There are 10 lessons:

1.   Nature and Scope of Logistics Management

• Introduction to logistics
• Inbound logistics
• Outbound logistics
• Logistics or supply chain management
• Goals and objectives of logistics
• Increased efficiency
• Responding efficiency
• Reducing unexpected events
• Keeping inventory to a minimum
• Just-in-time inventory management
• Transport cost reduction
• Improving quality
• Supply chain channels
• Direct & indirect channels
• Types of distribution channel
• Choosing the best distribution channel?
• Nature of the product
• Value of product
• Target market
• Legal requirements
• Competitor activities
• How e-commerce has altered supply chain management, logistics & business
• Changes globally

2.  Logistics – Strategies and Operations

• Logistics
• Strategies and operations
• Decisions within logistics
• Customer service
• Logistics network design
• Vertical integration vs outsourcing
• Vertical integration
• Outsourcing
• Developing a logistics strategy
• Components of logistics strategy
• Designing a logistics strategy
• Implementing logistic strategies in strategic planning
• Developing a strategic plan
• Identifying a key strategic focus
• Using kaizen as a business strategy

3.  Procurement

• The procurement cycle
• A focus on tendering
• Procurement – raw materials
• Forecasting
• Monitoring supplier performance
• What needs to be monitored?
• Evaluate supplier performance
• Challenges around procurement
• Risk mitigation
• Reputation
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• Sustainability
• What is a green strategy?
• What do companies need to consider?

4.  Warehousing and Storage

• What is a warehouse?
• The purpose of a warehouse
• Activities required in warehouses
• Advantages of warehousing
• Types of warehouses
• Private
• Public warehouses
• Bonded storage
• Co-operative warehouses
• Distribution warehouse
• A focus on drop shipping & warehousing
• Warehousing management systems
• How does a WMS work?
• Case study: amazon
• Technology affecting warehousing
• Big data
• Robotics and autonomous machines
• Blockchain, tech networks and the cloud
• Customer service in warehousing
• Warehouse regulation

5.  Materials

• Introduction to materials in logistics
• Types of materials
• Material handling
• Designing a material handling system
• Material handling equipment
• Bulk material handling
• Engineered systems
• Industrial trucks
• Storage and handling equipment
• Packaging
• Containers
• Pallets
• Materials used for shipping
• Ethical issues and sustainability
• Ethical sourcing of materials
• Reusing materials
• Ethical packaging

6. Transport and delivery

• Transportation management
• Modes of transport
• Road transportation – truck freight
• Marine transportation – ship
• Case study: the Suez Canal obstruction
• Rail transportation – train
• Air transportation – plane
• Intermodal transport
• Delivery scheduling
• The importance of a good schedule

Lesson 7: Inventory management

• Types of inventories
• How inventory is planned & controlled
• Planning approaches
• Challenges with inventory planning
• Inaccurate or incomplete data
• Multiple locations
• Insufficient order management
• Human error
• Software & systems
• Automated store ordering
• Robotic stock handling
• Blockchain
• Supply and demand
• Sensitivity analysis
• Review systems
• Vendor managed inventory
• Case study: toilet paper during covid
• Case study: impact of semiconductor shortage on car manufacturing

8.  Risk management – health & safety issues, legislation

• Health & safety: warehousing
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Vehicles in and around the warehouse
• Dangerous goods
• Employee stress & management
• The positive side of stress
• The negative side of stress
• Chain of responsibility
• Risks in logistics
• What is risk?
• How to mitigate risk
• Evaluating risks
• Time frames
• Legalities
• Strategies
• How to react: processes to mitigate risk
• Tools

9.  Supply chain dynamics

• Predicting change – is it possible?
• Types of change in a business
• Identifying problems
• Planning for change
• Organisational change management
• Choosing the right behaviour change intervention
• Step 1 involves identifying the behaviour
• Step 2 involves identifying the most valuable intervention option(s)
• Step 3 involves identifying and conducting policy change
• Behaviour change techniques
• Reverse logistics
• Returns
• Reselling
• Repairs
• Recycling
• Replacement
• Obsolescence
• Traceability
• Mapping
• Transparency
• Building a better supply chain
• Future technology
• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Drone technology
• Robotics
• Advances in ecommerce
• Drop shipping
• Outsourcing
• Track and trace

10. Problem based learning (PBL) project

• Logistics plan for organic energy
• Your logistics plan
• Presentation component

• Discuss the nature and scope of logistics management.
• Develop strategies for improving business operations.
• Apply logistics to more effective procurement.
• Apply logistics to more effective warehousing.
• Determine and manage appropriate materials to use for different scenarios.
• Compare transport and delivery options for different goods and services.
• Determine appropriate inventory management for different business or organisational contexts.
• Formulate a risk management strategy for supply of good or services in an organisation or business.
• Predict changes that may impact supply within a business or organisation and develop appropriate responses to change.
• Develop a logistics plan for a company manufacturing, selling, and distributing a product.

IMPORTANCE OF LOGISTICS IN TODAY’S GLOBAL MARKETS

Logistics refers to the coordination and processes involved in moving resources from one place to another. The resources can include materials, people, equipment, and inventory. There is often a mix of resources being moved.

Depending on the size of the business, and the scope of the product or service offering, logistics can be a very complex process with specific departments created to manage it.

Without appropriate resource and logistics management, challenges will appear. For smaller businesses, unable to allocate budget for logistics, a logistics manager (or the business owner) will need to oversee this process.

Inbound Logistics
This is one of the primary processes of logistics, it focusses on purchasing resources – usually materials, parts and inventory which requires finishing. These resources are then moved from supplier to warehouse, assembly plants or retail outlets. Inbound logistics focusses on bringing raw materials together for assembly prior to sale such as car parts that are delivered to an automotive plant for assembly.

Outbound Logistics
This can relate to either the movement of a final product to a retail outlet or to a storage facility e.g., warehousing. Once the product is off the production line, the outbound logistics process works on ensuring that it reaches the end-user.

Logistics or Supply Chain Management
Logistics forms part of the supply chain but the terms are not interchangeable. Supply chain management handles the flow of goods and services, from raw manufacturing right through to consumer delivery. This is carried out by several different suppliers who are used at each stage of the process. These suppliers are the links in the supply chain. If one ‘link’ breaks, there can be major disruption to the overall process.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.