What is the best inventory control software for a Purchasing Manager to avoid stockouts?

For a Purchasing Manager , the primary goal in avoiding stockouts isn’t just counting what’s on the shelf—it's predicting demand, tracking accurate lead times, and automating reorder triggers before shelves go empty.

The "best" software depends heavily on your company's size, complexity, and budget. The top inventory control and management solutions tailored to robust purchasing and stockout prevention include:

• • Oracle NetSuite: Best for mid-to-large enterprises. It is a powerhouse cloud ERP that offers automated stock replenishment, multi-location inventory tracking, real-time demand planning reports, and automated vendor alerts the moment stock dips below safety thresholds.
• • Fishbowl Inventory: Best for small-to-midsize manufacturers and wholesale distributors. It integrates deeply with platforms like QuickBooks, offering advanced multi-location tracking, reorder point alerts, and structured purchase order management that bridges the gap between accounting and warehouse floor realities.

• •   - **inFlow Inventory:** Best for growing small-to-midsize businesses needing fast implementation. It explicitly targets stockouts by calculating average daily sales, supplier lead times, and custom safety stock levels to proactively suggest and draft purchase orders for you.[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3jgI_IBHy8&t=46) [[1]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3jgI_IBHy8&t=46)
    

• •   - **Odoo Inventory:** Best for customizable, modular control. Odoo stands out with its powerful reordering rules framework. You can set distinct minimum/maximum stock rules per item, triggering automated requests for quotation (RFQs) to vendors so procurement stays completely synchronized with consumption.
    

Key Features a Purchasing Manager Should Look For:

1. Automated Reorder Points (ROP) & Safety Stock Calculations: Dynamic thresholds that adjust based on seasonal demand or changing supplier lead times, rather than static minimums.
2. Real-Time Multi-Channel/Multi-Warehouse Syncing: Instant visibility so that a spike in sales in one channel immediately updates your master purchasing requirements across all fulfillment centers.
3. Supplier Lead-Time Tracking: Analytics that score vendors on their actual delivery timelines versus promised timelines to pad your safety buffers accurately.

To help narrow down the ideal platform for your team, tell me:

• What is your company size and monthly order volume?
• Do you manage multiple warehouses or distinct sales channels (e-commerce, B2B, retail)?
• What accounting or ERP system are you currently using?

Best inventory control software for a Purchasing Manager

If your #1 objective is preventing stockouts while avoiding excess inventory, my top choice for most growing distributors, wholesalers, and product companies is Cin7.

Cin7 combines inventory visibility, purchasing, supplier/PO management, demand forecasting, reorder recommendations, and integrations in one system. Its current offering also includes AI-driven forecasting and 700+ integrations.

My shortlist

Why I'd pick Cin7

For a Purchasing Manager, the important question isn't simply "How much inventory do we have?" It's:

"What will run out, when will it run out, and what should I order today?" That's where Cin7 is particularly compelling. It can use demand history, inventory levels, supplier lead times and other data to improve replenishment decisions.

I'd specifically look for these capabilities:

• Projected stockout date by SKU
• Automatic reorder points
• Safety-stock calculations
• Supplier lead-time tracking
• Suggested order quantity
• Purchase-order generation
• Open PO / inbound inventory visibility
• Demand forecasting
• ABC analysis and SKU velocity
• Multi-location inventory
• Alerts for items approaching stockout
• MOQ and supplier constraints
• Integration with your accounting/ERP system

Those features matter more than having a flashy inventory dashboard. A good replenishment system should turn inventory data into an actionable "buy these 37 SKUs now" list.

When I would choose something else

Choose NetSuite if you're a larger organization that wants inventory, purchasing, financials, sales, and other ERP functions in one platform. It's powerful and highly scalable, but substantially more complex to implement.

Choose Katana if you manufacture or assemble products. Its replenishment engine specifically incorporates demand forecasts, current inventory, supplier lead times and minimum order quantities and can generate purchasing recommendations.

Choose Fishbowl if you're heavily invested in QuickBooks and need deeper warehouse/manufacturing functionality.

Choose Zoho Inventory if you're a smaller operation where keeping software costs and implementation effort low is important.

One important distinction

If you already have an ERP/accounting system that handles inventory, you may not need to replace it.

