CountZero has a good question.

my @supplier = split(/\[\]/,$inventory[$#inventory]);
same as
my @supplier = split(/\[\]/,$inventory[@inventory-1]);
same as
my @supplier = split(/\[\]/,$inventory[-1]);
[download]

This only looks at the last element of @inventory.

I doubt that this is what the OP really wants.

An example file would be very helpful.

I would also add that if the OP has input into record format, using "|" as a .csv style record separator often works out very well for DB's that contain names or addresses.