Faculty Syllabus

This course will describe the global process an organization uses to control, manage, and improve the flow of materials and information from suppliers to customers.

We discuss logistics and the evolution of supply chain management. We identify reasons for growth in global trade and competitive factors driving supply chain networks. We explore the evolution of manufacturing and the impact on business and supply chain strategy. We introduce procurement, inventory management, warehousing, and materials handling. We examine sourcing trends, emerging technology, and data analytics and their impact on supply chain management. We discuss approaches for mitigating supply chain vulnerability and risk and improving supply chain robustness, resilience, and sustainability. We examine approaches for designing and integrating company and supply chain network information systems and discuss the skills needed by the supply chain manager of the future.

The textbook is recommended but not required.

Chapters 1 – 12, 15, and 17 of Supply Chain Management, Planning, and Operation, 7th Edition, Chopra, Sunil: Pearson Publishing (2019), ISBN-13: 978-0-13-473188-9.

Simulations are purchased from Harvard Business Publishing and are required to be purchased.

Module 1 Description

In this module, we will build a strategic framework to analyze supply chains and explore distribution network designs.

Learning Objectives

Chapter 1 - Understanding the Supply Chain

1.1.1. Discuss the goal of a supply chain and explain the impact of supply chain decisions on the success of a firm.

1.1.2. Define the three key supply chain decision phases and explain the significance of each.

1.1.3. Describe the cycle and push/pull views along with the macro processes of a supply chain.

1.1.4. Identify important issues and decisions to be addressed in a supply chain.

1.1.5. Develop skills that employers have identified as critical to success in the workplace

Chapter 2 - Achieving Strategic Fit in a Supply Chain

1.2.1. Explain why achieving strategic fit is critical to a company's overall success.

1.2.2. Describe how a company achieves strategic fit between its supply chain strategy and its competitive strategy.

1.2.3. Identify the main levers to deal with uncertainty in a supply chain.

1.2.4. Discuss the importance of expanding the scope of strategic fit across the supply chain.

Chapter 3 - Supply Chain Drivers and Metrics

1.3.1. Describe key financial measures of firm performance.

1.3.2. Identify the major drivers of supply chain performance.

1.3.3. Define the key performance metrics for facilities, inventory, transportation, information, sourcing, and pricing. Discuss their role in creating strategic fit between the supply chain strategy and the competitive strategy.

Chapter 4 - Designing Distribution Networks and Applications to Omni-Channel Retailing

1.4.1. Identify the key factors to be considered when designing a distribution network.

1.4.2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various distribution options.

1.4.3. Describe how omni-channel retail may be structured to be both cost-effective and responsive to customer needs.

Module 2 Description   

This module continues our discussion of supply chain design, expands on forecasting principles taught in SCLM-4320 Leadership & Operations Management by introducing the use of Excel Solver, and discusses the synchronization of sales and operations planning.   

Learning Objectives

Chapter 5 - Network Design in the Supply Chain

2.5.1. Understand the role of network design in a supply chain.

2.5.2. Identify factors influencing supply chain network design decisions.

2.5.3. Discuss a framework for making network design decisions.

2.5.4. Develop an optimization model to design a regional network configuration.

2.5.5. Develop an optimization model to identify potential sites in a region.

2.5.6. Develop an optimization model to locate plants and allocate market demand.

Chapter 6 - Designing Global Supply Chain Networks

2.6.1. Identify factors that need to be included in total cost when making global sourcing decisions.

2.6.2. Define relevant risks and explain different strategies that may be used to mitigate risk in global supply chains.

Chapter 8 - Aggregate Planning in a Supply Chain

2.8.1. Describe aggregate planning and its importance as a supply chain activity.

2.8.2. Explain the basic trade-offs to consider when creating an aggregate plan.

2.8.3. Model and solve the aggregate planning problem as a linear program.

2.8.4. Formulate and solve basic aggregate planning problems using Microsoft Excel.

Chapter 9 - Sales and Operations Planning in a Supply Chain

2.9.1. Manage supply and demand to improve synchronization in a supply chain in the face of predictable variability.

2.9.2. Use sales and operations planning to maximize profitability when faced with predictable variability in a supply chain.