Instead, I'd consider adding a dedicated inventory optimization/demand-planning system. These tools sit on top of your ERP and calculate safety stock, reorder points and replenishment quantities using demand variability, service levels and supplier lead times.

That can be a much better solution for a Purchasing Manager than replacing the entire ERP.

If you tell me your approximate number of SKUs, annual sales, number of warehouses, whether you manufacture or distribute, and what accounting/ERP system you use (e.g. QuickBooks, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage), I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 choices and tell you which one I'd buy.

For a Purchasing Manager aiming to eliminate stockouts, the "best" software is one that goes beyond basic stock counting to offer predictive reordering, real-time multi-channel syncing, and robust vendor/lead-time tracking.

Top inventory control systems tailored to preventing stockouts stand out for distinct operational needs:

1. Best for Predictive Purchasing & Reorder Automation: inflow Inventory

• Why it shines for Purchasing Managers: inFlow excels at tracking average daily sales, vendor lead times, and safety stock thresholds. Instead of just alerting you when an item is low, it auto-suggests purchase orders before you run out, factoring in how long it takes suppliers to deliver.
• Key anti-stockout feature: Automated reorder point triggers and accurate vendor lead-time calculations.

2. Best for Manufacturing & Material Requirements: Katana Cloud Manufacturing

• Why it shines for Purchasing Managers: If your stockouts happen on the production floor because raw materials aren't arriving on time, Katana is built for this. It features a live-updating master planner that allocates raw materials to manufacturing orders by priority and instantly flags material shortages.
• Key anti-stockout feature: Real-time commitment tracking that links sales orders directly to raw material availability and auto-suggests restock orders.

3. Best Enterprise ERP & End-to-End Visibility: Oracle NetSuite

• Why it shines for Purchasing Managers: For larger or rapidly scaling operations, NetSuite provides an absolute end-to-end procure-to-pay suite. It unifies inventory control with global warehouse tracking, financial accounting, and direct vendor collaboration portals.
• Key anti-stockout feature: Deep supply-and-demand forecasting connected right to enterprise resource planning, ensuring total transparency across complex supply chains.

4. Best Value for Small-to-Midsize Businesses:

• Why it shines for Purchasing Managers: If you need multichannel synchronization (e.g., Shopify, Amazon, eBay) without a massive enterprise budget, Zoho alerts you the moment stock drops below preset reorder levels and streamlines vendor management.
• Key anti-stockout feature: Cross-channel sync prevents sudden online sales spikes from wiping out your buffer stock unannounced.

If you can share:

• Your industry (e.g., retail, manufacturing, wholesale)
• Whether you manage multiple warehouses or sales channels
• Your current accounting/ERP system (like QuickBooks or Xero)

I can recommend the most seamless integration and a more precise software fit for your workflow.

For a Purchasing Manager whose main goal is preventing stockouts, the “best” inventory control software is usually the one with the strongest combination of:

• Demand forecasting
• Automated reorder points
• Safety stock calculations
• Supplier lead-time tracking
• Purchase order automation
• Multi-location inventory visibility
• Alerts before inventory reaches critical levels

Inventory software varies significantly by company size, industry, and ERP environment, so the best choice depends on your operation.

Top inventory control software for avoiding stockouts

My shortlist by situation

Best overall for a Purchasing Manager

NetSuite

Choose this if you need:

• Supplier management
• Purchase requisitions and approvals
• Inventory across multiple warehouses
• Financial integration
• Executive reporting

It is more expensive and requires implementation effort, but it fits organizations where purchasing is tightly connected to finance and operations.

Best for a growing distributor or wholesaler

Cin7

Good fit if you need:

• Purchase order automation
• Inventory visibility across locations
• Sales-channel synchronization
• Better control without a full ERP migration

Best value for small/midsize companies

Odoo

Good if you want:

• Inventory + purchasing + accounting in one system
• Custom workflows
• Lower entry cost

Odoo is frequently recognized as a flexible option for SMBs because of its modular approach.

Best if stockouts are mainly caused by poor forecasting

Netstock

A forecasting-focused tool can be valuable when the problem is not inventory tracking but knowing what to buy and when. Demand planning platforms use historical demand, trends, and lead times to improve replenishment decisions.

