The module aims to:

Enable students understand the principles and role of SCM in organisations;

Enable students examine and critically analyse the nature and importance of inter-relationships within the supply chain;

Support students comprehend and apply a range of tools and techniques relevant to the optimisation of supply chains.

(LE1) Commercially aware.
Students will be working with real-world examples and applications of supply chain operations management.

(LO1) Students will be able to define and document a supply chain operation in national and international contexts.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically analyse and evaluate the performance of the supply chain.

(LO3) Students will be able to apply supply chain optimisation tools and techniques in a range of situations.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be working with relevant supply chain operations tools and techniques that involve calculations.

(LRE2) Internationally aware.
The global nature of supply chain operations management as well as the sharing of experiences with fellow students will make students aware of international supply chain issues and how they can be managed.

(LRE3) Organised and able to work under pressure.
The scope of work covered and the required interaction by students in discussion forums will be a useful aid for students to develop improved organisation skills. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

(LRE4) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have the opportunity to develop written and oral communication skills through virtual group discussions and individual assessment.

(LRE5) IT literate.
The nature of the module in terms of online delivery will enable students to develop skills in using a virtual learning/communications environment.

The module will be delivered over an 8-week period, primarily through a series of weekly e-lectures, covering key concepts, theories and case examples. These will be supported by individual online tasks, case studies, blogs, collaborative tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 10 hours

Description: The e-lectures will equate to 1.25 hours/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Students will also participate in eight weekly e-seminars where they will engage in peer discussion of key concepts and application to their own work contexts. Seminars will be conducted via a discussion board with input from the module instructor.

Unscheduled student hours: 8 hours
Description: The e-seminars will equate to 1 hour/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Additionally, students will participate in virtual action learning sets, where students will form small action learning groups and collaboratively choose and then work together to solve current operations and supply chain management problems. This will be facilitated by the module instructor.

Unscheduled student hours: 6 hours
Description: The action learning sets will take place over three sessions, equating to 2 hours per session, undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes, tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 126 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into supply chain operations management.

Introduction to Supply Chain Management - definitions, importance of supply chain management, value chains, key issues in supply chain management, current and future trends, global supply chains, value management.

Inventory Management - the need for inventory management, ROP/ROC systems, inventory analysis, policies for managing inventory.

Materials and capacity management and Scheduling - MRP, ERP, APS, capacity management, operations scheduling.

Information management - the bullwhip effect, forecasting, integrating information in the supply chain, demand amplification.

Supply chain partnerships - strategic alliances, retailer-supplier partnerships, distributor integration, purchasing management, power in the supply chain.

Logistics Networks - distribution strategies, transportation, cost modelling, logistics partnerships, measures of logistics performance, facilities location, DRP.

Information technology and systems for supply chains - role and goals of information technology, IT infrastructure, e-commerce, e-business, integrating information technology, supply chain DSS.

Lean, Agile and Sustainable supply chains - dynamics of Lean Supply chain, Agile supply chain, Decoupling strategies, Sustainable Sourcing and Triple bottom line of Sustainability.