Poor stock control could cause which outcomes?

• A. Higher customer satisfaction.
• B. Missed sales opportunities due to stockouts.
• C. Lower interest payments.
• D. Increased production speed.

Answer: (B)

Stock control is about keeping the right amount of inventory so you can meet demand without tying up too much money in stock. When stock control is poor, stockouts can occur—items aren’t available when customers want to buy them. The most direct consequence of that is missed sales opportunities, because customers leave to buy from competitors or delay their purchase, leading to lost revenue and potential damage to loyalty.

The other options don’t fit as naturally. Higher customer satisfaction would be unlikely because stockouts typically frustrate customers. Lower interest payments aren’t a direct outcome of how inventory is managed, since interest relates to financing costs rather than stock availability. Increased production speed isn’t a typical result either; stockouts can actually slow production if needed inputs aren’t on hand, rather than speeding things up.