What is the purpose of a Cycle Count in inventory management?

• A. To perform a full-store count every month
• B. To regularly verify a subset of items to maintain accuracy without full-store counts
• C. To verify supplier invoices
• D. To purge discontinued items

Answer: (B)

Cycle counting is a method to keep inventory records accurate by regularly checking a sample of items rather than counting everything at once. Its purpose is to verify and correct discrepancies between what the system shows and what is physically present, on a regular basis. This ongoing checks-and-adjustments process maintains data integrity, supports reliable stock levels and reorder decisions, and minimizes the disruption and downtime that come with a full-store count. In a medical store, accurate counts are crucial for patient safety, regulatory compliance, and reliable availability of essential items. The other options don’t fit because a full-store count is a separate, less frequent approach; verifying supplier invoices relates to accounts payable; and purging discontinued items deals with obsolescence management, not cycle counting.