Module 3 Description

This module discusses inventory and transportation management and sourcing decisions.

Learning Objectives

Chapter 11 - Managing Economies of Scale in a Supply Chain Using Cycle Inventory 

3.11.1. Describe the role of cycle inventory in a supply chain.

3.11.2. Choose the optimal size given fixed ordering costs in a supply chain.

3.11.3. Evaluate how aggregation is best implemented to reduce cycle inventory in a supply chain.

3.11.4. Understand the impact of quantity discounts on lot size and cycle inventory.

3.11.5. Devise appropriate discounting schemes for a supply chain.

3.11.6. Understand the impact of trade promotions on lot size and cycle inventory.

3.11.7. Develop replenishment policies to improve synchronization in Mult echelon supply chains.

3.11.8. Identify managerial levers that reduce lot size and cycle inventory in a supply chain without increasing cost.

Chapter 12 - Managing Uncertainty in a Supply Chain Using Safety Inventory

3.12.1. Understand thew role of safety inventory in a supply chain.

3.12.2. Identify factors that influence the required level of safety inventory.

3.12.3. Evaluate the appropriate level of safety inventory for a supply chain.

3.12.4. Discuss the impact of supply uncertainty on safety inventory.

3.12.5. Understand that aggregation helps reduce the required safety inventory in a supply chain.

3.12.6. Determine the impact of replenishment policies on safety inventory.

3.12.7. Improve the management of safety inventory in a Multechelon supply chain.

3.12.8. Identify managerial levers that lower safety inventory without hurting product availability.

Chapter 14 - Transportation Management

3.14.1. Understand the role of transportation modes in the supply chain.

3.14.2. Discuss the role of infrastructure and policies in transportation.

3.14.3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various transportation design alternatives.

3.14.4. Understand the factors needed for a responsive same day delivery.

3.14.5. Evaluate trade-offs to consider when designing a transportation network.

3.14.6. Design tailored transportation networks.

Chapter 15 – Sourcing Decisions

3.15.1. Understand the factors that affect the decision to outsource a supply chain function.

3.15.2. Identify dimensions of supplier performance that affect total cost.

3.15.3. Design a tailored supplier portfolio.

3.15.4. Describe the impact of incentives on the behavior of third-parties in a supply chain.

3.15.5. Discuss the benefits of sharing risk and reward in a supply chain.

Module 1 Description

In this module, we will build a strategic framework to analyze supply chains and explore distribution network designs.

Learning Objectives

Chapter 1 - Understanding the Supply Chain

1.1.1. Discuss the goal of a supply chain and explain the impact of supply chain decisions on the success of a firm.

1.1.2. Define the three key supply chain decision phases and explain the significance of each.

1.1.3. Describe the cycle and push/pull views along with the macro processes of a supply chain.

1.1.4. Identify important issues and decisions to be addressed in a supply chain.

1.1.5. Develop skills that employers have identified as critical to success in the workplace

Chapter 2 - Achieving Strategic Fit in a Supply Chain

1.2.1. Explain why achieving strategic fit is critical to a company's overall success.

1.2.2. Describe how a company achieves strategic fit between its supply chain strategy and its competitive strategy.

1.2.3. Identify the main levers to deal with uncertainty in a supply chain.

1.2.4. Discuss the importance of expanding the scope of strategic fit across the supply chain.

Chapter 3 - Supply Chain Drivers and Metrics

1.3.1. Describe key financial measures of firm performance.

1.3.2. Identify the major drivers of supply chain performance.

1.3.3. Define the key performance metrics for facilities, inventory, transportation, information, sourcing, and pricing. Discuss their role in creating strategic fit between the supply chain strategy and the competitive strategy.

Chapter 4 - Designing Distribution Networks and Applications to Omni-Channel Retailing

1.4.1. Identify the key factors to be considered when designing a distribution network.

1.4.2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various distribution options.

