Supply Chain Management (BS)

With increased globalization and offshore sourcing, global supply chain management is becoming an important issue for many businesses. Like traditional supply chain management, the underlying factors behind the trend are reducing the costs of procurement and decreasing the risks related to purchasing activities. The big difference is that global supply chain management involves a company's worldwide interests and suppliers rather than simply a local or national orientation. Enables students to appreciate the challenges of operating supply chains across international boundaries including how to manage various salient issues including sociocultural, economic, technological and political factors that may shape decisions relating to sourcing and moving goods and services across different geographical boundaries.

Covers quantitative tools used to aid decision making in supply chain management. Focuses on analytics using technology and software to include Tableau and Microsoft Excel. Other topics include the use of tools in performance management, project management and supply chain finance.

Provides a deep analysis of many logistics services to include: global logistics, customer service and order management, distribution/fulfillment operations, demand and inventory planning and management, network analysis and design, and transportation operations, carrier selection, costing and negotiation. In addition, reviews current logistics technology process support and integration, as well as how emerging technology is changing the future of logistics.

Discusses management of the supply function, including organization, procedures, supplier selection, quality, inventory decisions and price determination. Students also review project management and governance, supply chain strategy and change management.

Covers processes essential to the determination and direction of the flow of resources needed to produce goods and services. Uses Microsoft Excel for supporting analysis. Includes processes, methods, technology and financial impact to forecast, manage inventory, plan needed capacity, determine resources needed for production, determine priority and sequencing of activities, perform master scheduling and material requirements planning.

Discusses supply chain strategy at the strategic level and from a systems point of view in an open-forum and detailed analysis of case studies. Students work in teams to investigate and report on key supply chain functions, drivers and metrics within an integrated system to include network design, innovation, technology enablement, customer service, sustainability, coordination and management of the critical areas of the supply chain. Includes additional focus on project management, corporate social responsibility and governance and financial implications.

Supply management ensures an organization has resources (i.e., materials, services, equipment) to deliver on promises to stakeholders. This happens by strategically designing supply systems for categories of spend and creating favorable supply agreements. A real-world class project and a real-time contract negotiation simulation helps students understand (1) the relationship among organizational, supply management and purchase category objectives; (2) frameworks and tools to analyze the supply conditions of a category, specifically spend analysis, market/demand analysis and price/cost analysis; (3) how to develop category strategies to ensure adequate and highest value resource supply into the future; (4) the translation of category strategies into manageable supply contracts; and (5) the requisite skills and processes for planning and executing successful contract negotiations.