Warehouse and Inventory Management

Definition of inventory

Importance of inventory and warehousing

Warehouse location

Types of warehouses

Strategic warehousing

Distribution centres and cross-docking

Role of the warehousing and inventory manager

Warehouse functions – receipt, inspection, storage, and retrieval

Warehouse design and layout

Packaging and shipping

Safety and security in warehousing

Legal and regulatory compliance
Scrap disposal

Principles of Material Handling

Material handling equipment

Unitization and Palletization

Automation in warehousing – Pick-to-light, Put-to-Light, use of robots
Modern storage systems

Types of inventories

Costs associated with inventory

Economic order quantity (EOQ)

Selective inventory control techniques like ABC, VED, FSN etc.

Vendor managed inventories

Uncertainties associated with Inventory

Lead time – internal and external

Service level

Re-order level

Buffer stock

Replenishment systems – P system, Q system etc.

Inventory record keeping

Stock counting methods

Managing discrepancies and surplus

Managing obsolescence

Inventory valuation – FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average etc.

Measuring warehouse performance – key metrics

Managing outsourced warehouses

Warehouse management system

Warehouse communications

UPC

RFID

Risk management in warehousing

Sustainability – the triple bottom line

Sustainable warehouse practices

Health, safety and environment

Energy efficiency

Reverse logistics