Operational Logistics Course

Lesson 1 • Core Logistics System Components

Breaks down the physical and informational elements that form a logistics system. Connects component roles to overall operational performance.

Lesson 2 • Logistics Stakeholders and Relationships

Identifies internal and external parties involved in logistics operations and their interdependencies. Builds awareness of coordination requirements across the supply chain.

Lesson 3 • Defining Logistics and Supply Chains

Introduces logistics as a discipline and maps its relationship to broader supply chain management. Provides the conceptual baseline for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Qualitative and Collaborative Forecasting

Addresses judgment-based and cross-functional forecasting approaches when data is limited. Introduces collaborative planning frameworks used across supply chain partners.

Lesson 2 • Translating Forecasts into Logistics Plans

Shows how demand forecasts convert into capacity, inventory, and transportation requirements. Bridges forecasting outputs to operational planning decisions.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Demand Management

Explains how demand signals flow through the supply chain and why accurate demand management reduces waste. Anchors forecasting within the broader logistics system.

Lesson 1 • Inventory Costs and Trade-offs

Quantifies holding, ordering, and shortage costs to reveal the economic trade-offs in inventory decisions. Provides the financial logic behind replenishment models.

Lesson 2 • Replenishment Models and Policies

Introduces fixed-order-quantity and fixed-interval replenishment models and their appropriate use cases. Connects model selection to demand patterns identified in forecasting.

Lesson 3 • Inventory Classification and Segmentation

Applies ABC and other segmentation methods to prioritize inventory management effort. Directly informs replenishment and storage decisions covered later in the chapter.

Lesson 4 • Inventory Accuracy and Record Integrity

Covers cycle counting, physical inventory, and root-cause analysis to maintain accurate stock records. Accurate records are a prerequisite for effective replenishment and planning.

Lesson 1 • Receiving, Putaway, and Storage

Details inbound processes from unloading through product placement in storage locations. Accurate putaway directly affects picking speed and inventory accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Warehouse Design and Layout Principles

Covers space utilization, flow path design, and storage system selection for efficient warehouse operations. Establishes the physical foundation for all warehouse processes.

Lesson 3 • Order Picking and Packing Methods

Examines picking strategies and packing standards that drive order accuracy and throughput. Picking is typically the highest-cost warehouse activity and the focus of improvement efforts.

Lesson 4 • Shipping and Outbound Processes

Covers load planning, documentation, and carrier handoff procedures for outbound shipments. Connects warehouse output to transportation execution covered in the next chapter.

Lesson 1 • Freight Documentation and Compliance

Details the documents required for domestic and international shipments and their compliance implications. Proper documentation prevents delays, fines, and cargo holds.

Lesson 2 • Shipment Tracking and Exception Management

Covers real-time visibility tools and structured processes for managing transit exceptions. Proactive exception management protects service levels and customer commitments.

Lesson 3 • Routing and Load Optimization

Introduces routing algorithms and load consolidation strategies to minimize transportation cost. Applies demand and inventory data from earlier chapters to freight planning.

Lesson 4 • Transportation Modes and Characteristics

Compares road, rail, air, ocean, and pipeline modes by cost, speed, capacity, and reliability. Mode selection knowledge underpins all carrier and routing decisions.

Lesson 1 • Supplier Identification and Qualification

Covers methods for identifying, evaluating, and onboarding new suppliers. A rigorous qualification process reduces supply risk and quality failures.

Lesson 2 • Purchasing Processes and Order Management

Details the purchase order lifecycle from requisition through receipt and payment. Efficient purchasing processes reduce cycle time and administrative cost.

Lesson 3 • Supplier Performance Management

Introduces scorecards, review cadences, and improvement programs to sustain supplier quality and delivery. Ongoing performance management protects inventory and service level targets.

Lesson 4 • Strategic Sourcing Fundamentals

Introduces spend analysis, category segmentation, and sourcing strategy development. Positions procurement as a strategic function that shapes supply chain resilience.

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Visibility and Analytics

Introduces dashboards, reporting tools, and analytical methods that convert logistics data into actionable insights. Visibility enables proactive management of exceptions and trends.

Lesson 2 • Data Quality and Master Data Management

Addresses the governance practices needed to maintain accurate, consistent logistics master data. Poor data quality undermines every system and decision in the supply chain.

Lesson 3 • Data Capture and Identification Technologies

Covers barcodes, RFID, and IoT sensors used to capture real-time logistics data. Accurate data capture is the foundation of inventory accuracy and shipment visibility.

Lesson 4 • Emerging Automation Technologies

Explores robotic process automation, autonomous vehicles, and AI-driven optimization in logistics. Prepares students to evaluate and adopt automation investments strategically.

Lesson 1 • Building Long-Term Supply Chain Resilience

Addresses network design choices, supplier collaboration, and organizational capabilities that sustain resilience over time. Resilience is treated as a strategic competitive advantage.

Lesson 2 • Mitigation and Contingency Strategies

Covers risk transfer, avoidance, reduction, and acceptance strategies with logistics-specific examples. Mitigation plans are linked to the risk register built in the previous section.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Risk Identification

Introduces risk taxonomy, mapping tools, and vulnerability assessment methods for logistics networks. Systematic identification is the first step toward effective risk management.

Lesson 4 • Risk Assessment and Prioritization

Applies probability-impact analysis and risk scoring to prioritize mitigation investments. Prioritization ensures limited resources address the most consequential threats first.