Inventory (redirected from materials inventory)

inventory

In business, any item of property held in stock by a firm, including finished goods held for sale, goods in the process of production, raw materials, and items that will be consumed in the process of producing salable goods. Inventories appear on a company's balance sheet as assets. Inventory turnover, which indicates the rate at which goods are converted into cash, is a key factor in appraising a firm's financial condition. For financial statements, inventories may be priced either at cost or at market value.

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inventory [′in·vən‚tȯr·ē]

(engineering)

The amount of plastic in the heating cylinder or barrel in injection molding or extrusion.

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Inventory 

the control of the presence and condition of material values (fixed and working capital) in kind as well as monetary resources, balances in bank accounts, and accounts with debtors and creditors. Taking inventory is one of the most important methods of control over the safeguarding of socialist property, over the qualitative preservation of raw and other materials and finished goods, and over the accuracy of warehouse management and current accounting. In the USSR, taking inventory is obligatory for all state, cooperative, and public enterprises, organizations, and institutions.

Inventories may be complete or partial, planned or unexpected. A complete inventory includes checking of all resources of the enterprise and of all its accounting relations; it is held on the basis of the Statute on Accounting Reports and Balances of State, Cooperative (Except Kolkhoz), and Public Enterprises and Organizations (this statute was confirmed by the Council of Ministers of the USSR of Sept. 12, 1951, with subsequent amendments and supplements). The purpose of a complete inventory is to ensure that the bookkeeping balances as of the end of the year are real and by the same token to prove the reality of the financial results of the enterprise’s activity as shown in these balances. Such an inventory is taken also at the time of organization or liquidation of an enterprise. Partial inventories are taken to check the existence of those resources which according to their physical properties are subject to natural loss when stored; they are also taken when writing off goods that have become worthless and when hiring personnel responsible for material values. Planned inventories are taken during the whole year according to a calendar chart confirmed by the manager of the enterprise or of the economic organization. Unexpected inventories are made to prevent embezzlement and misappropriation of material or monetary resources and to establish the extent of losses in case an embezzlement has taken place. Dates and the number of inventories during the year are established with due regard to different kinds of resources.

The taking of inventories is entrusted to a commission that is appointed by the manager of the enterprise and in which the chief (senior) accountant takes part. This commission is headed by the manager of the enterprise or by his deputy. The procedure of taking the inventory is determined by ministries and government departments.