Features I would require before buying

A Purchasing Manager should ask vendors to demonstrate:

1. Dynamic reorder points

• Not just “alert me when quantity is low”
• Adjusts based on demand and supplier lead time

2. Safety stock recommendations

• Calculates buffer inventory for critical SKUs

3. Supplier performance tracking

• Actual vs. promised delivery dates
• Lead-time variability

4. Purchase order automation

• Suggested POs
• Approval workflows
• Supplier communication

5. ABC inventory analysis

• Identifies which items need the most attention

6. Demand forecasting

• Seasonal trends
• Promotions
• Sales velocity changes

Practical recommendation

For most Purchasing Managers:

• < 5,000 SKUs / small business: Odoo, Cin7, or Fishbowl
• Distributor with many suppliers and warehouses: Cin7 or NetSuite
• Manufacturing environment: NetSuite, Dynamics 365, or Katana
• Enterprise supply chain: NetSuite, Dynamics 365, or specialized planning tools
• Biggest problem is stockouts despite having data: add a forecasting tool such as Netstock

The software matters, but the biggest stockout reductions usually come from combining it with accurate lead times, supplier scorecards, safety stock policies, and disciplined purchasing cycles.

If you tell me your industry (manufacturing, retail, distribution, healthcare, etc.), number of SKUs, number of warehouses, and current system (Excel, ERP, QuickBooks, SAP, etc.), I can narrow this to the top 2–3 choices.

For a Purchasing Manager laser-focused on avoiding stockouts, the "best" software isn't just a basic stock counter—it is a robust inventory control and supply chain platform with predictive demand forecasting, automated reorder points (safety stock calculations), and real-time vendor lead-time tracking.

Depending on your company size and operational complexity, top-tier software solutions tailored to prevent stockouts include:

• NetSuite Inventory Management (Best for Mid-to-Large Enterprises) : Offers deeply integrated supply chain, manufacturing, and purchasing capabilities. It excels at maintaining the balance between supply and demand by factoring in lead times and automatically flagging reorder thresholds globally across multiple locations.
• Netstock (Best Add-on Demand Planner) : Often layered on top of existing ERPs (like QuickBooks, Sage, or NetSuite), Netstock specializes entirely in classification matrices, forecasting engines, and risk-of-stockout indicators, telling a purchasing manager precisely what to buy and when.
• Fishbowl Inventory (Best for Small-to-Midsize Manufacturers & Warehouses) : Integrates tightly with QuickBooks and robustly automates ordering, purchasing workflows, vendor management, and barcode scanning to ensure counts are always accurate before a shortage occurs.
• inFlow Inventory (Best for Growing Businesses) : Highly praised for ease of use, tracking sales velocities, average lead times, and safety stock levels to proactively suggest purchase orders before components or goods run low.
• Odoo Inventory (Best Open-Source/Modular Option) : Features smart replenishment rules, minimum-maximum limits, and Made-to-Order (MTO) workflows designed to ensure you never run out of raw materials or stock.

Key Features a Purchasing Manager Needs to Stop Stockouts

• Dynamic Safety Stock & Reorder Points: Manual spreadsheets fail because demand fluctuates. Look for systems that automatically recalculate minimum stock thresholds based on rolling sales velocity and actual supplier lead times.
• Supplier Performance Tracking: Software that logs vendor delivery delays helps you pad lead times dynamically for chronically late suppliers.
• Real-Time Multi-Location Visibility: Instant updates when stock moves so you don't mistakenly think an item is out of stock just because it’s sitting in a different warehouse.

To narrow down the ideal platform for your workflow, tell me:

• What is your company size and monthly order volume?
• Do you manufacture products or strictly handle wholesale/retail distribution?
• What accounting or ERP software (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite) are you currently using?

If your #1 goal is preventing stockouts while giving a Purchasing Manager strong control over replenishment, my top pick is Cin7.

My ranking

🥇 Best overall: Cin7

cin7.com is particularly strong for a Purchasing Manager because it connects demand forecasting → reorder points → safety stock → purchase orders → supplier management.

Its ForesightAI forecasting can project demand up to 24 months, recommend reorder points and safety stock, and generate replenishment purchase orders. It also considers supplier lead times and can manage replenishment across multiple warehouses.

