The role of warehouse and inventory management is to make the goods available to be delivered. To help with making the goods available, warehouses are used to store goods between the times of delivery from suppliers until the goods are required to be delivered into the next stage in the supply chain and, ultimately, to the beneficiaries. The function of warehouse and inventory management;

Setting up a warehouse
Managing warehouse operations
The provision and care of warehouse operations
Managing inventory

Procurement is a key part of the supply chain process; it ensures that required good and services are sourced and obtained. To achieve this, it is important that people carrying out procurement build relationships with people who are requesting goods and services as well as with the suppliers who provide the goods and services.

The function of procurement and the procurement process
The sourcing of goods and services
The different stages of the procurement process
Progress monitoring and control
Monitoring of supplier performance
Management of risk in international transactions
The requirements of international trade and commerce including INCO terms
The documentation used when importing and exporting

The unit looks at aspects of international and local movements and the modes of transport available. It considers the role of third parties in assisting in the movements and in the use of outsourced transport providers. International and local movements;

The different modes of transport available and their respective characteristics
The role of third parties and of third party transport providers
The nature of transport movements
The goods to be moved and their planning and scheduling

This unit examines the function of fleet management in humanitarian supply chains, the selection of vehicles and equipment and the setting up of systems and procedures necessary to monitor and manage a fleet of vehicles.

The function of fleet management
Fleet management systems and procedures
Planning a fleet to meet programmes needs
Processes for selecting suitable vehicles, equipment and facilities
Procedures for repair and maintenance and the value of preventative maintenance systems
Systems for measuring and monitoring the performance of the fleet
Recruitment selection and management of drivers
Compliance with legislation and security requirements
The management of non-vehicle assets

Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) is the standard term used to refer to humanitarian programmes using cash or vouchers as the mode for assisting beneficiaries in preference to direct aid.

Assessments, Analyses, & Building to Decision Making
The Retail Market Assessment
The Procurement Options Analysis
The Operational Design Options Analysis
Feeding into the Programme Analyses
CTP & Competitive Procurement
Monitoring CTP
Working with Others

If humanitarian operations are to successfully meet the twin needs of achieving what they are planned to do within the resources allocated, there needs to be good management.

Previous units looked at setting up and operating warehouses, managing transport, procuring goods and services, setting up and managing a fleet, and importing and exporting goods. This unit looks at how the different elements of logistics and supply chain are brought together, along with techniques to manage the operational resources and personnel involved.