IB9BS-15 Supply Chain Analytics
Introductory description
The module provides an introduction to Supply Chain Analytics (SCA), i.e., how analytics and operational research can be used in supply chains. It focuses on both the structural and operational elements of supply chain management: the design of supply networks as well as scheduling, inventory control, quality control and vehicle routing.
Module aims
The module seeks to make students aware of the complexities and special issues related to supply chains and provide a basic understanding how these can be tackled.
SCA aims to introduce various (analytical, mathematical and statistical) techniques to analyse supply chain performance and to identify inefficiencies and risk factors in operational, managerial and financial aspects of a supply chain.
Particular aims are:
To provide a holistic strategic view of supply chain management as a source of competitive advantage and identify the underlying dimensions of supply chain strategies.
To examine outsourcing and offshoring
To give students a flavour of various aspects of supply chain analytics (optimization, descriptive and predictive analytics) that can be used to manage complex processes in supply chains.
To make students aware of the complexities of the decision-making process and identify the underlying foundation and role of business analytics in a supply chain process.
To prepare the students for a variety of industrial and academic roles.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Introduction - The Evolution of SCM
Basic supply chain principles, outsourcing, offshoring, push/pull supply chains and supply chain performance
Supply Network Design
Value of Information
Supply Chain Risk Management
Inventory Control
Newsvendor Problem
Scheduling
Vehicle Routing
Quality Control
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the particular challenges of supply chains
- Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of a range of optimization techniques to solve typical problems in the design and operation of supply chain
- Critically analyse organisations’ supply chains, assessing and recognising risk, and the methods available to minimize it
- Critically analyse case studies to propose potential business solutions
Indicative reading list
Chopra Sunil, Meindl Peter (2016) Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning , and Operation Pearson/Prentice Hall, 6th edition.
Douglas C. Montgomery (2007) Statistical Quality Control: A Modern Introduction.
Interdisciplinary
This module considers the application of analytics and operational research to supply chains, thus linking the fields of Analytics and Supply Chain Management.
International
There is no overseas/travel element. Supply chains are often global, and we discuss e.g. offshoring, supply chain resilience and criteria for facility location decisions, but all on a general rather than specific level.
Subject specific skills
Identify the contextual and theoretical setting for the study of SCM and define concepts and methods commonly used in SCM
Evaluate and recommend improvements to the design and operation of a supply chain
Apply optimisation and data analytics to supply chain problems
Demonstrate modelling skills to formally describe and model typical SCM problems
Transferable skills
Communication skills
Team work
Problem solving skills
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 28 sessions of 1 hour (19%) |
| Private study | 73 hours (49%) |
| Assessment | 49 hours (33%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Private study to include preparation for lectures
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group D4
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Other Formal Assessment - Groupwork/ Presesentation | 15% | 7 hours | No |
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Group work (to include presentation, written and numerical elements) |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| In-person Examination | 85% | 42 hours | No |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Markers' comments to exam uploaded to my. wbs. Comments on group assignment.
Pre-requisites
To take this module, you must have passed:
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 1 of TIBS-N1N3 Postgraduate Taught Business Analytics
- Year 4 of USTA-G300 Undergraduate Master of Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics and Economics
This module is Option list C for:
- Year 4 of USTA-G300 Undergraduate Master of Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics and Economics
- Year 5 of USTA-G301 Undergraduate Master of Mathematics,Operational Research,Statistics and Economics (with Intercalated