Stock Management, Forecasting and Demand Planning

Why Attend

Demand planning and stock control will help Supply Chain Management (SCM) improve the accuracy of forecasts, ensure enough inventory levels at all times and enhance profitability by optimizing expenses. When demand planning and stock control are properly executed, shortages of what is needed and extra stocks will be a story of the past. Demand planners are “behind the scenes” professionals who are entrusted with this task. Their job is not straightforward given the dynamic nature of the scope and its many uncertainties. However, when executed right, the companies involved can capitalize on the many untapped opportunities where SCM can make a difference. In this course, several demand planning theories, models and best practices will be discussed. When properly implemented, they will help participants in dealing with various future scenarios in order to ensure a continuous flow of inventory at the least possible cost.

Course Methodology

This course uses a mix of interactive and hands-on techniques. In addition to brief presentations by the consultant and the participants, there will be many individual and group exercises. The exercises are all work related where participants need to calculate or draw the optimal solutions after understanding the process.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

State the objectives of stock management and list their impact on cost and customer service
Prepare proper classification of stock and use best practices for item specification and cataloguing
Use scientific forecasting techniques to predict demand and better manage lead times
Differentiate and categorize stock cost elements
Compute the optimum ordering quantity and determine safety stocks and reorder points

Target Audience

Those involved in inventory (materials) planning and stock control at the operational and supervisory levels. Also, all those working in other functions of materials management (purchasing, stores, and distribution) who need to understand the mechanics of inventory planning and stock control.

Target Competencies

Planning logistics
Logistics work processes
Inventory management
Assessment and planning of requirements
Forecasting demand

Introduction to stock management
- Supply chain management scope
- Functions and objectives of supply chain management
- Objectives of inventory planning and stock control
- Reasons to hold inventory
- Inventory information system considerations
- Inventory push versus pull systems
- Identifying inventory costs
- Customer service in inventory management
Description and classification of inventory
- Types of inventory
- The inventory ABC classification ranking model
- Uses of the ABC ranking
Forecasting demand and lead time
- The inventory order cycle
- Dependent versus independent demand
- Factors affecting demand
- Factors impacting demand forecast accuracy
- Demand patterns
- Time series forecasting methods
  - Seasonal demand
  - Moving average
  - Exponential smoothing
- Measuring the accuracy of the forecast
- Setting lead time and methods to control it
Inventory costs
- Inventory cost elements
  - Cost of item
  - Purchasing cost
  - Carrying or holding cost
  - Stock-out cost
Inventory systems
- The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model
- Dealing with quantity discounts
- Objectives of safety stocks
- Setting safety stocks
- Determining the Reorder Point (ROP)

2025 Schedule & Fees

Fees

Fees + VAT as applicable

(including coffee breaks and a buffet lunch daily)

Discount Plans & Cancellations Policy

Location & Date

There are no public sessions remaining for the course this year. Please contact us if you wish to have a customized in-house session, or to find out how an additional public session can be scheduled.

Meirc reserves the right to alter dates, content, venue, trainer, and to offer courses in an integrated virtual learning (IVL) format whereby face to face classroom participants and virtual learners participate simultaneously in the same course in an interactive learning experience.

Tax Registration Number: 100239834300003

Overview

Course Methodology

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

State the objectives of stock management and list their impact on cost and customer service
Prepare proper classification of stock and use best practices for item specification and cataloguing
Use scientific forecasting techniques to predict demand and better manage lead times
Differentiate and categorize stock cost elements
Compute the optimum ordering quantity and determine safety stocks and reorder points

Target Audience

Target Competencies

Planning logistics
Logistics work processes
Inventory management
Assessment and planning of requirements
Forecasting demand

Course Outline

Introduction to stock management
- Supply chain management scope
- Functions and objectives of supply chain management
- Objectives of inventory planning and stock control
- Reasons to hold inventory
- Inventory information system considerations
- Inventory push versus pull systems
- Identifying inventory costs
- Customer service in inventory management
Description and classification of inventory
- Types of inventory
- The inventory ABC classification ranking model
- Uses of the ABC ranking
Forecasting demand and lead time
- The inventory order cycle
- Dependent versus independent demand
- Factors affecting demand
- Factors impacting demand forecast accuracy
- Demand patterns
- Time series forecasting methods
  - Seasonal demand
  - Moving average
  - Exponential smoothing
- Measuring the accuracy of the forecast
- Setting lead time and methods to control it
Inventory costs
- Inventory cost elements
  - Cost of item
  - Purchasing cost
  - Carrying or holding cost
  - Stock-out cost
Inventory systems
- The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model
- Dealing with quantity discounts
- Objectives of safety stocks
- Setting safety stocks
- Determining the Reorder Point (ROP)