Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
This professional diploma gives you the key tools to optimize logistics management and reduce costs in the modern supply chain. You will learn inventory management techniques, from demand planning to stock control, and the strategic role of dry ports in intermodal transport, together with warehouse systems, customs procedures, cargo security and the economic management of inland terminals.
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What is the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports?
This professional diploma prepares you to manage stock and operations at dry ports and inland logistics terminals. You will learn how seaports, dry ports, logistics centers and intermodal terminals differ and how dry ports relieve congestion at seaports, how goods are classified, stored, consolidated and controlled with FIFO, LIFO and FEFO, how cycle counts and safety stock are managed, how containers, yards, empties and rail and road flows are coordinated, how WMS, ERP, RFID, IoT and AI-based demand forecasting support inventory control, how customs warehousing, free zones, security and dangerous goods are handled, and how costs, SLAs, KPIs, quality and strategic planning improve terminal performance.
What sets this professional diploma apart: a combined focus on inventory control and dry port operations, two areas usually taught separately; practical coverage of warehousing, yard management and cycle counting; strong attention to digital tools, from WMS to demand forecasting; solid treatment of customs regimes, free zones and loss prevention; economic and strategic management of inland terminals, including benchmarking against leading dry ports; an in-depth structure of eight modules; and a final project in which you design an inventory and management system for a real terminal.
Program highlights
- Dry ports in the chain: their role in intermodal transport and seaport decongestion.
- Inventory control: FIFO, LIFO and FEFO, safety stock, layouts and cycle counting.
- Intermodal flows: containers, yard management, empties and rail and road coordination.
- Digital inventory: WMS, ERP, RFID, IoT and AI-based demand forecasting.
- Customs and security: customs warehousing, free zones, dangerous goods and loss prevention.
- Final project: an inventory and management system for a real inland terminal.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of inventory control, dry ports and intermodal logistics
- 1.1. Key concepts of inventory control and the differences between seaports, dry ports, logistics centers and intermodal terminals
- 1.2. Strategic functions of dry ports in national and international supply chains
- 1.3. Types of goods, loading units, containers and storage systems used in dry ports
- 1.4. Actors involved in inventory management: logistics operators, customs authorities, hauliers and customers
- 1.5. Principles of traceability, availability, turnover and inventory visibility in logistics operations
- 1.6. Key performance indicators for inventory management and dry port operations
- 1.7. Current trends in digitalization, automation and smart logistics applied to inland terminals
- 1.8. The role of dry ports in relieving congestion at seaports
Inventory management, warehousing and terminal operations
- 2.1. Methods for classifying, coding and identifying goods and loading units
- 2.2. Storage, slotting, consolidation and deconsolidation techniques
- 2.3. Inventory control systems: FIFO, LIFO, FEFO and turnover-based management
- 2.4. Receiving, inspecting, recording and dispatching goods at dry ports
- 2.5. Management of safety stock, replenishment and stock planning
- 2.6. Warehouse layout design and optimization of logistics space
- 2.7. Operating procedures to ensure accuracy and efficiency in inventory management
- 2.8. Cycle counts, physical stocktakes and stock reconciliation
Intermodal transport, containers and management of logistics flows
- 3.1. Fundamentals of intermodal transport and its integration with dry ports
- 3.2. Operational management of containers, loading units and handling equipment
- 3.3. Coordination between rail, road and sea transport and terminal operations
- 3.4. Planning goods flows and optimizing transit times
- 3.5. Document management for the entry, exit and transfer of goods
- 3.6. Control of special, dangerous, refrigerated and high-value cargo
- 3.7. Strategies to improve logistics efficiency through integrated intermodal operations
- 3.8. Yard management and control of empty containers
Information systems, automation and digitalization of inventory
- 4.1. WMS, ERP and digital platforms for managing inventory and logistics terminals
- 4.2. RFID, barcodes, IoT sensors and mobile devices for logistics traceability
- 4.3. Automation of storage, sorting and dispatch processes
- 4.4. Integration of digital platforms with customs systems and logistics operators