That's the combination I'd prioritize if you're trying to move from "checking inventory and guessing what to buy" to "the system tells me what is at risk and what I should order."

Cin7 also gives you visibility into on-hand, committed and in-transit inventory, which is extremely important for avoiding false stockout situations where the ERP says you have inventory but it's already allocated or sitting on a PO.

🥈 Best for a large company: NetSuite

oracle.com is the better choice if inventory is only one part of a much larger ERP environment.

Its Demand Planning functionality determines when to reorder and how much to order, using demand and supply plans to maintain inventory without unnecessarily tying up cash.

I'd choose NetSuite over Cin7 if you need sophisticated finance + procurement + inventory + manufacturing + ERP functionality in one system.

🥉 Best if you use QuickBooks: Fishbowl

fishbowlinventory.com is a very good choice for manufacturers and distributors that already rely heavily on QuickBooks.

Its automated purchasing can establish reorder points based on sales trends, lead times and minimum stock levels, then generate POs when inventory falls below the threshold.

What I'd look for specifically as a Purchasing Manager

Don't choose software simply because it has an "inventory management" module. For preventing stockouts, I'd insist on these capabilities:

• Demand forecasting by SKU
• Dynamic reorder points
• Safety-stock recommendations
• Supplier lead-time tracking
• PO recommendations/automatic PO creation
• Available-to-promise inventory rather than just physical on-hand
• Inventory-in-transit visibility
• Multi-location replenishment
• Supplier performance/lead-time history
• ABC/velocity analysis
• Exception alerts for items projected to stock out
• What-if planning for demand or lead-time changes
• PO approval workflows
• Dashboards showing projected stockouts 7/30/60/90 days out

The last point is particularly important. A good system shouldn't merely tell you "SKU 123 is below reorder point." The really useful system tells you:

SKU 123 will hit zero in 18 days; supplier lead time is 25 days; order 450 units today. That's the kind of visibility that lets a Purchasing Manager prevent the stockout rather than react to it.

Bottom line: For most mid-sized purchasing/inventory operations, I'd start by evaluating Cin7. If you're already running or moving toward a large enterprise ERP, evaluate NetSuite. If you're a QuickBooks-centric manufacturer/distributor, put Fishbowl on the shortlist.

If you tell me your industry, number of SKUs, annual purchasing spend, number of warehouses, and current ERP/accounting system, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 systems and compare them on price, forecasting, PO automation, supplier management, and stockout prevention.

🥈 Best for a large company: NetSuite

oracle.com is the better choice if inventory is only one part of a much larger ERP environment.

Its Demand Planning functionality determines when to reorder and how much to order, using demand and supply plans to maintain inventory without unnecessarily tying up cash.

I'd choose NetSuite over Cin7 if you need sophisticated finance + procurement + inventory + manufacturing + ERP functionality in one system.

🥉 Best if you use QuickBooks: Fishbowl

fishbowlinventory.com is a very good choice for manufacturers and distributors that already rely heavily on QuickBooks.

The best inventory control software for a purchasing manager to avoid stockouts depends on your business size and operational complexity, but Cin7, inFlow Inventory , and Oracle NetSuite stand out as the top choices. To effectively prevent stockouts, a purchasing manager requires platform automation that features automated reorder points, real-time multi-channel syncing, and reliable lead-time forecasting. [1][2][3][4]

Top Inventory Control Software to Prevent Stockouts

The most effective tools available are compared below based on their specialized capabilities for purchasing managers:

Detailed Product Breakdowns

• Cin7:
  • Automatically updates stock levels across physical stores and multiple digital marketplaces simultaneously.
  • Simplifies dropshipping and purchasing workflows by generating automated supplier purchase orders.
  • Eliminates the risk of overselling by syncing inventory data across disparate sales channels instantly. [1][2]
• inFlow Inventory:
  • Proactively calculates safety stock levels based on your average daily sales and historical supplier lead times.
  • Suggests ready-to-send purchase orders to the purchasing manager before inventory hits zero.
  • Speeds up warehouse check-ins and cuts down on manual entry errors via native barcode scanning systems. [1][2]
• Oracle NetSuite:
  • Delivers enterprise-grade demand forecasting that leverages historical sales data to predict future needs.
  • Provides complete end-to-end supply chain visibility from initial procurement to the final customer sale.
  • Automates complex replenishment formulas across multiple international warehouse locations. [1][2][3]
• Unleashed:
  • Automatically creates precise purchase orders based on sales volumes, minimum stock thresholds, and demand forecasts.
  • Aligns material purchasing with real-time production schedules so manufacturing operations never stall.
  • Tracks landed costs, supplier pricing histories, and freight charges in one centralized location. [1]
• Zoho Inventory:
  • Triggers automatic reorders for low-stock items before they completely deplete.
  • Automatically adjusts your available stock numbers to account for customer returns or order cancellations.
  • Offers an entry-level framework that integrates seamlessly with Shopify, Amazon, and the larger Zoho ecosystem. [1][2]

