Logistics Management Training Course

Duration 10 days 20 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Logistics Managers, Warehouse Managers and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-LD-268

Before you join: Participants should have basic experience in supply chain, procurement, warehousing, transport, operations or customer fulfilment.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Logistics managers must meet customer delivery promises while controlling transport, warehousing, inventory, handling and compliance costs. Poorly designed logistics operations create stockouts, excess inventory, avoidable freight premiums, warehouse congestion, inaccurate orders and weak visibility of goods in transit. The challenge is to make sound trade-offs between service, cost, speed, capacity, risk and working capital using reliable data and disciplined operating controls.

This course develops the practical knowledge expected of a logistics professional responsible for distribution operations, warehousing, inventory, transport and international shipments. Participants learn to map material, information and cash flows; segment customer service requirements; design distribution networks; manage warehouse processes; set inventory policies; control freight spend; measure performance; and manage returns, customs, security and disruption risks. The course also covers WMS, TMS and ERP roles, logistics master data, carrier management, logistics costing and continuous improvement methods.

Teaching combines short instructor briefings with logistics cases, group analysis, warehouse and transport scenarios, simulations and structured application planning. Participants build elements of a logistics operating plan throughout the first week, then deepen the plan through cost-to-serve analysis, risk controls, performance measures and improvement actions during the second week. They leave with a completed logistics operating plan, including network assumptions, inventory and transport policies, warehouse controls, KPI dashboard, risk register and implementation roadmap. Participants receive a certificate of completion.

The course suits professionals moving into logistics responsibility, as well as experienced staff seeking a structured method for improving distribution performance across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, public services, humanitarian operations and financial-sector procurement functions.

What you will be able to do

  • Map material, information and cash flows using SCOR Digital Standard process categories
  • Design customer service policies using order profiles, service levels and perfect-order measures
  • Develop distribution network scenarios using facility-location, capacity and transport cost analysis
  • Set warehouse operating controls for receiving, slotting, picking, cycle counting and dispatch
  • Calculate reorder points, safety stock and EOQ using demand, lead-time and service data
  • Evaluate carrier, freight forwarding and transport options using cost, service and risk criteria
  • Build logistics KPI dashboards, cost-to-serve models and risk registers for management review
  • Present an integrated logistics operating plan with implementation priorities and controls

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Apply recognised logistics methods when assessing distribution and fulfilment problems
  • Build credible warehouse, inventory and transport improvement recommendations
  • Interpret logistics costs beyond headline freight and storage charges
  • Lead evidence-based discussions with carriers, freight forwarders and warehouse providers
  • Prepare a portfolio-quality logistics operating plan for workplace application

For your organisation

  • Improved delivery reliability through clearer service policies and order controls
  • Lower avoidable freight, handling and inventory costs through total cost-to-serve analysis
  • Higher warehouse accuracy and throughput through standard work and performance measures
  • Stronger resilience through documented logistics risks, contingencies and escalation triggers
  • Better investment decisions for facilities, systems, transport capacity and outsourced services

Course modules

20 modules over 10 days

Participants can map logistics flows and explain the service, cost and working-capital trade-offs within a supply network.

  • Logistics scope, flows and trade-offs across cost, service and working capital
  • SCOR Digital Standard processes: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Return and Enable
  • Material, information and cash flows mapped through an end-to-end supply network
  • Customer service promises translated into measurable logistics operating requirements
  • Total landed cost separates purchase, transport, duty, handling and inventory
  • Functional interfaces between procurement, production, sales, finance and logistics

Participants can define customer service requirements and measure fulfilment performance using consistent operational rules.

  • Customer segmentation using order profiles, channel requirements and service expectations
  • Order winners and qualifiers shape differentiated distribution service policies
  • Perfect order measurement combines complete, on-time, damage-free and accurate delivery
  • Service-level agreements define responsibilities, measures, remedies and review cadence
  • Voice-of-customer evidence converted into specific logistics design requirements and priorities
  • Order cycle time decomposed into capture, processing, picking, transit and proof

Participants can compare distribution network options using demand, capacity, facility and transport assumptions.

