About This Course
Effective inventory management is one of the most powerful levers organisations can pull to improve profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational resilience. Yet for many businesses and institutions, inventory remains a source of hidden cost — tied up in excess stock, lost in stockouts, or eroded through waste and obsolescence. The challenge is not simply counting what is on the shelf; it is making smarter, forward-looking decisions about what to hold, how much, when to replenish, and how to respond when demand or supply conditions shift.
Strategic Inventory Planning and Management Training by TrainingComplex is a five-day intensive programme designed to transform the way participants think about and manage inventory. Drawing on globally recognised frameworks such as Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), ABC-XYZ analysis, safety stock modelling, and demand forecasting techniques, this course provides a structured, practical approach to inventory optimisation. Participants will also explore the strategic dimensions of inventory — including how inventory decisions interact with procurement strategy, supplier lead times, service-level commitments, and financial performance.
The programme is built for practitioners who are already working in supply chain, warehousing, procurement, or operations roles and who want to elevate their capability from reactive stock management to proactive, data-driven inventory planning. Through case studies drawn from manufacturing, retail, public sector, and NGO contexts, participants will develop solutions that are immediately applicable to their own organisations.
By the end of the programme, participants will leave with a personal action plan, a set of ready-to-use tools and templates, and the confidence to lead inventory improvement initiatives that deliver tangible results for their organisations.
Who Should Attend
- Inventory Managers and Controllers
- Supply Chain Analysts and Planners
- Procurement Officers and Managers
- Warehouse and Stores Managers
- Operations Managers responsible for stock management
- Logistics Coordinators and Distribution Managers
- Finance Professionals involved in working capital management
- NGO and Public Sector Supply Chain Officers
- Manufacturing and Production Planners
Learning Objectives
- Understand the strategic role of inventory within the broader supply chain and its impact on financial performance
- Apply demand forecasting techniques to improve replenishment accuracy and reduce stockouts
- Implement ABC-XYZ analysis to prioritise inventory management efforts by value and variability
- Calculate and set appropriate reorder points, safety stock levels, and order quantities using recognised models
- Design and apply effective inventory classification, coding, and record-keeping systems
- Evaluate and select suitable inventory replenishment systems including continuous review and periodic review models
- Identify and reduce the root causes of excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory
- Align inventory planning decisions with supplier lead times, service-level agreements, and procurement strategy
- Use inventory performance metrics and KPIs to monitor, report, and drive continuous improvement
- Develop an inventory optimisation action plan tailored to their organisation's operating context
Course Modules
Module 1: The Strategic Role of Inventory in Supply Chain Management
- Why organisations hold inventory: purposes, risks, and trade-offs
- The cost of inventory: holding, ordering, stockout, and obsolescence costs
- Inventory as a working capital lever: the link to cash flow and profitability
- Types of inventory: raw materials, WIP, finished goods, MRO, and consumables
- Inventory strategy vs. inventory operations: understanding the distinction
- Aligning inventory decisions with organisational and supply chain strategy
Module 2: Demand Analysis and Forecasting for Inventory Planning
- Understanding demand patterns: trend, seasonality, and variability
- Qualitative forecasting methods: expert judgement and collaborative planning
- Quantitative methods: moving average, weighted average, and exponential smoothing
- Measuring forecast accuracy: MAD, MAPE, and bias indicators
- Demand segmentation and its implications for forecasting approach
- Using forecasts to drive replenishment decisions and safety stock calculations
Module 3: Inventory Classification: ABC-XYZ and Beyond
- The principle and purpose of ABC analysis based on value consumption
- Conducting an ABC analysis: step-by-step methodology and interpretation
- XYZ analysis: classifying inventory by demand variability
- Combining ABC and XYZ to create a nine-cell management matrix
- Differentiating management policies by inventory class
- Applying classification results to review frequency, safety stock, and supplier strategy
Module 4: Inventory Replenishment Models and Systems
- Continuous review (Q-system) vs. periodic review (P-system): principles and trade-offs
- Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): assumptions, formula, and sensitivity analysis
- Reorder Point (ROP): calculation incorporating lead time and safety stock
- Min-Max systems: setting minimum and maximum stock levels in practice
- Just-in-Time and lean replenishment: applicability and limitations
- Selecting the right replenishment system for different inventory classes
Module 5: Safety Stock and Service-Level Optimisation
- The role of safety stock in buffering demand and supply uncertainty
- Calculating safety stock using standard deviation and service-level factors
- Service-level concepts: cycle service level vs. fill rate
- The cost-service trade-off curve and how to use it in decision-making
- Dynamic safety stock: adjusting buffers as conditions change
- Avoiding over-stocking while maintaining target service levels
Module 6: Inventory Record Accuracy and Stock Control Systems
- The impact of record inaccuracy on planning, service, and cost
- Root causes of inventory record errors and systematic solutions
- Cyclic counting programmes: design, frequency setting, and execution
- Barcode, RFID, and digital tracking technologies for stock control
- Inventory coding, nomenclature, and master data governance
- Reconciliation procedures and corrective action workflows
Module 7: Supplier Lead Time Management and Procurement Alignment
- Understanding lead time components: supplier, transit, receiving, and internal processing
- Measuring and benchmarking supplier lead time performance
