Warehouse and Inventory Management Course

Lesson 1 • Inventory Performance Metrics Overview

Presents the key performance indicators used to evaluate inventory health. Students gain a measurement framework they will apply throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Storage Facility Types and Layouts

Introduces warehouse formats, zoning principles, and layout trade-offs. Provides spatial context for all storage and retrieval techniques covered later.

Lesson 3 • Defining Inventory and Its Purpose

Covers types of inventory, their business rationale, and trade-offs. Anchors all subsequent topics by clarifying why inventory exists and what it costs.

Lesson 1 • Extended Classification Models

Expands ABC with XYZ and FSN analyses to capture demand variability and movement frequency. Provides a multi-dimensional view of stock behaviour.

Lesson 2 • Demand Forecasting Fundamentals

Introduces qualitative and quantitative forecasting methods for inventory planning. Students learn to select appropriate techniques based on data availability.

Lesson 3 • ABC Classification Method

Teaches the ABC segmentation model based on value and volume. Enables students to allocate management attention and storage space proportionally.

Lesson 1 • Periodic Review Systems

Covers fixed-interval replenishment logic and order-up-to-level calculation. Contrasts periodic with continuous review to guide system selection.

Lesson 2 • Economic Order Quantity Model

Derives and applies the EOQ formula to minimise total ordering and holding costs. Students practise sensitivity analysis to test EOQ assumptions.

Lesson 3 • Safety Stock Calculation Methods

Teaches statistical and heuristic approaches to safety stock sizing. Students can quantify buffer stock needed to achieve target service levels.

Lesson 4 • Min-Max and Two-Bin Systems

Introduces simplified replenishment methods suited to low-complexity environments. Students evaluate when simplicity outperforms sophisticated models.

Lesson 1 • Order Picking Methods and Productivity

Compares discrete, batch, zone, and wave picking strategies. Students select and configure picking methods to meet throughput and accuracy targets.

Lesson 2 • Receiving and Putaway Processes

Details inbound flow from dock receipt to bin placement. Accurate receiving is the foundation of inventory record integrity covered throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Outbound Shipping and Dispatch

Covers packing, staging, load planning, and carrier handoff processes. Completes the warehouse flow cycle and links storage operations to customer fulfilment.

Lesson 4 • Slotting and Location Management

Covers slotting optimisation principles to minimise travel time and ergonomic strain. Directly improves picking productivity addressed in the next section.

Lesson 1 • Sources of Inventory Record Error

Identifies transaction, process, and system causes of record inaccuracy. Understanding error sources is prerequisite to designing effective counting programmes.

Lesson 2 • Physical Inventory Count Methods

Compares full physical counts with cycle counting approaches. Students evaluate cost, disruption, and accuracy trade-offs of each method.

Lesson 3 • Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action

Applies structured problem-solving to persistent inventory discrepancies. Students close the loop between count findings and process improvement.

Lesson 1 • Inventory Tracking and Visibility Tools

Covers real-time location systems, IoT sensors, and inventory dashboards. Extends WMS capabilities to provide end-to-end stock visibility.

Lesson 2 • Barcode and RFID Technologies

Compares barcode symbologies and RFID for inventory identification. Students select appropriate auto-ID technology based on accuracy and cost requirements.

Lesson 3 • Warehouse Management System Fundamentals

Explains WMS architecture, core modules, and transaction flows. Provides the system literacy needed to configure and troubleshoot WMS functions.

Lesson 1 • Working Capital and Cash Flow Impact

Connects inventory levels to working capital, cash conversion cycle, and profitability. Enables students to communicate inventory decisions in financial terms.

Lesson 2 • Inventory Reduction Strategies

Presents demand-driven, supplier, and process levers to reduce excess stock. Students prioritise reduction initiatives by impact and feasibility.

Lesson 3 • Optimisation Modelling Techniques

Introduces multi-echelon optimisation, network modelling, and scenario analysis. Students apply quantitative tools to find cost-minimising inventory configurations.

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Risk and Inventory Resilience

Identifies supply disruption risks and designs inventory buffers to maintain continuity. Students build resilience strategies without excessive cost penalties.

Lesson 2 • Continuous Improvement in Inventory Management

Applies lean, Six Sigma, and PDCA frameworks to ongoing inventory improvement. Students design a structured programme to sustain performance gains over time.

Lesson 3 • Sales and Operations Planning Integration

Positions inventory management within the S&OP process and demand-supply balancing. Students contribute inventory data and recommendations to planning cycles.