  • Facility-location decisions balance demand proximity, fixed cost, capacity and transport
  • Centre-of-gravity analysis estimates candidate distribution centre locations from demand data
  • Network scenarios compare centralised, regional and direct-to-customer fulfilment models
  • Flow-path mapping identifies cross-dock, storage, consolidation and postponement opportunities
  • Capacity constraints tested against peak demand, seasonality and growth assumptions
  • Make-or-buy choices assess private fleet, shared-user and outsourced distribution

Participants can select transport modes, plan shipments and manage carrier performance against service and cost targets.

  • Transport mode selection compares cost, speed, reliability, capacity and emissions
  • Shipment consolidation rules use weight, cube, route and delivery-window constraints
  • Route planning applies stop sequencing, vehicle capacity and driver-hours limits
  • Freight rate structures distinguish line-haul, fuel, accessorial and detention charges
  • Carrier scorecards measure tender acceptance, pickup performance, claims and invoice accuracy
  • Transport documents establish custody, instructions, charges and delivery confirmation

Participants can assess warehouse layouts, storage methods and process flows for safe and efficient fulfilment.

  • Warehouse process maps trace receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing and dispatch
  • Slotting analysis assigns stock locations using velocity, cube, handling and compatibility
  • Storage media selection compares pallet racking, shelving, bins and floor stacking
  • Travel-time reduction uses ABC classification, pick paths and forward-pick locations
  • Dock scheduling balances inbound appointments, labour availability and staging capacity
  • Warehouse layout calculates aisle, storage, marshalling and support-space requirements

Participants can establish warehouse controls that improve stock accuracy, picking quality and operational discipline.

  • Standard work defines receiving checks, put-away confirmation and exception handling
  • Cycle counting plans use ABC classes, tolerance limits and root-cause codes
  • Inventory accuracy reconciles physical counts, WMS records and transaction timing
  • Picking methods compare discrete, batch, zone, wave and cluster approaches
  • Quality control prevents mispicks, damage, expiry and shipment documentation errors
  • 5S visual management improves location discipline, safety and problem visibility

Participants can set inventory policies using demand patterns, replenishment lead times and service targets.

  • Demand classification separates independent, dependent, seasonal and intermittent demand patterns
  • ABC-XYZ analysis combines annual usage value with demand variability
  • Reorder point calculation uses average demand, lead time and safety stock
  • Safety stock reflects demand error, lead-time variation and target service level
  • EOQ evaluates ordering cost, holding cost and replenishment quantity
  • Obsolescence controls identify slow-moving, excess, expired and non-moving inventory

Participants can assess forecasts and coordinate replenishment decisions with demand, supply and inventory constraints.

  • Statistical forecasts use moving averages, exponential smoothing and seasonal indices
  • Forecast accuracy tracks bias, MAD, MAPE and forecast value added
  • Sales and operations planning reconciles demand, supply, inventory and capacity
  • Time fences distinguish frozen, slushy and liquid planning horizons
  • Exception management prioritises shortages, late supply and demand deviations
  • Master data governance controls item dimensions, lead times, units and locations

Participants can control the order-to-cash process and manage fulfilment exceptions before they affect customers.

  • Order-to-cash mapping exposes handoffs, validation rules, credit holds and rework
  • Order promising applies available-to-promise, allocation rules and delivery-date logic
  • Order management systems coordinate capture, release, fulfilment, invoicing and returns
  • Exception queues prioritise backorders, partial shipments, substitutions and customer communication
  • Electronic data interchange transmits purchase orders, acknowledgements, ASNs and invoices
  • Proof-of-delivery controls support billing, claims resolution and customer records

Participants can design returns controls and select appropriate disposition routes for returned products.

  • Returns policies define authorisation, condition assessment, disposition and customer credits
  • Reverse flows segregate resale, repair, refurbishment, recycling and disposal routes
  • Return reason codes reveal product, packing, carrier and fulfilment failures
  • Closed-loop logistics evaluates recovery value, processing cost and environmental obligations
  • Recall logistics plans traceability, customer notification, quarantine and controlled recovery
  • Disposition decisions consider safety, quality, legal requirements and residual value

Participants can manage international shipment responsibilities, documentation and core customs compliance requirements.

