Fundamentals of Inventory Management Using Microsoft Excel (Udemy.com)
Inventory control with Excel: visualize data, apply EOQ models, and improve decisions with forecasting tools
Created by: Ray Harkins
Last updated August 2026
What you will learn
- The costs and benefits of inventory
- Types of inventory
- Overview of cycle stock, pipeline stock, and safety stock
- Data visualizations useful to inventory management and analytics
- Inventory on Hand calculations
- Common inventory metrics
- The basics of inventory acounting
- Overview of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
- Inventory Turnover Ratio and Days of Outstanding Inventory Ratio
- Basics of demand forecasting
- Why accurate forecasts are necessary
- Utilizing the normal distribution to make simple demand forecasts
- The basics of time series analysis
- Baseline, seasonality, linear trends, and randomness
- Total cost of inventory calculations
- Understanding ordering and holding costs
- The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
- Topics in inventory management such as Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Just in Time (JIT)
- Inventory classification using ABS analysis
How it compares
Against the other 1,210 rated Udemy courses in Business on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 74% of them
- Reviews347#765 of 1,211 by number of reviews
- Length6.8 hourslonger than 79% of them
- Last updatedAugust 2026more recently than 83% of them
Course Description
Unlock the secrets to effective inventory management with our comprehensive online course, "Fundamentals of Inventory Management Using Microsoft Excel." Designed for manufacturing professionals of all educational and experience backgrounds, this course offers a deep dive into the essential concepts, analytical techniques, and practical tools needed to excel in inventory management.
What You'll Learn:
Business Accounting Basics: Gain a solid understanding of business accounting as it relates to inventory management, including balance sheet and income statement analysis, calculating Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), and valuation methods such as FIFO, LIFO, and Weighted Average Cost (WAC).
Data Visualizations: Master the use of saw tooth diagrams and histograms to visualize and interpret inventory data effectively.
Demand Forecasting: Learn about normal distributions in simple demand forecasting and predictive analytics, including time series analysis methods for addressing growth trends and seasonality.
Total Cost of Inventory: Explore the components of total inventory cost, including holding and ordering costs, with an in-depth look at the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model.
Further Topics in Inventory Management: Gain tremendous insight into topics for your further study with lectures on ABC Analysis, Vendor Managed Inventory, Just in Time inventory, and Inventory Control Policies. Plus, learn how inventory management relates to other disciplines like Capacity Analysis, Supply Chain Management, and Quality Management.
Course Features:
Case Studies: Analyze real-world scenarios to understand the practical applications of inventory management concepts.
Quizzes and Practice Exercises: Test your knowledge and apply what you've learned through interactive quizzes and hands-on practice exercises.
Downloadable Course Notes and Glossary of Terminology.
Microsoft Excel Integration: Learn how to leverage Microsoft Excel for inventory management tasks, enhancing your analytical skills with practical, spreadsheet-based solutions.
Almost 7 hours of engaging and informative video content, providing a thorough education in the basics of inventory management principles and practices.
Who Should Enroll:
Manufacturing professionals seeking to improve their inventory management skills.
Newcomers to inventory management looking for a solid foundation in key concepts and techniques.
Experienced practitioners aiming to enhance their analytical abilities and apply intermediate inventory strategies.
Benefits of Taking This Course:
Enhanced Inventory Control: Learn how to manage inventory levels effectively to meet customer demand while minimizing costs.
Improved Decision-Making: Utilize data visualization and forecasting techniques to make informed inventory decisions.
Practical Skills: Apply your learning immediately with practice exercises and case studies that reflect real-world challenges.
In addition to all of these course materials, when you enroll in Fundamentals of Inventory Management Using Microsoft Excel, you also get:
LIFETIME ACCESS to all course materials AND all other materials we may add later.
A Certificate of Completion with your name, the course's name, and the time duration of the course (useful for fulfilling the need of some CEU requirements)
Q&A access through the Udemy platform to a 30+ year manufacturing, quality, engineering, and business professional.
What have other students said about this class?
"It is a very comprehensive, understandable, and motivating learning experience." - Felipe F.
"This is one of the best inventory management courses I've ever taken. The coverage of data analysis, forecasting, and even the financial aspects is incredibly comprehensive." - Mazen S.
"Good details and explanation. Beyond expectation!" - Kreat J.
Enroll now in Fundamentals of Inventory Management Using Microsoft Excel and take the first step toward mastering inventory control and optimization. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this course provides the knowledge and tools you need to succeed.
Enroll Today to Transform your Inventory Management Skills!
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
347 Reviews
Ray Harkins
Ray Harkins is a senior manufacturing leader, educator, and founder of The Manufacturing Academy, with more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, quality engineering and management, and operations leadership. He currently serves as a General Manager in manufacturing, overseeing operations, quality, engineering, and continuous improvement while remaining actively engaged in solving the day-to-day challenges faced by manufacturers.
After beginning his career in manufacturing engineering, Ray expanded into quality and operations leadership, working alongside leading industry professionals throughout North America and Japan and touring hundreds of manufacturing facilities. These experiences shaped his belief that manufacturing professionals deserve practical training that they can immediately apply to improve quality, productivity, and their careers.
That philosophy has guided the development of more than 60 online courses covering Lean Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control, Supply Chain Analytics, Manufacturing Leadership, Reliability Engineering, and Operations Management. His courses are used by individual professionals and corporate training departments worldwide and have helped more than 140,000 students build practical skills and advance their careers.
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Reviews
By NGENG DIHANG Agnès Jacqueline on 10/3/2026
J'apprécie beaucoup le cours seulement au début toutes les vidéos n'étaient pas disponibles. Par ailleurs je suis d'expression francophone et ce n'est pas très évident de le suivre aisément
By Gbolahan raymond on 9/15/2026
It gives a good insight on how inventory management operates based on stock control, stock value and stock handling.
By Kalu Gracious Owoukazi on 8/14/2026
This has been one of the sweetest courses I have taken on Udemy. I learnt a lot and will go through it again for substantial knowlege. Thank you so much Sir Ray Harkins.
By Nguyen Hoang Long on 3/28/2026
The lessons are very detailed and easy to understand. I appreciate the efforts that a lecturer put in this course.
By Hyun Jung Kim on 11/11/2025
I feel like this course is a great fit for me. Since English isn’t my first language, I really like that the instructor speaks clearly and not too fast. The way he explains things makes it super easy to follow.
By Udemy User on 9/9/2025
It actually was a good one, but i think i have grown pass this level. thank you Udemy
By Jamsher Karwal on 1/22/2025
I like the pace & clarity of what I should expect from this course & honesty from the intruder within 5 min of this course to understand what this course is for and the training level.
By Dhenny Casandri on 1/15/2025
Great course to get started with the basics of inventory management! The topic is pretty broad, so it’s hard to feel like an expert without some hands-on experience, but this course gives you a solid foundation and practical ideas to use in real life. The instructor is fantastic—super clear, professional, and shares really helpful tips on how to keep learning after this course. Awesome job!
By Martin on 12/27/2024
I love it! Learn at your own pace, with downloadable documents you can keep forever—an absolute game changer for young professionals finding their way.
By Mazen Al-Sakkaf on 9/24/2024
This is one of the best inventory management courses I've ever taken. The coverage of data analysis, forecasting, and even the financial aspects is incredibly comprehensive. I've learned a tremendous amount. Thank you, Ray, for creating such a fantastic course. By the way, this is my second course from you, and they've both been truly amazing.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100












