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    • Inventory

    Inventory Courses Online

    Master inventory management for efficient supply chain operations. Learn about inventory control, stock management, and demand forecasting.

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    Explore the Inventory Course Catalog

    • U

      University of California, Irvine

      Inventory Management

      Skills you'll gain: Inventory Management System, Inventory Control, Customer Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Demand Planning, Service Level, Forecasting, Cost Management, Operations Research, Statistical Methods

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      191 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • R

      Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

      Inventory Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: Inventory Management, Inventory Control, Inventory Control Systems, Inventory Accounting, Inventory and Warehousing, Product Assortment, Financial Analysis, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Benchmarking, Operational Efficiency, Analysis, Analytics, Competitive Analysis, Data Analysis Software

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      245 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • S

      Starweaver

      Effective Inventory Management and Optimization

      Skills you'll gain: Inventory Control, Inventory Management, Demand Planning, Inventory Management System, Customer Demand Planning, Materials Management, Forecasting, Cost Reduction, Cost Management, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Analysis

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      30 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: New
      New
      T

      Tally Education and Distribution Services Private Limited

      Inventory Management

      Skills you'll gain: Order Management, Inventory Management, Inventory Control, Inventory and Warehousing, Inventory Management System, Materials Management, Work Order, Warehousing, Cost Accounting, Manufacturing Operations, Production Process, Accounting Software, Management Reporting

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      Unilever

      Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst

      Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, Descriptive Analytics, Data Storytelling, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Demand Planning, Presentations, Supply Chain Systems, Supply Chain Planning, Process Improvement, Data Management, Data Lakes, Predictive Analytics, Customer Demand Planning, Forecasting, Data Analysis, Data Analysis Software, Real Time Data, Data Visualization Software, Inventory Management System

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      429 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • R

      Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

      Supply Chain Management

      Skills you'll gain: Strategic Sourcing, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Demand Planning, Procurement, Supplier Relationship Management, Forecasting, Process Improvement, Supplier Management, Operations Management, Customer Demand Planning, Purchasing, Production Process, Supply Management, Operational Efficiency, Warehouse Management, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory and Warehousing, Inventory Management System, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      15K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: New
      New
      V

      Vanderbilt University

      ChatGPT + Excel: AI-Enhanced Data Analysis & Insight

      Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Prompt Engineering, Data Presentation, ChatGPT, Excel Macros, Excel Formulas, Data Synthesis, Microsoft Excel, Productivity, Infographics, Data Visualization, Spreadsheet Software, Data Analysis, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Data Cleansing, Large Language Modeling, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Import/Export, Statistical Reporting

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      5.8K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      Unilever

      Supply Chain Management and Analytics

      Skills you'll gain: Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Planning, Process Improvement, Customer Demand Planning, Capacity Planning, Logistics Management, Supplier Management, Logistics, Analytics, Transportation Management, Corporate Sustainability, Scheduling, Inventory Management System, Production Schedule, Forecasting, Security Management, Expense Management, Operating Expense, Risk Management

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      378 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • R

      Rutgers the State University of New Jersey

      Supply Chain Logistics

      Skills you'll gain: Warehouse Management, Inventory and Warehousing, Inventory Management System, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics, Logistics, Transportation Operations, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Operating Cost

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      11K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of California, Irvine

      Leverage Data Science for a More Agile Supply Chain

      Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Demand Planning, Inventory Management System, Inventory Control, Supply Chain Management, Capacity Planning, Materials Management, Process Optimization, Forecasting, Operations Management, Resource Allocation, Service Level, Capacity Management, Performance Measurement, Microsoft Excel, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Cost Reduction, Simulation and Simulation Software

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      423 reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California, Irvine

      Supply Chain Planning

      Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Capacity Planning, Materials Management, Forecasting, Performance Measurement, Microsoft Excel, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Meeting Facilitation, Communication Strategies

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      245 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free
      Free
      U

      University of Lausanne

      Accounting 1

      Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flows, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Working Capital, General Accounting, Accrual Accounting, Financial Reporting, Financial Analysis, Ledgers (Accounting), Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Reconciliation

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      163 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Inventory learners also search

    Logistics
    Supply Chain Logistics
    Supply Chain Management
    Supply Chain
    Supply Chain Design
    Supply Chain Analytics
    Supply Chain Projects
    Retail
    1234…17

