Maintain stock at required levels

This standard is about maintaining stock at the required levels including, for example, procurement levels, picking levels and daily usage levels. It involves following stock rotation methods, labelling and positioning stock. It also involves updating stock records.

This standard is relevant to all operatives who maintain the levels of stock as part of their job role.

1.    maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in line with the relevant legislation and organisational requirements
2.    assess the risks associated with the work before starting and throughout the activity, take action to minimise risks where possible, or report in line with organisational procedures
3.    confirm that the required personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work being carried out is worn at all times, in line with organisational procedures
4.    confirm that the relevant training has been received to carry out the work, recognise the limits of your competence and seek access to further training where required
5.    identify the stock levels required to maintain the correct quantity in your area of responsibility 
6.    confirm existing stock levels in your area of responsibility
7.    identify damaged, faulty, or out-of-date stock and take the required action, in line with organisational procedures
8.    follow the organisation’s procedures and methods for stock rotation 
9.    replenish stock levels to the required amount in line with organisational procedures
10.    report any shortages of stock in line with organisational procedures
11.    use safe handling methods to handle stock, in line with organisational procedures
12.    label stock according to organisational requirements
13.    position stock in the correct location for further use
14.    maintain effective communication with colleagues when carrying out the work
15.    deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and competence and report issues which cannot be resolved, in line with organisational procedures
16.    maintain the work area in a clean and tidy condition throughout the activity
17.    maintain and store records of stock replenishment in line with relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1.    your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and organisational requirements
2.    how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work being carried out, and suitable control measures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) that can be put in place to reduce risks
3.    the relevant Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that should be worn when maintaining warehouse stock
4.    why it is important to maintain stock at the required levels and where to find this information
5.    the organisational procedures for maintaining stock at the required levels
6.    how often the stock level should be checked, and how to identify whether stock requires replenishing
7.    how to recognise damaged, faulty or out-of-date stock and the action to take
8.    the stock rotation methods for the types of stock stored by the organisation
9.    the handling methods for the types of stock stored by the organisation
10.    how to label and position stock in the correct location
11.    how to report any shortages of stock
12.    the roles and responsibilities of colleagues and why it is important to maintain communication and work effectively with colleagues when carrying out your work
13.    the issues that may occur when maintaining stock levels, the actions to take and organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
14.    the importance of maintaining the work area in a clean and tidy condition when carrying out work activities and the organisational standards for this
15.    the relevant stock control systems used in the organisation and the legal and organisational requirements for maintaining records, including data protection legislation and organisational procedures for data security

Handling methods: manual, mechanical, gravity

Health and safety includes mental and physical wellbeing

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could include: high-visibility clothing, hard hats, protective clothing, eye protection, masks, gloves, safety footwear

Safe System of Work (SSoW) is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.

Stock control systems: manual, computerised, warehouse management systems, radio frequency