The Programme comprises of four key ‘courses’ as follows:-

• Stores & Warehouse Management (& Stock/Inventory) Control 
• Purchasing & Resourcing Management
• Logistics, Materials & Supply Chain Management (& Transport)
• Advanced Management & Administration Theory & Practice

Summary of the contents of the core Subjects:

STORES & WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT (& STOCK/INVENTORY) CONTROL

• The stores function in an enterprise and its main activities.
• The need for efficient management of stores.
• The principles of management: recruiting, training, controlling, motivating stores personnel; attributes looked for in staff. 
• Health and safety, and accident prevention in stores, stockyards and warehouses.
• Staff and managerial responsibilities for safety; protective clothing, safety equipment.
• Storehouse buildings: factors regarding their location, design and layout; considerations regarding floors, entrances and exits; sub-stores.
• Planning in stores and stockyards, heating, ensuring efficiency of movement, stores maintenance. 
• Stockyards: materials, location, design, layout, throughflow, protection of stored items.
• Manual and powered stores equipment, materials handling, training of staff.
• Storage, measuring and general stores equipment.
• Facilitating orders and movement of stocks out of the stores; order picking, packaging, avoiding damages, the use of pallets and racks. 
• Protection of stock against loss and damage, causes of spoilage, how to overcome these problems.
• Storehouse and stockyard security, control over keys, prevention of theft and pilfering.
• Fire prevention, fire drills and equipment.
• Ordering stock items, documentation and planning.
• Stock items, inventory identification, codes, creating and understanding coding systems. 
• Stock records: their contents and uses, importance of accuracy, statistics and reports; the stores office.
• Procedures for stock receipts and issues, coordination with other departments; packing, despatch.
• Setting stock levels, reorder levels, factors in levels set; costs, ABC, EOQ, forecasting.
• Stocktaking: reasons and purposes, procedures, spot checks, stock valuation, inspections.
• Obsolete and obsolescent stock, disposal of unwanted goods.
• Data and documentation, data safety, computer systems and backups.

PURCHASING & RESOURCING MANAGEMENT

• Defining and setting purchasing objectives and resourcing strategy.
• Purchasing policy formulation and its implementation, evaluation and control; the strategic options.
• Logistics and purchasing; just-in-time manufacture and buying processes; distribution channels.
• Purchasing organisations: centralisation and decentralisation of the function.
• The place of purchasing in the management hierarchy.
• Job structures, job analysis and and job specifications for purchasing staff and the department.
• Administration and co-ordination of the purchasing and resourcing role, purchasing performance.
• The concept and role of total quality management, planning, creating and supporting partnerships.
• Purchasing procedures, documentation, records, control systems. 
• Information technology and its effects on purchasing and supply, database facilities, using statistics.
• Master production schedules, their uses and control.
• Supplier appraisal, the aims, how appraisal and investigations are undertaken, deciding on suitable suppliers.
• Human resource management in the supply chain: planning, recruitment, training and development, supervision, control.
• Management styles and leadership, motivation, employee relations, discipline, task/relationship.
• Sourcing; matching supply with demand and production needs, materials requirement planning.
• Specifying and assuring quality of supplies; quality control and standards; controlling prices, costs and quality.
• New and potential suppliers, the stages in negotiations, bargaining, win-win outcomes.
• Tendering, forecasting, costing in resourcing, the processes and techniques.
• Buying power and relationships with long-term suppliers.
• Purchasing research, ethical considerations.   

LOGISTICS, MATERIALS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (WITH TRANSPORT)

• The background to logistics and supply chains; trade, the movement of people and products, the development of infrastructure.
• The functions of logistics and supply chains; supply partners and networks; value and value chains.
• Logistics strategy, supply and demand, corporate and business strategy; customer service strategy; supply chain strategy; push and pull strategies.
• Cost factors affecting supply chains, risk factors, economies of scale, the business life cycle.
• Marketing and logistics; the 4Ps for marketing logistics; market driven supply chains, market segmentation.
• Order cycle time and stages, measuring customer service; stockouts, back orders, cancelled orders.
• Industrial and consumer products, the product life cycle; logistics strategies for each stage.
• Product characteristics: dimensions, weight, volume, values, associated risks; weight-bulk ratio, value-weight ratio, substitutability, risk characteristics.
• Product packing and packaging materials. Product pricing, policies, strategies, discounts.
• Procurement objectives, supplies and suppliers, sourcing decisions, supplier appraisal; economic order quantity, partnership sourcing, documents used in procurement and purchasing.
• Incoming consignments, documentation, receiving procedures, quality inspections.
• Storage and control of stock/inventory; the Pareto Principle, classifications of stock/inventory items.
• Warehouses: function, design, equipment, manual and mechanised materials handling.
• Stock/inventory control, identification; prevention of fire, loss, theft, pilfering, fraud, damage.
• Order processing, order preparation, order picking and marshalling, packing and despatching items.
• Transportation: road, rail, water, air, pipelines; freight forwarders, unit loads, palletisation, containerisation, bulk freight and groupage, freight handling, intermodal transportation.
• Operations management in supply chains, product design; production planning, methods and control; quality control.
• Efficiency in logistics and supply chains, reducing waste; just-in-time, kanban, agile supply chains.
• Facility location: distribution centres, factories and plant, warehouses.
• Reverse logistics: sales returns, defective products, product liability laws, product recall, insurance.
• LSC project management, co-ordinating activities, team-work; types of projects, project objectives, focus, scope, specifications, quality and cost relationships.
• Emergency planning and disaster/emergency management; communication, assessment, rapid action.

