Management of Inventory Systems Course | IIT Kharagpur NPTEL | Prof. Pradip Ray
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 254 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Management Studies, Operations |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Mastering Inventory Systems: A Comprehensive 12-Week Course by IIT Kharagpur's Prof. Pradip Kumar Ray
In today's competitive business landscape, efficient inventory management is not just an operational function—it's a strategic imperative. From manufacturing giants to e-commerce startups, the ability to control inventory costs, ensure product availability, and optimize supply chain flows directly impacts profitability and customer satisfaction. Recognizing this critical need, the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur offers a detailed online course on the Management of Inventory Systems, led by the eminent Prof. Pradip Kumar Ray.
About the Instructor: A Luminary in Operations Management
Prof. Pradip Kumar Ray brings over 44 years of diversified experience to this course. An Emeritus Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and an Adviser at the Vinod Gupta School of Management at IIT Kharagpur, his expertise is both deep and wide-ranging.
His career blends significant industry experience at General Electric with decades of academic and research excellence. A globally recognized scholar, Prof. Ray has served as a visiting professor at universities worldwide, including in the USA, UK, Australia, and Japan, where he trained in JIT-based manufacturing.
His contributions are monumental:
- Authored and edited multiple textbooks and published over 170 research papers.
- Supervised 22 PhD scholars and over 250 MTech/BTech projects.
- Led more than 70 industry training programs and 31 consulting projects.
- Recipient of prestigious awards like the P C Mahalanobis Award (2018), APO National Award (2022), and IEA/Tsinghua Award (2023).
This course is distilled from his vast practical knowledge and academic rigor, making it a unique learning opportunity.
Course Overview: What Will You Learn?
This 12-week course is designed to provide a solid foundation in the principles and quantitative techniques of inventory and materials management. It moves from fundamental concepts to advanced, industry-relevant topics.
Intended Audience: Undergraduate and Postgraduate students in Management, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, and related disciplines. Industry professionals seeking to formalize or update their knowledge will also find immense value.
Industry Support: The curriculum is recognized and supported by leading organizations like Tata Steel, Tata Motors, L&T, and Linde, ensuring its relevance to current industry challenges.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Inventory & Materials Management: Concepts, Types, Costs, and Model Structures. |
| Week 2 | Inventory Problems & Selective Inventory Management (e.g., ABC Analysis). |
| Week 3 | Static Inventory Problems under Risk: Formulations and Cost Imputation. |
| Week 4 | Static Inventory Problems under Uncertainty: Decision Criteria & Distribution-free Analysis. |
| Week 5 | Dynamic Problems under Certainty: EOQ, EPQ, Fixed Order Interval Systems. |
| Week 6 | Dynamic Problems under Risk: Safety Stock Determination & Service Levels. |
| Week 7 | MRP, MRP-II, and DRP: Concepts, System Design, and Integration. |
| Week 8 | JIT & Lean-Based Approaches for Inventory Management. |
| Week 9 | Purchasing Management: Fundamentals, Techniques, and Supplier Performance. |
| Week 10 | Theory of Constraints (TOC) in Materials Management: DBR Scheduling, VAT Plants. |
| Week 11 | Value Engineering/Analysis and Stores Management. |
| Week 12 | Logistics & Supply Chain Management: Trends, Push vs. Pull, Green SCM. |
Each week incorporates numerical problems to reinforce theoretical concepts with practical application.
Why Enroll in This Course?
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Covers the entire spectrum from basic EOQ to advanced SCM and Lean principles.
- Learn from the Best: Direct instruction from an award-winning professor with immense industry-academic experience.
- Career Relevance: Skills directly applicable in roles like Operations Manager, Supply Chain Analyst, Inventory Controller, and Logistics Planner.
- Flexible & Accessible: Offered through NPTEL, providing high-quality IIT education for free, anywhere.
- Strong Foundation: Prepares students for advanced studies and professional certifications in operations and SCM.
Recommended Textbooks
To complement the lectures, Prof. Ray recommends three classic texts in the field:
- Starr, M.K. & Miller, D.W., Inventory Control: Theory and Practice
- Tersine, R.J., Principles of Inventory and Materials Management
- Silver, E.A., Pyke, D.F. & Peterson, R., Inventory Management and Production Planning and Scheduling
Conclusion
The Management of Inventory Systems course is more than just an academic module; it's a gateway to mastering one of the core drivers of operational efficiency and business success. Under the expert guidance of Prof. Pradip Kumar Ray, participants will gain not only theoretical knowledge but also the practical problem-solving skills demanded by top industries worldwide.
Whether you are a student building your career or a professional aiming to sharpen your expertise, this course offers the tools and insights to excel in the dynamic field of inventory and supply chain management. Enroll today and take a significant step toward becoming an expert in managing the lifeblood of any product-based business—its inventory.
Enroll Now →