What you'll be able to do

• Explain the role of costing systems within an organisation, including their purpose and benefits
• Describe how to record and analyse cost information, including direct costs, indirect costs, and overheads
• Apportion costs according to organisational requirements, using appropriate allocation methods
• Evaluate budget variances, identifying the causes and potential impact
• Explain how cost information facilitates decision-making, including pricing, investment, and resource allocation

What you'll be able to do

• Understand Business Improvement Techniques and their application in various business contexts.
• Know how a business manages improvement activities, including planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Understand the improvement planning process, including identifying areas for improvement, setting goals, and developing action plans.
• Understand the importance of stakeholder communication throughout the business improvement process.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand a range of business structures and functions, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.
• Understand legislation requirements within a business, including employment law, health and safety regulations, and data protection.
• Understand the importance of strategic business planning and communication for achieving organisational goals.
• Understand the role of Human Resources in business, including recruitment, training, and employee relations.
• Understand how marketing is applied in business to promote products or services and reach target customers.

What you'll be able to do

• Identify internal and external customers and their needs
• Understand how the 'Moments of Truth' model enhances service delivery and customer satisfaction
• Understand how to improve the overall customer service experience
• Support procedures to effectively address customer complaints and resolve issues

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the importance of internal and external communications in client and supplier relationship management.
• Understand how to monitor supplier performance.
• Understand the relationship between Purchasing and Supply.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand theoretical models associated with teams, team development, and team improvement strategies
• Prepare and lead a team-building activity
• Identify and address barriers to improve a team's performance
• Support effective communication methods within a team

What you'll be able to do

• Explain international trade and freight strategies, including import/export regulations and documentation
• Describe international freight planning, including route optimisation and mode selection
• Outline operations processes for international trade and freight, including customs clearance and warehousing
• Describe the monitoring and implementation of different financial processes related to international trade, such as letters of credit and currency exchange

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental principles of inventory process management.
• Understand the key requirements of inventory process management.
• Understand the principles of stock control and its importance.
• Understand the various techniques used to effectively plan stock levels.
• Understand the economic impact of effective inventory management on an organisation.
• Understand a range of modern inventory systems and their applications.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the attributes and skills required to be an effective leader, including communication, delegation, and problem-solving.
• Understand the challenges that team leaders face, such as conflict resolution, motivation, and performance management.
• Evaluate different leadership styles and their effectiveness in various situations.
• Understand the key features of the theories of motivation and how they can be applied to motivate a team.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental concept of Lean Manufacturing and its principles.
• Understand the benefits of implementing Lean Manufacturing techniques.
• Understand the processes involved in developing and monitoring Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Understand the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to track Lean Manufacturing progress.
• Understand the various factors that can influence the success of Lean Manufacturing operations.
• Understand the potential challenges associated with implementing Lean Manufacturing.

What you'll be able to do

• Explain the importance of logistics operations within an organisation
• Identify the factors that influence logistics activities, such as transportation, warehousing, and inventory management
• Describe how technology supports logistics operations, including tracking systems and data analysis
• Outline the requirements for developing, monitoring, and controlling logistics protocols to ensure efficiency and compliance

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the core functionalities and applications of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Understand the interrelationship and data flow between MRP and ERP systems within an organisation.
• Understand the scope of MRP/ERP systems and their application across different departments within an organisation.
• Understand the reasons for monitoring and controlling MRP/ERP systems to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand environmental issues in manufacturing processes
• Understand the influence of environmental legislation on manufacturing operations
• Understand infrastructure requirements for managing environmental issues in manufacturing environments
• Understand how a business monitors environmental issues within its manufacturing processes

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how manufacturing processes are organised within different organisational structures.
• Understand the techniques used to plan production, including resource allocation and scheduling.
• Understand how technology and external factors, such as market trends and regulations, impact production processes.
• Know how businesses monitor the efficiency of production activities using key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Understand how production efficiency contributes to business profitability and overall success.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role marketing plays within an organisation and its strategic importance
• Understand how consumer behaviour impacts marketing communication strategies and their effectiveness
• Understand how to employ various tools to audit the marketing environment and identify opportunities
• Understand the processes for conducting market research to inform marketing decisions

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of procurement within the overall value chain of an organisation.
• Understand how procurement activities contribute to the creation of value.
• Understand the links between procurement strategies and broader business strategies.
• Evaluate the characteristics of different procurement sectors, such as direct and indirect procurement.
• Evaluate the specific requirements of different procurement sectors.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the role of purchasing and procurement within the structure of an organisation.
• Understand the responsibilities of purchasing and procurement departments.
• Understand the different stages involved in the sourcing and procurement process.
• Evaluate the key components of Contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Evaluate the importance of Contracts and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in procurement.

What you'll be able to do

• Explain how procurement interacts with external organisations, including suppliers and regulatory bodies
• Describe how procurement supports a business's objectives, such as cost reduction and quality improvement
• Summarise national legislation relevant to procurement, including contract law and ethical considerations
• Describe the components of the purchasing cycle, from identifying needs to contract closure

What you'll be able to do

• Explain how Production Planning supports business strategy, including meeting customer demand and optimising resource utilisation
• Describe a range of processes that support Production Planning, such as forecasting, capacity planning, and materials requirements planning (MRP)
• Explain the relationship between Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and Production Planning tools, including how they integrate to align supply and demand
• Explain how Quality Techniques align with Production Planning, including statistical process control and continuous improvement methodologies

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the range of activities involved in shipboard operations, including cargo handling, navigation, and maintenance.
• Support essential marine legislation and regulations related to safety, security, and environmental protection.
• Know how a ship's cargo and deck equipment is employed for various operational purposes.
• Understand nautical terminology relating to shipboard layout, equipment, and handling procedures.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of Supply Chain Management
• Evaluate risk factors that affect a Supply Chain
• Understand the concept of Lean Operations and its application
• Understand the links and relationships within a Supply Chain

What you'll be able to do

• Understand primary transportation modes in the supply chain, including road, rail, sea, and air.
• Understand how planning, legislation, and regulations influence transportation network design and operations.
• Understand the types and uses of transport equipment, such as vehicles, containers, and handling systems.
• Understand the factors that influence transportation operations, including cost, time, and environmental impact.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the core processes involved in warehouse operations management.
• Understand the flow of goods and information within a warehouse.
• Understand the factors that influence the optimal location of a warehouse facility.
• Understand the importance of safe working practices within a warehouse environment.
• Understand the principles of financial warehousing systems and controls.
• Understand the process of budgeting for warehouse operations.
• Support the efficient management of warehousing operations through effective communication and teamwork.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental concepts underpinning Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Understand the processes involved in the development of Lean Manufacturing strategies.
• Understand how to effectively monitor the implementation of Lean Manufacturing processes.
• Understand the various internal and external factors that can influence Lean operations within a manufacturing environment.