A shipment delayed by a single day can cost a company its biggest client - which is exactly why logistics has moved in recent years from a back-office function into a genuine boardroom priority, spanning both academic study and real-world application. As businesses have grown, expanded their product lines and captured larger market shares, logistics has become the backbone connecting transport, materials, supply chains, storage and physical distribution - all now built on contemporary technology.

Procurement and supply teams sit at the heart of this shift: their external relationships with suppliers are what keep an organisation's logistics functions running smoothly, feeding directly into how products and services eventually reach the customer. According to the 2014 Logistics Performance Index, training in logistics and supply chain management ranks among the most critical tasks for professionals across the global economy - and leadership roles in the sector now demand a genuinely high level of expertise to manage complex supply chains from raw material to end consumer.

Who Should Attend:

• Logistics managers, executive coordinators and material managers.
• Warehouse managers, supervisors, distribution managers and warehouse staff supervisors.
• Directors and owners of large commercial and industrial companies, and general managers in public and private organisations.

Course Objectives - by the end, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of logistics management, its implications and the different logistics strategies used across the market.
• Describe the role of logistics in supply chains for the 21st century and in service industries.
• Apply logistics strategy to redefine segments and improve company efficiency, effectiveness and competitive advantage.
• Track how logistics concepts have evolved alongside the growth of information systems.

Module 1: Logistics - Concept, Types and Why It Exists

• The concept, definition and basics of logistics, along with its main types.
• The reasons behind the emergence of a dedicated logistics function inside enterprises, and its overall importance and objectives.

Module 2: Managing Materials and Inventory

• An overview of materials and inventory management, and why it matters.
• Regulatory procedures for inventory, inventory reports, and effective material planning and control.

Module 3: Supply Chain Management and Risk

• Supply chain management fundamentals and their role within enterprises.
• Risk assessment methods, precautions against risk, and how risk connects to company policies and procedures.
• How institutions certify their risk assessments and deal with risks arising from corruption.

Module 4: Logistics Services and Business Development

• How logistics services management connects to the wider development of a company's work.
• Desktop logistics defined, and the right timing for taking necessary precautions.