What should an inventory discrepancy report include?

• A. Item description, quantity, location, suspected cause, date/time, and recommended corrective actions.
• B. Only the quantity and date.
• C. Supplier contact and price.
• D. Employee performance metrics.

Answer: (A)

Accurate discrepancy reporting hinges on capturing a complete, auditable record of what was found and what actions follow. A good report should clearly identify the item with a description, the quantity on hand versus what the system shows, and where the item is stored. It should also note the date and time the discrepancy was discovered. Including the suspected cause helps focus investigation and prevent recurrence, whether it’s a miscount, misplacement, damage, receiving/shipping error, or loss. Finally, listing recommended corrective actions provides a concrete plan to adjust records and strengthen controls, such as re-counting, adjusting the inventory, or implementing process changes.

The other options fall short because they omit critical context needed to resolve the discrepancy, such as the item details, location, and an actionable plan. Providing supplier contact and price isn’t relevant to internal discrepancy resolution, and employee performance metrics don’t address the issue at hand.