- The bullwhip effect: causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies
- Collaborative planning with suppliers to reduce lead time variability
- Aligning purchase order schedules with inventory replenishment triggers
- Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) and consignment stock arrangements
Module 8: Managing Excess, Obsolete, and Slow-Moving Inventory
- Defining and identifying excess, obsolete, and slow-moving (EOSL) stock
- Root cause analysis: why EOSL inventory accumulates
- Financial impact: write-downs, disposal costs, and balance sheet implications
- Disposal strategies: redistribution, return to supplier, donation, and liquidation
- Prevention policies: procurement controls, demand review gates, and sunset rules
- Building an EOSL reduction programme and tracking progress
Module 9: Inventory Performance Measurement and KPI Frameworks
- Key inventory KPIs: stock turnover, days of cover, fill rate, and stockout frequency
- Designing an inventory performance dashboard for management reporting
- Benchmarking inventory performance against sector standards
- Using variance analysis to identify and investigate performance gaps
- Linking inventory KPIs to procurement, finance, and operations scorecards
- Building a culture of data-driven inventory review and accountability
Module 10: Inventory Optimisation Action Planning and Continuous Improvement
- Assessing the current state: conducting an inventory health diagnostic
- Prioritising improvement initiatives using effort-impact analysis
- Building the business case for inventory investment: quantifying expected savings
- Change management considerations in inventory improvement programmes
- Tools and templates for sustaining inventory discipline post-training
- Developing and presenting a personal inventory optimisation action plan
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least one year of practical experience in supply chain, procurement, warehousing, logistics, or a related operations role. A basic understanding of stock management concepts — such as purchase orders, goods receipt, and stock counts — is assumed. No advanced mathematical or software skills are required, though comfort with working in spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel or equivalent) will be beneficial.
Training Methodology
- Inventory scenario simulations in which participants calculate reorder points, safety stock, and EOQ for realistic product portfolios
- ABC-XYZ classification workshops using real or representative data sets to practise tiered inventory prioritisation
- Demand forecasting exercises applying moving average, weighted average, and exponential smoothing techniques to historical data
- Case study analyses drawn from manufacturing, retail, humanitarian supply chains, and public sector stores management
- Group problem-solving sessions in which teams diagnose root causes of excess and obsolete stock and propose corrective actions
- KPI dashboard design exercises in which participants build and interpret inventory performance scorecards
- Peer review of participants' current inventory policies and identification of improvement opportunities
- Personal action planning sessions at the end of each day to consolidate learning and anchor it to participants' own organisational contexts
Organisational Benefits
- Reduced inventory holding costs and improved working capital efficiency
- Fewer stockouts and service disruptions, leading to higher customer and stakeholder satisfaction
- Improved accuracy in demand planning and procurement scheduling
- Stronger alignment between inventory, procurement, and financial planning functions
- Reduction in waste from expired, obsolete, or damaged stock
- Enhanced stock visibility and control through better classification and record-keeping
- More confident and capable inventory management staff who apply structured, analytical approaches
- A pipeline of inventory improvement initiatives with measurable ROI
- Better supplier relationship outcomes driven by more predictable ordering patterns
Where Is Strategic Inventory Planning and Management Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Nairobi, Abuja, Dubai, Kigali, Kisumu, Kampala, Naivasha, Pretoria, Accra, Addis Ababa, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Nakuru, Zanzibar, Cape Town, Lagos, Mombasa, Riyadh, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,100 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,300 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,300 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
24 Oct 2026 – 15 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
+234 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a formal supply chain qualification to attend this course?
No formal qualification is required. The course is designed for working practitioners with at least one year of hands-on experience in inventory, supply chain, procurement, or warehousing. What matters most is that you are managing or influencing stock in your day-to-day role.
Will participants receive a certificate upon completion?
Yes. All participants who attend the full five-day programme will receive a Certificate of Completion from TrainingComplex, which can be used for continuing professional development (CPD) purposes and added to your professional portfolio.
Is this course relevant to NGOs and public sector organisations, or is it mainly for private sector businesses?
The course is fully relevant to both sectors. Case studies and examples are drawn from manufacturing, retail, humanitarian supply chains, and public sector stores management, so participants from any organisational context will find the content directly applicable.
What tools or software will be used during the training?
The course uses Microsoft Excel for practical exercises such as demand forecasting, EOQ calculations, and ABC-XYZ analysis. Participants are not required to be advanced Excel users — a working familiarity with spreadsheets is sufficient. Concepts taught are applicable regardless of the inventory or ERP system your organisation uses.
Can this training be delivered in-house for our entire procurement or supply chain team?
Yes. TrainingComplex offers customised in-house delivery of this programme for organisations that wish to train a team together. In-house delivery allows the content and case studies to be tailored specifically to your organisation's products, systems, and strategic priorities. Contact TrainingComplex directly to discuss your requirements.
