Advanced Materials Storage Management - Policy and Process

Course review:

Stores managers need to know the rationale behind the procedures and practices employed in their facility. Their understanding and knowledge must be at a level such that they can manage their supervisory staff with confidence and authority. They must be able to contribute strongly to policy and process development as well as themselves leading the development of appropriate and robust procedures for their department.

This course is designed for experienced staff operating as senior supervisors, stores managers and stores superintendents. It is also appropriate for people soon to be promoted into such roles and for graduates on rapid development routes.

By the end of the programme participants will have:

• an awareness of global best practice.
• an ability to compare options for equipment, systems, processes and procedures.
• a true appreciation and understanding of the rationale behind existing methods.
• the skill to develop and implement improvement.
• an overriding focus on improvement in health and safety standards within a context of care for the environment and sustainability.

Topics covered will include:

• the place of materials storage within modern supply chains.
• delivering excellence to the customer.
• holistic evaluation of the management issues of outsourcing.
• developing leaner and more agile value chains and just-in-time supply.
• the requirements of appropriate inward inspection.
• the challenges of codification, certification, and traceability.
• performance management through the use of KPIs and customised costing systems.
• automated and mechanized systems and equipment.
• financial impact of different equipment specifications and methods.
• the diversity of storage regimes and their associated objectives, e.g. stores and sub stores, squirrel stores, free-issues stores.
• differentiating the specific need of project materials management.
• the effective use of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• optimum cube utilization and labour productivity.
• picking management and picking methods.
• costing systems.
• despatch management.
• break bulk and cross-docking within tight deadlines.
• waste, recycling and the environment.
• mitigating operational vulnerability to external factors, and ensuring resilience.