  • Incoterms 2020 allocate delivery obligations, risk transfer, costs and customs tasks
  • Commodity classification uses HS codes, product descriptions and supporting evidence
  • Customs valuation determines declared value, additions, deductions and duty exposure
  • Export documentation includes commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates and declarations
  • Free-trade agreement origin rules test qualification and documentary requirements
  • Sanctions screening checks parties, destinations, goods and transaction restrictions

Participants can source, contract and control freight services using clear commercial and operational requirements.

  • Air, ocean, road and rail forwarding roles defined by service scope
  • Container utilisation calculates cube fill, weight limits and loading constraints
  • Freight tenders specify lanes, volumes, equipment, service measures and pricing
  • Carrier contracts address liability limits, insurance, claims and performance remedies
  • Shipment visibility milestones track booking, departure, arrival, clearance and delivery
  • Demurrage and detention controls assign accountability for container dwell time

Participants can align procurement requirements, supplier performance and packaging decisions with logistics needs.

  • Procurement specifications capture packaging, delivery frequency, lead-time and labelling requirements
  • Supplier segmentation links supply risk, spend importance and logistics treatment
  • Vendor-managed inventory defines ownership, replenishment signals, service levels and reconciliation
  • Supplier performance reviews analyse OTIF, lead-time adherence, quality and responsiveness
  • Packaging design protects product, improves cube utilisation and reduces handling
  • Purchase order parameters align MOQ, order cycles and inventory policies

Participants can analyse logistics costs and prepare business cases for operational and investment decisions.

  • Activity-based costing assigns logistics costs to orders, products, channels and customers
  • Total cost-to-serve combines transport, warehousing, inventory, returns and administration
  • Freight invoice auditing verifies rates, accessorials, weights, taxes and duplicates
  • Warehouse labour standards quantify productive time, allowances and staffing requirements
  • Budget variance analysis separates volume, rate, mix and productivity effects
  • Business cases compare capital investment, operating cost, service and risk

Participants can design logistics scorecards and use performance data to manage operational priorities.

  • Balanced scorecards connect service, cost, asset, quality and sustainability measures
  • OTIF calculation defines order lines, promised dates, tolerances and exclusions
  • Warehouse KPIs include lines picked, dock-to-stock time and inventory accuracy
  • Transport KPIs track cost per shipment, utilisation, empty miles and claims
  • Control charts distinguish common-cause variation from special-cause process signals
  • Daily management boards assign actions, owners, due dates and escalation rules

Participants can identify logistics risks and establish proportionate security, continuity and incident controls.

  • Risk registers assess disruption likelihood, impact, controls, ownership and triggers
  • Business continuity plans protect critical flows, facilities, systems and suppliers
  • ISO 28000 security principles address cargo theft, access control and incidents
  • Chain-of-custody controls document handovers, seals, inspections and discrepancy reporting
  • Temperature-controlled logistics monitors setpoints, excursions, calibration and release decisions
  • Incident investigation uses five whys, fishbone diagrams and corrective actions

Participants can identify practical emissions, packaging and waste reduction actions within logistics operations.

  • GHG Protocol Scope 3 Category 4 covers upstream transportation emissions
  • Transport emissions calculate tonne-kilometres, fuel use, distance and emission factors
  • Load consolidation reduces empty running, partial loads and avoidable movements
  • Reusable packaging systems assess circulation time, loss rates and cleaning costs
  • Waste hierarchy prioritises prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal
  • Sustainable procurement criteria address carrier fuel, reporting and improvement commitments

Participants can define the data, system functions and control points required for reliable logistics execution.

  • WMS, TMS and ERP roles distinguished through transactions, planning and execution
  • GS1 barcodes support item identification, scanning accuracy and traceability
  • Master-data validation checks dimensions, weights, pack sizes, lead times and locations
  • Dashboard design links source data, metric definitions, refresh frequency and actions
  • Data-quality controls identify duplicate records, missing fields and invalid codes
  • Automation options assess scanners, voice picking, RFID and robotic handling

Participants can use structured improvement methods to diagnose logistics problems and sustain measurable gains.

