1. Program Overview

This program provides participants with a deep understanding of inventory management principles and demand planning strategies crucial to achieving optimal stock levels, minimizing costs, and ensuring customer satisfaction. The training emphasizes data-driven decision-making, forecasting techniques, and technology-driven solutions for end-to-end supply chain visibility and performance.

2. Training Objectives

By the end of the program, trainees will be able to:

• Understand the strategic role of inventory in supply chain performance
• Apply demand forecasting methods to align inventory with market needs
• Design effective inventory control systems and replenishment models
• Analyze inventory turnover and working capital optimization
• Implement technology and automation in inventory planning
• Identify and mitigate risks related to stock-outs, overstocking, and obsolescence

3. Target Trainees

This course is ideal for:

• Supply chain and logistics managers
• Inventory and warehouse officers
• Procurement and operations professionals
• Planners, analysts, and demand forecasters
• ERP system users involved in stock planning and control

4. Main Discussion Items / Modules

• Module 1: Introduction to Inventory Management
• Types of inventory: raw materials, WIP, finished goods, MRO
• Inventory as a strategic asset
• Inventory management objectives and trade-offs
• ABC classification and inventory segmentation
• Module 2: Inventory Control Techniques
• EOQ (Economic Order Quantity), ROP (Reorder Point)
• Safety stock calculation
• Continuous vs. periodic review systems
• Inventory cost analysis: holding, ordering, shortage costs
• Module 3: Demand Planning and Forecasting
• Role of accurate forecasting in inventory management
• Qualitative and quantitative forecasting methods
• Time-series analysis, regression models, and moving averages
• Collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR)
• Module 4: Technology in Inventory and Demand Planning
• ERP and inventory management systems
• Barcode, RFID, and IoT in stock control
• Integration of AI/ML for demand prediction
• Real-time inventory tracking and dashboard reporting
• Module 5: Inventory Performance Monitoring
• Key Inventory Metrics (KPIs): inventory turnover, stock cover, fill rate
• Root cause analysis of stock variances
• Lean inventory practices and just-in-time (JIT) systems
• Cycle counting and inventory audits
• Module 6: Strategic Inventory Planning and Risk Management
• Demand-driven supply chain strategies
• Multi-echelon inventory optimization
• Managing seasonal demand, promotions, and new product launches
• Obsolescence control and inventory disposal strategies
• Note: Additional content includes sustainability in inventory management, supplier collaboration, and inventory budgeting models.

5. Training Methodology

• Interactive expert-led sessions
• Case studies from manufacturing, retail, and FMCG sectors
• Hands-on exercises with forecasting and planning templates
• Role-play simulations and planning scenarios
• Use of inventory planning software and dashboard tools
• Group discussions and solution design tasks

6. Tasks

• Classify sample inventory using ABC and XYZ models
• Calculate EOQ, ROP, and safety stock for different SKUs
• Prepare a demand forecast using at least two methods
• Design a stock monitoring dashboard with key KPIs
• Develop an inventory optimization strategy for a given case