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BSc International Management with American Business Studies

Year of entry: 2021

Course unit details:
Supply Chain Management: Logistics and Purchasing

Unit code BMAN32151
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Faculty of Humanities
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Welcome to Supply Chain Management! This course is designed to teach students about the latest supply chain management practices used by leading firms around the world. The course aims to train students in the different management practices used across the entire supply chain from logistics strategy and transportation planning to supplier relationship management and JIT kanban systems. Consequently, the first half of the course will focus on logistics management including topics on logistics strategy, logistics networks, warehouse management, transportation planning, and global logistics. Next, the second half of the course will be dedicated to purchasing management and will comprise of topics focused on the make-or-buy decision, supplier selection, supplier relationship management, supplier development, supplier involvement in NPD, commodity buying, lean supply chain management, JIT kanban systems, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM). In particular, this course focuses on the practical skills that logistics managers and purchasing professionals use to improve their supply chains.

Pre/co-requisites

Only available to students on: Mgt/Mgt Specialism, IMABS, IM and ITMB/ITMB Specialism.

Aims

This course seeks to provide students with a detailed understanding of how logistics and purchasing management practices can be used to improve organisational performance. In particular, the course will use a global perspective to help identify how firms use supply chain management practices to develop a competitive advantage in different industries and countries. On completion of the course, students will have developed an in-depth understanding of the strategies, tactics, and operational practices that supply chain managers use to compete in a competitive market. Finally, this course will provide students with some of the professional skills needed to manage complex supply chains and resolve operational problems that frequently occur within logistics and purchasing departments.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to:
• Explain how different logistics strategies and practices can be used to compete in a competitive market.
• Describe the importance of different types of logistics networks for the smooth flow of products and services.
• Identify how a range of warehouse management practices and technologies can be used to improve warehouse performance.
• Critically evaluate different types of transportation modes and recent changes in the global logistics industry.
• Explain how purchasing managers use strategic sourcing and the make-or-buy decision to improve organisational performance.
• Describe how different supplier selection practices can be used to select the most competitive supplier.
• Explain how purchasing managers build and maintain collaborative supplier relationships.
• Critically evaluate the strategic importance of supplier development, supplier involvement in NPD, and commodity buying on the futures market.
• Develop a detailed understanding of lean supply chain management and JIT kanban systems.
• Be able to use Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to detect problems within a supply chain and identify practical solutions.

Teaching and learning methods

Methods of delivery: Lectures, case studies, in-class discussions, videos, and problem solving exercises.
Total study hours: 200 hours split between lectures, self-study, group coursework, and examinations.

Assessment methods

  • Individual report: 3,000 word individual written report on Logistics Management (50%)
  • Written Examination: Two hour exam focusing on Purchasing Management (50%)

Feedback methods

  • In-class feedback: Advice during lectures and in-class discussions related to student questions and queries.
  • Group project: Students will receive detailed written feedback on their group project that focuses on logistics management.
  • Email feedback: Responses to student emails and questions from the course coordinator, including feedback provided via the Blackboard system.
  • Exam performance feedback: Generic feedback posted on Blackboard regarding overall examination performance.

Recommended reading

• Rushton, A., Croucher, P. and Baker, P. (2014). The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management: Understanding the Supply Chain. Kogan Page, London.
 
• Cousins, P., Lamming, R., Lawson, B. and Squire, B. (2008).

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 40
Independent study hours
Independent study 158

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Raymond Obayi Unit coordinator
Antony Potter Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Programme Restrictions: Only available to BSc Management and Management (Specialisms), BSc International Management with American Business Studies, BSc International Management and  ITMB.

For Academic Year 2020/21

Updated: March 2020

Approved by: March UG Committee

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