ADVANCED MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION THEORY & PRACTICE

• The evolution of management theory, principles of management.
• The classical and early theorists; Fayol, Weber, Taylor, Mayo: scientific management, authority, discipline, modern developments.
• Organisational theory: objectives, categories, ownership, environmental factors and interaction.
• Open and closed systems theory.
• Coordination, cooperation, structure, control.
• Communication and communication theories and channels.
• Organisational structures, planning, growth and development, organisation charts.
• Systems and system diagrams. 
• Duties and responsibilities of executives, delegation, responsibility.
• Mission, vision, values, MBWA.
• Motivational theory: human relations, social psychology; self-realisation, motivation-hygiene, expectancy theory. 
• The theories of Argyis, Maslow, McGregor, Likert, Herzberg, Vroom, Handy; intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Leadership theory: traits, style, contingency; theorists. 
• Building and developing workgroups, group behaviour, norms, cohesiveness.
• Managing change, creating and managing culture.
• Moss Kanter, learning organisations and entrepreneurship.
• Strategic management; the theories of Fayol, Chandler, Andrews, Ansoff, BCG, Porter, SWOT.
• Environmental and competitive barriers to entry, industrial competitiveness.
• Corporate objectives, policies, business ethics, social responsibilities.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEE FOR THIS HONOURS GROUP DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

 Your CIC Fee includes:-

• Your enrolment/registration with Cambridge International College, and your own high-quality, professionally produced and illustrated comprehensive International CIC Core Study Publications for each of the four (4) ‘courses’ of study.
• CIC’s detailed, professional ‘Study & Training Guide’ with full instructions on how to study to achieve success and gain top results.  The Guide includes detailed advice on how to answer Tests and Examinations.
• Training Tests, Questions and Exercises (which can be used as ‘Past Papers/Questions’), and Recommended Answers for most of them.
• An Examination set for each of the 4 core courses; each Examination is sat under Invigilation/Supervision in your own area - full details, guidance and explanation of how your Examinations will be arranged and how Invigilation is conducted will be provided when you register.  Note, CIC arranges Examinations in over a hundred countries worldwide for thousands of Members every year; it is a flexible, straightforward process and will be arranged when YOU are ready to write your Examination. 
• A prestigious Cambridge International College Diploma on successful completion of Study & Training and on passing the Examination for EACH of the 4 core courses, PLUS the International Honours Group Diploma when all 4 courses have been completed - this is a total of 5 awards - 4 individual Diplomas plus the Honours Diploma.
• Your personal page on CIC’s Member Services website with access to results, despatch details, advice and guidance, and more: www.cambridgeinternationalcollege.co.uk
• Regular information and news including: Newsletters with details of special offers and new Programs and much more; and Competition Forms; by email and post.
• Everything needed for your Study & Training success is included in the CIC Fee.

Additionally:

• Further Study and Training Advice, and Assistance is available before, during and after CIC Study & Training; Members may ask CIC’s team of experienced Consultants for advice on further study and Programmes to improve career prospects and advancement.
• CIC’s experienced and helpful staff can assist with numerous special requests, such as reference/recommendation letters and transcripts, and more, by post and email.

• Materials & Logistics Administration (BLA) Baccalaureate 2 years (flexible)
• Materials & Logistics Administration EBA: Executive Business Administration 3 years (flexible)
• Logistics & Supply Chain Management (EMBA) EMBA: Executive Mastery of Business Administration 3 years (flexible)
• Project Leadership & Management Diploma 12 months (flexible)
• Project Administration (BPA) Baccalaureate 2 years (flexible)

Effective materials management and administration is essential for every business, organisation and enterprise which holds stocks or inventory items, is involved in transport, logistics and supply, or which resources and purchases items.  There is a huge range of jobs and career paths potentially available in this field, which are both enjoyable and rewarding.  Furthermore, covering strategic aspects and leadership matters, this programme provides opportunities for career advancement to senior and higher managerial positions and for promotion.

There is a wide range of options for further study - see the "Related Courses" section for suggestions - which include other Honours Diplomas, ABA & Baccalaureate Programmes, and the 'Double Award' EBA & BBA Bachelor degree Programme, both in this field and in subjects which require many similar skills and knowledge, such as project or business management.  You are welcome to ask the College for advice, and of course you can see details of these Programmes on this website.