Managing the Supply Chain
Aims
Supply chain management has emerged as one of the major areas for companies to gain a competitive edge. Managing supply chains is a complex and challenging task, given the current business trends of expanding product variety, short product life cycles, increasing outsourcing, globalization of business, and continuous advances in information technology. This core course is intended for students with a strong interest in understanding logistics and operations – in either manufacturing or service industries – and the role supply chains and supply chain operations can play in business. The course will be particularly valuable for those who see their careers in operations/supply chain over the coming decade, or who see themselves consulting in operations/supply chain for client businesses. The course objectives are to:
- Make you conversant in the language of supply chain management and expand your confidence in these area
- Allow you to see the role of supply chain management in the overall strategy and performance of the firm by providing a conceptual, strategic view of supply chain design and operations
- Analyze the underlying issues and trade-offs between the sourcing of raw materials, the manufacturing, storage, and transportation of products and the services required to fulfill customer expectations and the metrics of the firm
- Provide you with quantitative and qualitative tools to identify, analyze and manage supply chain operations and issues
- Analyze supply chains and supply chain operations to identify problems and improvement opportunities
- Recommend and initiate supply chain improvement actions and projects
- Enhance your team working and project management skills
Information
The course is a mix of lectures, case studies, and games. The lectures are meant to explain supply chain models and concepts making use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods involve theoretical frameworks, conceptual analysis, and evaluation of solution strategies whereas quantitative methods involve mathematical analysis, probability theory and basic concepts of microeconomics. Case studies depict a business scenario at a certain existing company; in which complex supply chain management decisions need to be taken. The situation is often partly described from the perspective of one of the key players in the decision–making process; furthermore, a certain degree of urgency is present as well. A teaching case requires very thorough preparation by the participant. Finally, students will be required to play game in a supply chain context, which will involve strategic and operational decisions.
To pass this core course, a participant needs to:
- Participate actively in class;
- Individual and group assignments (including game performance and reports) (60% of the final grade);
- Take a written exam (40% of the final grade).
Assessment
- Assignments, games, exam(100%)
- Individual Exam (40%), Individual Assignment (40%), Group Assignment (20%)
Materials
The required material (cases, papers) will be made available in a reader, on the blackboard, or will be distributed in class.
