Which area of supply chain management involves ensuring there is enough stock?

The area of supply chain management that involves ensuring there is enough stock is inventory planning. This aspect focuses specifically on managing inventory levels to balance supply and demand effectively. Good inventory planning means having the right amount of products on hand at the right time to meet customer demand without incurring excess costs associated with overstocking or stockouts. This involves analyzing demand forecasts, determining optimal stock levels, and implementing systems to monitor inventory levels continuously.

While production planning deals with scheduling production processes and ensuring manufacturing resources are used efficiently, and distribution planning focuses on how products are moved from production sites to end-users, inventory planning is distinctly concerned with stock levels and management. Supply planning, on the other hand, encompasses the broader logistics of sourcing materials and managing supplier relationships, but its focus is not solely on the stock levels available for immediate sale or use.