Inventory management is the systematic discipline concerned with planning, organizing, and controlling the flow of materials and goods throughout an organization's supply chain. It investigates strategies and methodologies for optimizing the acquisition, storage, utilization, and distribution of raw materials, components, work-in-progress, and finished products. This academic field encompasses the analysis and application of quantitative models and procedural frameworks, such as Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), Just-In-Time (JIT), and Materials Requirement Planning (MRP), across various organizational levels (aggregate and item-specific) to balance costs associated with holding inventory against service level requirements and operational efficiency, thereby facilitating accurate forecasting, mitigating risks, and enhancing overall supply chain performance.