- 4.5. Data analytics applied to optimizing inventory and inland port operations
- 4.6. Artificial intelligence for demand forecasting, stock planning and operational optimization
- 4.7. Digital transformation as a tool to improve dry port efficiency
- 4.8. Demand planning and stock forecasting
Customs management, regulations and security at dry ports
- 5.1. Principles of customs legislation applicable to dry ports and inland terminals
- 5.2. Import, export, transit and storage procedures under customs control
- 5.3. Document management for international logistics operations and regulatory compliance
- 5.4. Physical security of facilities, goods and logistics operations
- 5.5. Prevention of losses, theft, fraud and operational risks in inventory
- 5.6. Management of dangerous goods and compliance with applicable safety rules
- 5.7. Developing control procedures that ensure traceability, security and legal compliance
- 5.8. Customs warehousing regimes and free zones
Economic management, indicators and optimization of operations
- 6.1. Costs associated with storage, handling, transport and inventory management
- 6.2. Financial and operational indicators to assess dry port performance
- 6.3. Optimization of human resources, infrastructure and cargo handling equipment
- 6.4. Management of contracts with logistics operators, suppliers and customers
- 6.5. Strategies to reduce logistics costs and improve the profitability of operations
- 6.6. Sustainability, energy efficiency and green logistics at inland terminals
- 6.7. Developing continuous improvement models to increase productivity and logistics competitiveness
- 6.8. Logistics contracts and service level agreements (SLAs)
Innovation, quality and strategic management of dry ports
- 7.1. Quality management models applied to inventory and logistics operations
- 7.2. Technological innovation in dry ports and smart logistics platforms
- 7.3. Risk management and operational continuity in the face of supply chain disruption
- 7.4. Integration of dry ports into national and international logistics corridors
- 7.5. Strategic planning for the development and expansion of inland terminals
- 7.6. International trends in automation, sustainability and logistics digitalization
- 7.7. Developing strategies to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of dry ports
- 7.8. Benchmarking against leading international dry ports
Final Project
- 8.1. Defining the case study of a dry port or inland logistics terminal
- 8.2. Diagnosis of existing storage, inventory, transport and document management processes
- 8.3. Designing the inventory control system with criteria of traceability, efficiency and operational optimization
- 8.4. Preparing the logistics integration plan with intermodal transport, digital systems and customs processes
- 8.5. Developing the system of indicators for performance, security, sustainability and continuous improvement
- 8.6. Writing the technical report with the operational, economic, technological and regulatory analysis of the proposed solution
- 8.7. Implementation plan and schedule for the proposed system
- 8.8. Presentation and defense of the final project with technical, logistics, economic and strategic validation of the management model developed
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Inventory Control and Dry Ports
Dry ports store and handle goods between the seaport and their final destination, so accurate inventory control is essential to keep cargo moving, limit storage time and support import and export operations.
An inland terminal connected to one or more seaports by rail or road, where cargo can be stored, consolidated and, in many cases, cleared through customs. The program explains how it differs from logistics centers and intermodal terminals.
FIFO, LIFO and FEFO, turnover-based management, ABC analysis, safety stock and replenishment, demand forecasting, cycle counts and stock reconciliation.
Yes. A full module covers customs procedures, storage under customs control, customs warehousing regimes, free zones, dangerous goods and loss prevention.
WMS and ERP systems, RFID and barcode traceability, IoT sensors, data analytics and AI applied to demand forecasting and stock planning.
You analyze a dry port or inland terminal and design its inventory control system, logistics integration plan, indicators and implementation schedule, then present and defend it.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at logistics and supply chain professionals, warehouse and distribution managers, inventory analysts and demand planners, operators of dry ports and intermodal terminals and graduates in related fields; a technical or professional qualification in logistics, business administration, industrial engineering or a related field, or work experience in inventory management, logistics or port operations, is recommended, together with some familiarity with ERP or WMS software and customs regulations.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.