  • Value-stream mapping quantifies process time, waiting, handoffs, queues and rework
  • Lean waste analysis identifies transport, inventory, motion, waiting and defects
  • DMAIC structures problem definition, measurement, analysis, improvement and control
  • Root-cause analysis validates causes before selecting corrective and preventive actions
  • Kaizen event charters define scope, baseline, targets, team and governance
  • Benefits tracking confirms savings, service gains, ownership and sustainment actions

Participants can build, review and present a complete logistics operating plan supported by cost, service, risk and implementation evidence.

  • Case demand, service promises and constraints translated into design assumptions
  • Distribution network, warehouse processes and inventory policies assembled into one operating model
  • Transport plan specifies modes, carriers, consolidation rules and route controls
  • Cost-to-serve model tests recommended design against baseline performance
  • KPI dashboard, risk register and implementation roadmap support management review
  • Peer review challenges assumptions, trade-offs, controls and implementation priorities
  • Executive presentation communicates recommendation, costs, service impact, risks and actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Logistics flow-mapping template
  2. Distribution network scenario model
  3. Warehouse operations control checklist
  4. Inventory policy calculation workbook
  5. Logistics KPI dashboard specification
  6. Integrated logistics operating plan

Who should attend

  • Logistics Managers — responsible for service, cost, inventory and distribution performance
  • Warehouse Managers — accountable for storage, picking accuracy, labour and dispatch controls
  • Transport and Fleet Managers — managing carriers, routes, freight costs and delivery performance
  • Supply Chain Analysts — building logistics data models, dashboards and improvement cases
  • Procurement Professionals — specifying supplier delivery, packaging and freight requirements
  • Operations Managers — coordinating fulfilment capacity, customer service and working capital

Skills and tools covered

Distribution network designWarehouse operations controlInventory policy settingTransport cost managementLogistics performance measurementSupply chain risk management

Tools and standards

ASCM SCOR Digital Standard, Incoterms 2020, GS1 Standards, GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short briefings to introduce methods, followed by case work, group exercises, calculations, planning scenarios and facilitated discussion. Participants analyse order profiles, warehouse layouts, transport choices, inventory data, freight invoices and service measures drawn from realistic operating situations. Simulations test decisions under capacity constraints, demand changes and transport disruptions. Application planning links each method to participants’ own logistics responsibilities. The final capstone brings the tools together into an integrated logistics operating plan for management review.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have basic experience in supply chain, procurement, warehousing, transport, operations or customer fulfilment. They should be comfortable reading operational data such as order volumes, inventory reports, delivery performance measures and freight invoices. Familiarity with spreadsheets is useful because participants will work with planning assumptions, calculations and performance measures. Prior formal logistics certification is not required. The course does not require prior knowledge of advanced statistics, optimisation software, customs brokerage or warehouse systems configuration. It is designed for professionals who already understand their organisation’s products, customers and operating processes.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should have basic exposure to supply chain, procurement, warehousing, transport, operations or customer fulfilment. No previous logistics certification, advanced mathematics or systems configuration experience is required.

Bring a laptop for calculations, case materials and planning work. If permitted by your employer, bring non-sensitive examples of logistics challenges, service measures, warehouse data or freight cost questions you want to address.

The course is suited to logistics managers, warehouse managers, transport professionals, supply chain analysts, procurement staff and operations managers. It is particularly useful for professionals taking responsibility for distribution performance or third-party logistics providers.

This course concentrates on the operational design and control of logistics: transport, warehousing, inventory, fulfilment, returns, customs, cost and performance. Procurement courses focus more directly on sourcing, supplier selection, contracting and category management, while supply chain strategy courses address wider planning and network decisions.

Participants build reusable logistics tools throughout the course, including flow maps, service measures, inventory policies, cost-to-serve models and risk registers. The final operating plan can be adapted to a current warehouse, transport, distribution or fulfilment issue.

The course contains 20 modules of approximately three contact hours, covering 60 contact hours in total. The remaining scheduled time is used for introductions, breaks, case transitions, individual application planning and capstone presentations; each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.