Ask any operations manager what keeps them up at night, and overstocked shelves sitting next to empty ones is usually on the list. Getting inventory right — enough to meet demand, not so much that cash sits idle — is one of the hardest balancing acts in any supply chain, and it rarely happens by accident.

This course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy builds that balance step by step: forecasting and analysing demand data, choosing the right control system for the business, and using digital tools to keep stock levels accurate. Participants leave with the analytical and decision-making skills needed to cut waste, reduce excess storage, and keep supply chains running smoothly.

Who Should Attend?

• Inventory and warehouse managers.
• Purchasing and logistics managers.
• Accounting and finance staff involved in inventory control.
• Anyone looking to strengthen their supply chain management skills.

Course Objectives

• Build the knowledge needed to raise the efficiency of inventory management.
• Apply effective inventory control tools and techniques on the job.
• Strengthen data analysis skills to support inventory-related decisions.
• Identify real inventory needs and cut waste and losses.
• Determine optimal inventory levels and balance supply against demand.

Module 1: Reading Demand Before You Order

• Forecasting demand using historical data.
• Using trend analysis techniques.
• Quantitative and qualitative forecasting methods.

Module 2: Inventory Fundamentals and Why They Matter

• The concept of inventory management in companies and organizations.
• Raw materials, finished goods and work-in-progress inventory, and their objectives.
• Classifying inventory according to its importance and quantity.

Module 3: Balancing Supply, Demand and Working Capital

• The concept of balancing supply and demand.
• The difference between overstock and stock shortages.
• The impact of inventory on working capital.

Module 4: Control Systems and Costing Methods

• Perpetual Inventory System versus Periodic Inventory System.
• FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out) methods.
• Calculating inventory costs and their impact on company profitability.

Module 5: Cutting Waste Through Min/Max and Safety Stock

• Implementing minimum/maximum techniques.
• Determining optimal inventory levels.
• Monitoring waste and losses on an ongoing basis.

Module 6: Technology-Driven Inventory Control

• Automated inventory management systems.
• Specialized software for tracking inventory.
• Benefits of using electronic inventory tracking systems.

Module 7: Auditing, Reporting and Decision-Making

• Periodic stocktaking and reconciliation reports between actual and recorded stock.
• Inventory evaluation tools using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Making quick and accurate decisions based on inventory analysis.

Module 8: Keeping Control in a Changing Environment

• Dealing with sudden changes in demand.
• Flexibility strategies in inventory management.
• The role of effective control in maintaining production and supply stability.