The ability to effectively manage has a major impact on supply chain performance and the resultant cost to serve profile. Poor inventory decisions will result in costs being increased or customers being let down. Getting the balance right requires skilful application of inventory management techniques.

This course is an intensive five day course, for those who want to understand and implement the essential tools for managing inventory in the supply chain.
Participants are shown how to evaluate procedures and make needed changes to methods to improve customer service whilst achieving reductions in inventory; eliminate wasteful costs; avoid internal problems that limit performance; obtain added value for money.

• Enhance your forecasting process
• Determine which inventory management system works best for your organization
• Eliminate dead stock and get slow-moving inventory out the door
• Keep inventory management costs down and find out why effective logistics management is vital to the company’s competitive advantage
• Create a cycle-counting program that could eliminate your annual inventory
• Improve operations’ efficiency, reduce waste and meet the challenges of global competition
• Return to your place of work with an action plan you can implement

• Those new to managing inventory
• Those non inventory people who need to gain an awareness of the issues and key drivers of stock control operations
• Inventory, Stock, Supply Chain, Logistics, Warehouse and Distribution Supervisors/Managers
• Owners, operators and Directors of companies who hold sock and inventory

The Supply Chain

The Supply chain definitions, history and key aspects

• Definitions
• History and development
• Key aspects
• Benefits of supply chain approach

Relationships and material flows in the chain

• Integrating the supply chain
• Lead-times
• Customer service
• Adding value
• Tradeoffs
• Power of information
• Sharing and collaboration in the supply chain

Products & Stock 

Product Classification

• Supply /demand variables
• Dependant and independent demand
• Patterns of demand
• ABC Analysis or the 80/20 rule
• Product coding

Inventory costs and service

• Why hold stock?
• Inventory costs
• Service levels from inventory
• Cost/service trade offs
• Understanding Lead time
• Lead time variability and uncertainty
• Inventory and statistics

Replenishment Methods 

How much stock should be held?

• Stock time curve
• Determining the Reorder level
• Determining the Reorder point
• Carrying safety stock
• Fixed and variable time periods
• Fixed and variable order quantities

Replenishment methods for independent demand

• When to order
• How much to order
• Economic order quantities
• Two bin methods
• Minimum - maximum methods
• Comparing continuous review and periodic review methods  

Other Replenishment methods

• When to order for dependant demand
• How much to order for dependant demand
• Materials planning (MRP and MRPII)
• For spare parts

Forecasting & Stock Control

Demand Forecasting

• Sales forecasts
• Statistical forecasts
• When forecasting is easier
• When forecasting is harder

Stock Coding - The method by which stock is coded is important in the overall management process, this session will examine:

• Different methods
• Understanding of all involved
• Checklists to help on deciding the best option

Stock Recording - This session looks at stock recording, a critical aspect of stock control and if done incorrectly is the source of many subsequent errors

• Separation of powers
• Legal issues
• How do we get inaccuracies?

Stock Checking - Much time can be spent on this activity, but there are methods to both minimise the time and at the same time increase checking accuracy. This session examines such aspects

• Roles and Responsibility
• Requirements
• Job Descriptions
• Authority levels
• Tolerances and approvals
• The programmed
• Options
• Reconciliation’s / discrepancies

Improvements - Model for planning inventory

• Managing inventory by value and by volume
• Questions to ask about inventory
• Model for inventory planning
• Course evaluation and summary

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

·         (30%) Based on Case Studies

·         (30%) Techniques 

·         (30%) Role Play

·         (10%) Concepts

·         Pre-test and Post-test

·         Variety of Learning Methods

·         Lectures

·         Case Studies and Self Questionaires

·         Group Work

·         Discussion

·         Presentation

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Daily Course Timings:

    08:00 - 08:20       Morning Coffee / Tea

    08:20 - 10:00       First Session

    10:00 - 10:20       Coffee / Tea / Snacks

    10:20 - 12:20       Second Session

    12:20 - 13:30       Lunch Break & Prayer Break

    13:30 - 15:00       Last Session