In the age of Industry 4.0, the question of whether to maintain inventory has emerged as a critical topic of discussion in the modern business landscape. Managers across various sectors are rigorously evaluating the benefits and challenges of inventory management. The decision hinges on achieving a balance that aligns organizational strategies with evolving customer expectations. Against this backdrop, our paper seeks to explore the several types of inventories, their strategic positioning and the impact of implementing Industry 4.0 technologies on the inventory performance metrics. Each type of inventory offers distinct advantages and benefits answering to each company’s expectations. In our study, we underline the example of Toyota, which optimizes inventory within its factories while simultaneously maintaining stockpiles outside its facilities; both upstream and downstream; to sustain operational performance. However, the implementation of inventory systems requires significant financial immobilization. This capital, which is crucial for businesses, requires continuous enhancement in reliability and performance to ensure resilience. Therefore, we explore the integration of new technologies that complement and support traditional methods such as Just-in-Time, Economic Order Quantity and ABC Classification. Then we explore these innovative technologies in the literature and verify their effectiveness within four tier 1 automotive companies.