1.4.3. Describe how omni-channel retail may be structured to be both cost-effective and responsive to customer needs.

Module 2 Description   

This module continues our discussion of supply chain design, expands on forecasting principles taught in SCLM-4320 Leadership & Operations Management by introducing the use of Excel Solver, and discusses the synchronization of sales and operations planning.   

Learning Objectives

Chapter 5 - Network Design in the Supply Chain

2.5.1. Understand the role of network design in a supply chain.

2.5.2. Identify factors influencing supply chain network design decisions.

2.5.3. Discuss a framework for making network design decisions.

2.5.4. Develop an optimization model to design a regional network configuration.

2.5.5. Develop an optimization model to identify potential sites in a region.

2.5.6. Develop an optimization model to locate plants and allocate market demand.

Chapter 6 - Designing Global Supply Chain Networks

2.6.1. Identify factors that need to be included in total cost when making global sourcing decisions.

2.6.2. Define relevant risks and explain different strategies that may be used to mitigate risk in global supply chains.

Chapter 8 - Aggregate Planning in a Supply Chain

2.8.1. Describe aggregate planning and its importance as a supply chain activity.

2.8.2. Explain the basic trade-offs to consider when creating an aggregate plan.

2.8.3. Model and solve the aggregate planning problem as a linear program.

2.8.4. Formulate and solve basic aggregate planning problems using Microsoft Excel.

Chapter 9 - Sales and Operations Planning in a Supply Chain

2.9.1. Manage supply and demand to improve synchronization in a supply chain in the face of predictable variability.

2.9.2. Use sales and operations planning to maximize profitability when faced with predictable variability in a supply chain.

Module 3 Description

This module discusses inventory and transportation management and sourcing decisions.

Learning Objectives

Chapter 11 - Managing Economies of Scale in a Supply Chain Using Cycle Inventory 

3.11.1. Describe the role of cycle inventory in a supply chain.

3.11.2. Choose the optimal size given fixed ordering costs in a supply chain.

3.11.3. Evaluate how aggregation is best implemented to reduce cycle inventory in a supply chain.

3.11.4. Understand the impact of quantity discounts on lot size and cycle inventory.

3.11.5. Devise appropriate discounting schemes for a supply chain.

3.11.6. Understand the impact of trade promotions on lot size and cycle inventory.

3.11.7. Develop replenishment policies to improve synchronization in Mult echelon supply chains.

3.11.8. Identify managerial levers that reduce lot size and cycle inventory in a supply chain without increasing cost.

Chapter 12 - Managing Uncertainty in a Supply Chain Using Safety Inventory

3.12.1. Understand thew role of safety inventory in a supply chain.

3.12.2. Identify factors that influence the required level of safety inventory.

3.12.3. Evaluate the appropriate level of safety inventory for a supply chain.

3.12.4. Discuss the impact of supply uncertainty on safety inventory.

3.12.5. Understand that aggregation helps reduce the required safety inventory in a supply chain.

3.12.6. Determine the impact of replenishment policies on safety inventory.

3.12.7. Improve the management of safety inventory in a Multechelon supply chain.

3.12.8. Identify managerial levers that lower safety inventory without hurting product availability.

Chapter 14 - Transportation Management

3.14.1. Understand the role of transportation modes in the supply chain.

3.14.2. Discuss the role of infrastructure and policies in transportation.

3.14.3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various transportation design alternatives.

3.14.4. Understand the factors needed for a responsive same day delivery.

3.14.5. Evaluate trade-offs to consider when designing a transportation network.

3.14.6. Design tailored transportation networks.

Chapter 15 – Sourcing Decisions

3.15.1. Understand the factors that affect the decision to outsource a supply chain function.

3.15.2. Identify dimensions of supplier performance that affect total cost.

3.15.3. Design a tailored supplier portfolio.

3.15.4. Describe the impact of incentives on the behavior of third-parties in a supply chain.

3.15.5. Discuss the benefits of sharing risk and reward in a supply chain.

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