Foundations of Inventory Management

1. Introduction to Inventory Management

• Role of inventory in the supply chain
  
  
• Types of inventory (raw materials, WIP, finished goods, MRO)
  
  
• Inventory objectives and performance trade-offs
  
  

2. Inventory Costs & Financial Impact

• Ordering, holding, shortage, and obsolescence costs
  
  
• Inventory and working capital
  
  
• Impact on cash flow and profitability
  
  

3. Inventory Control Techniques

• Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
  
  
• Reorder point and safety stock
  
  
• Min–Max systems
  
  
• Cycle counting and physical inventory
  
  

4. Demand & Inventory Planning Basics

• Demand patterns and variability
  
  
• Forecasting basics for inventory decisions
  
  
• Lead time management
  
  

Buffer stock planning