Key Features a Purchasing Manager Should Look For

To ensure your choice actively prevents stockouts, look for software that includes:

• Dynamic Reorder Points : The software should adjust reorder thresholds based on seasonal demand spikes rather than relying on static numbers.
• Lead-Time Tracking : It must track how long a supplier takes to deliver goods so you can order at the exact right moment. [1]
• Supplier Management Integration : The system should store supplier catalogs, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and historical lead times in one place. [1][2]

To help narrow down the options, what is your approximate monthly order volume , and what sales channels or ERP systems do you need to integrate with?

Best overall: Cin7

For a Purchasing Manager whose primary goal is preventing stockouts, I’d put Cin7 at the top of the list.

Its biggest advantage is that it connects demand forecasting → reorder points → safety stock → purchasing → supplier management rather than simply telling you that inventory is already low.

Cin7's ForesightAI forecasts demand up to 24 months ahead, considers historical/current sales and supplier lead times, recommends safety-stock and reorder levels, and can generate purchase orders based on predicted requirements.

My shortlist

Why I'd choose Cin7 for a Purchasing Manager

The critical feature isn't merely an inventory count. You want the system to answer:

"What will I run out of, when will I run out, and what should I order now?" Cin7 is particularly strong here. Its replenishment system uses demand forecasts, supplier lead times, inventory levels and reorder points to recommend what to buy and when, while its purchasing functionality manages POs and suppliers.

It also supports multiple warehouses and location-specific replenishment, which becomes particularly useful when stockouts are caused by inventory being in the wrong location, rather than genuinely unavailable.

When I'd pick something else

Choose NetSuite if you're a larger organization already needing a full ERP. Its Advanced Inventory Management can calculate reorder points using historical sales/purchases and incorporate lead time, safety stock and seasonal demand.

Choose Fishbowl if purchasing/manufacturing is the core requirement, particularly if you're a QuickBooks environment. Fishbowl can set reorder points, account for sales trends and lead times, and automatically generate POs when inventory falls below thresholds.

Choose MRPeasy if you're a smaller manufacturer and want a simpler system. It provides reorder points, low-stock alerts, expected incoming inventory and purchasing suggestions.

The feature I'd prioritize

Regardless of the vendor, I'd make automated replenishment based on forecast + lead time + safety stock a non-negotiable requirement.

A basic "inventory below 100 units → reorder" rule isn't enough. A good system should understand that if you sell 20/day, your supplier takes 10 days, and demand is volatile, your reorder point needs to protect you during that lead-time window.

If you tell me your industry, approximate number of SKUs, number of suppliers/locations, monthly purchasing volume, and whether you use QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP, etc., I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare their pricing and capabilities.

For a Purchasing Manager whose primary goal is to avoid stockouts while optimizing working capital, the "best" inventory control software depends on your company size, complexity, and whether you need built-in purchasing workflows (like automated reordering and vendor management) or deep multi-warehouse tracking.

The top-performing inventory control platforms designed to prevent stockouts are categorized below by business profile:

