costs, and the threat of obsolescence.

Possessing too little inventory also has its disadvantages. For instance, a company runs the risk of market share erosion and losing profit from potential sales.

Inventory management forecasts and strategies, such as a just-in-time (JIT) inventory system (with backflush costing), can help companies minimize inventory costs because goods are created or received only when needed.

It's always a good idea for companies to invest in a good inventory management system. This is especially true for larger businesses with multiple sales channels and storage facilities. These systems are able to identify waste, low turnover, and fraud/robbery.

Inventory Turnover

Inventory turnover is a key part of inventory management. Also called stock turnover, this is a metric that measures how much of a company's inventory is sold, replaced, or used and how often. This figure provides insight into how profitable a company is and whether there are inefficiencies that need to be addressed.

Consumer demand is a key indicator that can determine whether inventory levels will turn over at a quick pace or if they won't move at all. Higher demand typically means that a company's products and services will move from the shelves into consumers' hands quickly while weak demand often leads to a slow turnover rate.

A company's inventory turnover is often expressed as a ratio. The inventory turnover ratio is calculated using the following formula:

Inventory Ratio = COGS ÷ Average Value of Inventory

Company leaders can use this figure to make important decisions about whether they should continue to manufacture certain products and services or determine whether there are issues that need to be addressed.

The Bottom Line

Inventory provides businesses with materials to keep their operations going. This includes any raw materials needed in the production of goods and services, as well as any finished goods that companies sell to consumers on the market. Managing inventory and determining the turnover rate can help companies determine just how successful they are and where they can pick up the slack when the profits begin to dry up.