How is stock optimization primarily defined?

Stock optimization is primarily defined as the process of reducing costs while ensuring that stock is always available to meet customer demand. This involves striking a balance between having enough inventory on hand to fulfill orders and minimizing the costs associated with holding that inventory, such as storage costs, spoilage, and obsolescence. The goal is to achieve an efficient inventory management system where stock levels are managed carefully to avoid both stockouts (which can lead to lost sales) and excess inventory (which ties up capital and incurs additional costs).

In this context, maintaining stock availability is crucial to ensure that the demands of customers are met promptly, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and potentially leading to increased sales. Therefore, effectively managing these two aspects—availability and cost—defines stock optimization.