Syllabus: Pearson Edexcel AS Business
Module: Resource Management
Lesson: 2.4.3 Stock Control

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Introduction

The Pearson Edexcel AS Business syllabus (specifically Theme 2: Managing business activities) includes 2.4.3 Stock Control as a key sub-topic under resource management. This topic explores how businesses manage their inventory to balance efficiency with customer satisfaction, cost control, and operational resilience. For teachers, SLT, and curriculum leads, it links strongly to both operational understanding and strategic insight, making it highly teachable and assessment-rich.

Understanding stock control systems isn’t just about memorising definitions – it’s about enabling students to think commercially, problem-solve around capacity and risk, and interpret data in context. From a Gatsby Benchmark or Ofsted Deep Dive perspective, it’s also a perfect fit for demonstrating curriculum intent, implementation, and impact.

Key Concepts

According to the Pearson Edexcel specification, students should understand the following in relation to 2.4.3 Stock Control:

  • Stock control terminology: buffer stock, lead time, re-order level, re-order quantity, just-in-time (JIT), just-in-case (JIC).

  • The value of effective stock control: balancing supply and demand while minimising waste and cost.

  • Impacts of poor stock control: lost sales, dissatisfied customers, cash flow issues, overstocking, spoilage.

  • Stock control charts: ability to interpret and construct simple stock control diagrams.

  • The role of technology in inventory management, including barcoding, electronic point of sale (EPOS), and inventory tracking systems.

  • Differences between JIT and JIC systems – benefits, drawbacks, and suitability in different contexts.

  • The relationship between stock control and other functions such as finance, production, and customer service.

Real-World Relevance

Stock control strategies have been visibly stress-tested in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both supermarkets and manufacturers experienced stockouts and supply chain issues that spotlighted the fragility of JIT systems. On the other hand, businesses like Aldi and Lidl demonstrated the power of lean stock models with tight control over SKUs (stock-keeping units).

More recently, car manufacturers such as Toyota and Tesla have made headlines for adjusting their stock control methods in response to semiconductor shortages. These shifts offer brilliant classroom examples of how theory plays out in high-stakes, real-time environments – and how businesses must continuously adapt.

How It’s Assessed

In Pearson Edexcel AS Business assessments, stock control can appear in:

  • Data response questions: Students interpret inventory or stock-related data, identify implications, and recommend actions.

  • Short-answer questions: Definitions and explanations of key terms such as “buffer stock” or “lead time”.

  • Analysis and evaluation questions: Using context to argue for or against the implementation of JIT or JIC.

Command words to emphasise in teaching include:

  • Explain (e.g. “Explain one benefit of JIT”)

  • Analyse (e.g. “Analyse the impact of poor stock control on cash flow”)

  • Evaluate (e.g. “Evaluate whether a small manufacturer should adopt a JIT system”)

Students should practise multi-step reasoning: identifying a problem, analysing cause and effect, and justifying recommendations with clear logic and reference to business aims.

Enterprise Skills Integration

Stock control is a perfect match for building enterprise thinking in students. It supports:

  • Problem-solving: How can a business reduce waste while keeping shelves full?

  • Decision-making: Should the business invest in tech for better tracking? Should it move to JIT?

  • Critical thinking: Balancing efficiency with risk – what’s the cost of running lean?

  • Numeracy and data literacy: Interpreting stock control charts, calculating lead times, re-order levels, etc.

Using the MarketScope AI tool from Enterprise Skills, students could explore how market volatility affects stock decisions, or simulate supplier risk scenarios and evaluate responses.

Careers Links

Understanding stock control has clear links to logistics, operations, and supply chain management careers – core elements of Gatsby Benchmark 4 (Careers in the Curriculum). Relevant roles include:

  • Inventory Analyst

  • Supply Chain Planner

  • Warehouse Manager

  • Retail Buyer

  • Operations Manager

These careers sit within high-demand sectors from retail to manufacturing and logistics. You can also link stock control to apprenticeships in warehousing, distribution, and procurement.

Teaching Notes

Here are some practical teaching insights to support effective delivery:

  • Start with context: Use recent news stories (e.g. supermarket shortages, global shipping delays) to introduce the topic.

  • Bring in role-play or simulations: Assign students business roles (e.g. operations manager vs finance director) to explore different stock control priorities.

  • Visual aids work: Stock control charts, timelines, and flow diagrams help make the abstract more concrete.

  • Misconception watch: Students often confuse JIT with simply “having no stock” – emphasise the strategic planning behind it.

  • Extension ideas: Ask students to research how Amazon or a local manufacturer handles stock. Or run a mock boardroom pitch where students justify switching from JIC to JIT (or vice versa).

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