    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular inventory courses

    • Inventory Management: University of California, Irvine
    • Inventory Analytics: Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
    • Effective Inventory Management and Optimization : Starweaver
    • Inventory Management: Tally Education and Distribution Services Private Limited
    • Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst: Unilever
    • Supply Chain Management: Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
    • ChatGPT + Excel: AI-Enhanced Data Analysis & Insight: Vanderbilt University
    • Supply Chain Management and Analytics: Unilever
    • Supply Chain Logistics: Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
    • Leverage Data Science for a More Agile Supply Chain: University of California, Irvine

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Inventory

    Inventory refers to the stock of finished goods a company sells, as well as the raw materials it has on hand to produce them. Because these goods and materials represent major drivers of business costs as well as revenues, the timely and cost-effective management of inventory is very important to the ultimate profitability of any business that sells physical goods.

    Inventory is a key part of the broader area of supply chain management, which is the entire system of moving products from suppliers to end-users and consumers. It is an intermediate step in a process that begins with the procurement of raw materials and transporting them to manufacturing facilities; finished products are then stored (or “warehoused”) as inventory until logistics networks deliver them to end users and consumers.

    Because it sits in the middle of the supply chain, inventory and warehouse management requires close attention to both supply and demand sides of the business. Shortages in raw material inputs can result in costly production delays, risking sales. Similarly, planning for product sales and demand forecasting is also critical, as holding excess inventory can be costly. And, on both the supply and demand side, quality control is essential to minimizing returns of products and upholding the company’s reputation in the market.‎

    Given its central role in business supply chains, a deep understanding of the complexities of inventory management and warehousing for careers in supply chain management and logistics. Working in this area means a fast-paced career of moving products from suppliers to consumers, and can lead to jobs at any type of company that produces physical goods ranging from furniture to cars to books. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, logisticians earned a median annual salary of $74,750 in 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow at roughly the same rate as the rest of the economy.‎

    Absolutely! There are opportunities to learn about an incredibly wide range of business topics on Coursera, including courses as well as Specializations spanning multiple courses that are focused on supply chain management and inventory. You can learn from top-ranked schools like Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia Institute of Technology, or build skills in inventory tracking by completing step-by-step tutorials with experienced instructors as part of Coursera’s Guided Projects. Regardless of what choice best fits your needs, Coursera lets you learn remotely on a flexible schedule, making the logistics of fitting this job-ready education into your existing work or school life easy.‎

    You should have fairly strong reading and math skills before starting to learn inventory. Spreadsheet and accounting skills can also be helpful when learning inventory principles, though you can learn these topics in coordination with inventory courses. Some other qualities that can be helpful for you when learning inventory include curiosity about interconnected aspects of the global economy, such as financial matters, the flow of information, and how products and raw materials move and are used. It can also help if you have experience with tools used for inventory taking, such as a handheld calculator.‎

    Logistics planning and purchasing are typically two of the common career paths for people in inventory. Inventory professionals can also be found working in retail settings and in manufacturing. These retail and manufacturing inventory positions are typically required to ensure the goods needed to maintain operations are available. Supply chain management and supply chain analysis are two other jobs that can require inventory knowledge. People in management positions in some service industries, such as hotel and restaurant management, can be expected to have a solid understanding of inventory techniques so products will be available to serve customer needs.‎

    Some topics you can study that are related to inventory include logistics, data analysis, and sales and operations planning. Spreadsheets and accounting are also topics that are related to inventory processes. Business intelligence, regression analysis, and data visualization are some other related topics to consider if you plan to use your inventory skills to enter the supply chain management field. Six sigma and lean manufacturing are inventory-based topics to consider if you’re going into manufacturing management or consulting.‎

    Some types of places that typically hire people who have inventory backgrounds include manufacturing facilities that need to manage the movement of raw materials and finished products. Retail facilities typically hire people with inventory skills for jobs like purchasing, inventory management, and for performing seasonal inventory tasks. Medical facilities typically hire people to manage inventory levels on the goods that are needed to serve patients. Service industries are some other places that typically hire inventory specialists to ensure everything is available to serve customers. Warehouses may hire people with inventory skills to organize and allocate storage areas for resources as well as to keep track of available inventory.‎

    Online Inventory courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Inventory skills. Choose from a wide range of Inventory courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Inventory, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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