Supply Chain Logistics Course

Lesson 1 • Mapping End-to-End Flows

Introduces process mapping tools to visualise material, information, and cash flows. Provides a diagnostic lens applied in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Defining Supply Chain and Logistics

Clarifies the distinction between supply chain management and logistics operations. Establishes shared vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Core Components of a Supply Chain

Identifies the structural elements—sourcing, production, distribution, and returns—that form every supply chain. Connects component roles to overall system performance.

Lesson 1 • Quantitative Forecasting Methods

Teaches statistical techniques including moving averages, exponential smoothing, and regression. Students select methods based on data patterns and product lifecycle stage.

Lesson 2 • Translating Forecasts into Supply Plans

Converts demand forecasts into master production schedules and procurement signals. Bridges forecasting outputs to inventory and sourcing chapters that follow.

Lesson 3 • Qualitative and Collaborative Forecasting

Explores judgment-based methods and cross-functional collaboration to enrich statistical forecasts. Introduces Sales and Operations Planning as an integrating process.

Lesson 1 • Safety Stock and Service Level Design

Quantifies safety stock requirements using statistical service-level targets. Connects inventory investment decisions to customer fill-rate commitments.

Lesson 2 • Inventory Performance Measurement

Defines key inventory KPIs including turns, days on hand, and carrying cost rate. Students use these metrics to benchmark and improve inventory policies.

Lesson 3 • Replenishment Models and Order Policies

Covers fixed-order-quantity, fixed-interval, and hybrid replenishment models. Students match model choice to item characteristics and supply reliability.

Lesson 4 • Inventory Classification and Analysis

Applies ABC and XYZ analysis to prioritise inventory management effort. Segmentation results drive differentiated control policies introduced in later sections.

Lesson 1 • Supplier Evaluation and Selection

Applies weighted scorecards and total cost of ownership models to select suppliers objectively. Rigorous selection reduces downstream quality and delivery risk.

Lesson 2 • Contract and Negotiation Fundamentals

Covers key contract terms, pricing structures, and negotiation tactics for procurement agreements. Students learn to protect supply continuity while achieving cost targets.

Lesson 3 • Supplier Relationship Management

Distinguishes transactional, preferred, and strategic supplier tiers and the governance each requires. Ongoing relationship management sustains performance and enables innovation.

Lesson 4 • Supplier Performance Monitoring

Designs KPI dashboards and review cadences to track delivery, quality, and cost performance. Continuous monitoring enables early intervention before disruptions escalate.

Lesson 1 • Transportation Modes and Trade-offs

Compares road, rail, ocean, air, and intermodal transport on cost, speed, capacity, and reliability. Mode selection directly affects total landed cost and lead time.

Lesson 2 • Carrier Selection and Management

Covers carrier qualification, rate negotiation, and performance management for contracted and spot freight. Strong carrier relationships improve reliability and cost predictability.

Lesson 3 • Incoterms and Freight Documentation

Explains international trade terms that define risk and cost transfer between buyer and seller. Proper documentation prevents customs delays and financial disputes.

Lesson 4 • Freight Cost Optimisation

Applies load consolidation, routing optimisation, and modal shift to reduce freight spend. Students calculate cost-per-unit metrics to evaluate optimisation scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Warehouse Design and Layout

Covers slotting principles, flow path design, and storage system selection for different product profiles. Effective layout reduces travel time and improves throughput.

Lesson 2 • Warehouse Performance Management

Defines KPIs for cost, quality, and speed across all warehouse functions. Students build a balanced scorecard to drive continuous improvement.

Lesson 3 • Receiving and Put-Away Processes

Details inbound quality checks, cross-docking, and directed put-away logic. Accurate receiving is the first control point for inventory integrity.

Lesson 4 • Order Picking Methods and Productivity

Compares discrete, batch, zone, and wave picking strategies by order profile and volume. Picking accounts for the largest share of warehouse labour cost.

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Visibility and Early Warning

Establishes monitoring systems that detect disruption signals before they escalate. Real-time visibility enables faster response and reduces recovery time.

Lesson 2 • Risk Assessment and Prioritisation

Applies probability-impact matrices and financial exposure modelling to rank risks. Prioritisation focuses mitigation resources on the highest-consequence threats.

Lesson 3 • Mitigation Strategies and Redundancy

Covers dual sourcing, safety stock buffers, geographic diversification, and flexible capacity as mitigation levers. Each strategy is evaluated against its cost and effectiveness.

Lesson 4 • Risk Identification and Classification

Categorises supply chain risks by source—demand, supply, operational, and external—using structured frameworks. Systematic identification prevents blind spots in risk planning.

Lesson 1 • Global Supply Chain Considerations

Addresses nearshoring, reshoring, and global sourcing decisions in the context of geopolitical and cost dynamics. Students evaluate total risk-adjusted cost of global vs. regional networks.

Lesson 2 • Network Design Fundamentals

Covers facility location modelling, node consolidation, and flow optimisation across the distribution network. Network design decisions have multi-year cost and service implications.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Transformation Roadmap

Structures a phased improvement roadmap with prioritised initiatives, business cases, and change milestones. Graduates leave with a practical framework for leading supply chain transformation.

Lesson 4 • Aligning Supply Chain to Business Strategy

Links competitive priorities—cost leadership, differentiation, responsiveness—to supply chain design choices. Misalignment between strategy and operations is a primary source of underperformance.