• 1. Oracle NetSuite — Best for Mid-to-Large Enterprises / ERP
  • Why it helps avoid stockouts: It offers enterprise-grade demand planning, supply chain analytics, and automated reorder point calculations based on historical lead times and sales velocity. It unifies financials, inventory across multiple locations, and procurement so purchase orders (POs) trigger seamlessly the moment thresholds are met. Learn more on the Oracle NetSuite platform.
• 1. Odoo Inventory Management — Best for Customization & Value (SMB to Mid-Market)
  • Why it helps avoid stockouts: Odoo features robust automated replenishment rules. When stock drops below a required safety stock level, the system can automatically draft or send a purchase order to your preferred vendor. Its powerful reporting and analytics give purchasing managers deep visibility into lead-time variations. Explore features via Odoo Inventory Management.
• 1. Zoho Inventory — Best for Growing Small-to-Medium Businesses
  • Why it helps avoid stockouts: Highly cost-effective, Zoho tracks multi-warehouse inventory in real-time, sets location-specific reorder points, and sends automated low-stock alerts. It integrates smoothly with e-commerce channels and accounting software to adjust available quantities instantly. Check out details on Zoho Inventory.
• 1. Brightpearl (by Sage) — Best for High-Volume Retail & Omnichannel Wholesale
  • Why it helps avoid stockouts: Brightpearl features intelligent inventory planning that relies on live demand forecasting. It provides precise purchasing recommendations so you buy the right stock at the precise time needed, drastically cutting down on buffer stock guesswork. Review the system on Brightpearl.
• 1. SOS Inventory — Best for QuickBooks Users
  • Why it helps avoid stockouts: If your operations run tightly on QuickBooks, SOS Inventory adds advanced purchasing, multi-location tracking, assembly management, and serial/lot tracking that standard accounting software lacks. It updates stock in real-time to prevent duplicate data entry errors that lead to miscalculated stock levels. See more at SOS Inventory.

To help narrow down which tool fits your exact workflow, tell me:

• What is your company size / monthly order volume?
• Do you manage multiple warehouses or manufacturing/assemblies , or just finished goods?
• What accounting or ERP software are you currently using?

If your main goal as a Purchasing Manager is to prevent stockouts, I’d put Cin7 at the top of the shortlist—particularly Cin7 Core for a small/midsize operation or Cin7 Omni for a more complex, multi-location business.

Cin7’s current forecasting system can analyze historical and real-time sales, calculate reorder points and safety stock, consider supplier lead times, flag stockout risk, and generate purchase orders automatically.

My shortlist

Current 2026 comparisons also put Cin7 at the top overall, with NetSuite favored for mid-size/enterprise operations and Fishbowl particularly suited to manufacturing.

Why I would choose Cin7 for purchasing

The important distinction is that you don't just want software that tells you current inventory. You want software that answers:

What do I need to buy, how much do I need, and when do I need to order it? Cin7's forecasting/replenishment capabilities are designed around exactly that. Its system can incorporate demand forecasts, supplier lead times, reorder points, safety stock, multiple locations and stockout risk, then help automate replenishment.

For example, your purchasing dashboard should ideally tell you:

• 🔴 At risk: SKU will stock out in 8 days; supplier lead time = 14 days
• 🟠 Order now: projected inventory falls below safety stock
• 🟢 Healthy: sufficient inventory through the forecast period
• Recommended PO: 450 units from Supplier A
• Expected arrival: before projected stockout
• Supplier performance: actual vs. quoted lead time
• Forecast accuracy: which SKUs are consistently over/under forecast

That's much more useful to a Purchasing Manager than simply having a "low inventory" alert.

When I'd choose something else

Choose NetSuite if you're running a larger organization and want purchasing, inventory, accounting, financials, and ERP functionality in one system. It's powerful, but I'd consider it overkill if your primary problem is inventory replenishment rather than replacing your ERP.

Choose Fishbowl if manufacturing, assemblies, warehouse transactions, and inventory traceability are particularly important.

Choose Unleashed if you're primarily a wholesale/distribution operation and want strong inventory and purchasing functionality without moving to a large ERP. Recent comparisons show particularly strong user ratings for inventory management and alerts.

One important caveat

The software alone won't prevent stockouts. The quality of your purchasing parameters matters enormously.

I'd make sure whichever system you select can manage these fields at the SKU/supplier level:

Average daily demand + demand variability + supplier lead time + lead-time variability + safety stock + MOQ + order multiple + current/on-order inventory + open customer orders = recommended purchase quantity/date.

If you tell me (1) what industry you're in, (2) approximate number of SKUs, (3) monthly/annual purchasing volume, (4) number of warehouses, and (5) what accounting/ERP system you currently use, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 systems for your specific purchasing operation, including approximate cost and exactly how I'd configure them to minimize stockouts.