Supply Chain Manager Course

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Strategy Alignment

Explains how supply chain design must reflect corporate strategy and market positioning. Introduces lean, agile, and hybrid strategic archetypes.

Lesson 2 • Key Roles and Stakeholders

Identifies internal and external actors who influence supply chain decisions. Clarifies accountability and communication pathways across functions.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Structure and Scope

Defines the boundaries of a supply chain from raw material to end consumer. Establishes the vocabulary and mental model used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Sales and Operations Planning Process

Integrates demand forecasts with supply capacity through a structured monthly cycle. Connects demand planning output to inventory and production decisions.

Lesson 2 • Quantitative Forecasting Methods

Covers statistical techniques for generating demand forecasts from historical data. Builds competency in choosing and applying the right model for each situation.

Lesson 3 • Demand Drivers and Patterns

Identifies internal and external factors that shape demand variability. Provides the analytical foundation for selecting appropriate forecasting methods.

Lesson 4 • Demand Sensing and Real-Time Signals

Extends traditional forecasting with near-real-time data inputs to improve short-horizon accuracy. Prepares students for advanced demand-driven planning environments.

Lesson 1 • Inventory Accounting and Valuation

Explains how inventory is valued on financial statements and its impact on profitability. Bridges operational decisions with financial reporting requirements.

Lesson 2 • Inventory Reduction Strategies

Identifies root causes of excess inventory and applies structured reduction techniques. Connects inventory health to cash flow and supply chain agility.

Lesson 3 • Inventory Classification and Segmentation

Applies ABC and XYZ analysis to prioritize inventory management effort. Enables differentiated policies based on value, volume, and variability.

Lesson 4 • Inventory Replenishment Models

Covers the core mathematical models for deciding when and how much to order. Builds the quantitative foundation for setting reorder points and order quantities.

Lesson 1 • Supplier Selection and Qualification

Defines criteria and processes for evaluating and onboarding new suppliers. Reduces supply risk by ensuring suppliers meet capability and compliance standards.

Lesson 2 • Contract Negotiation and Management

Builds negotiation skills and contract management practices that protect value over time. Covers key commercial terms and mechanisms for managing contract performance.

Lesson 3 • Supply Risk Identification and Mitigation

Identifies vulnerabilities in the supplier base and applies structured risk mitigation strategies. Prepares students to build resilient, diversified supply networks.

Lesson 4 • Supplier Performance Management

Establishes ongoing measurement and improvement processes for the supplier base. Connects supplier performance to supply chain reliability and cost outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Freight Costing and Rate Structures

Explains how freight rates are structured and how to evaluate and negotiate carrier pricing. Builds the analytical skills needed to manage transportation spend effectively.

Lesson 2 • Carrier Management and Procurement

Covers the process of selecting, contracting, and managing carrier relationships. Ensures reliable capacity and competitive pricing through structured carrier programs.

Lesson 3 • Warehouse and Distribution Center Operations

Introduces warehouse design principles and core operational processes. Connects distribution center performance to order fulfillment speed and accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Last-Mile and Omnichannel Fulfillment

Addresses the complexity and cost of final delivery in B2C and B2B environments. Prepares students to design fulfillment networks for diverse customer expectations.

Lesson 1 • Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics

Introduces machine learning and optimization techniques applied to supply chain problems. Prepares students to evaluate and deploy advanced analytical models.

Lesson 2 • Core Supply Chain Technology Landscape

Maps the major technology categories that support supply chain operations. Provides a framework for evaluating and prioritizing technology investments.

Lesson 3 • Descriptive and Diagnostic Analytics

Builds skills in using dashboards and root-cause analysis to understand past performance. Connects analytical output to operational decision-making and problem-solving.

Lesson 4 • Supply Chain Data Management

Covers the principles of data quality, master data governance, and integration. Establishes the data foundation required for reliable analytics and automation.

Lesson 1 • Risk Identification and Classification

Provides a taxonomy of supply chain risks across demand, supply, operational, and external categories. Builds the foundation for structured risk assessment and prioritization.

Lesson 2 • Disruption Response and Recovery

Builds skills for managing active supply chain disruptions from detection through recovery. Prepares students to lead cross-functional crisis response teams.

Lesson 3 • Business Continuity Planning

Guides students through building and testing formal business continuity plans for supply operations. Ensures organizations can maintain critical flows during extended disruptions.

Lesson 4 • Resilience Design Strategies

Covers structural and operational strategies that reduce vulnerability and speed recovery. Translates risk assessment outputs into network and process design decisions.

Lesson 1 • Executive Stakeholder Management

Develops skills for influencing senior leaders and cross-functional peers on supply chain priorities. Prepares students to operate effectively at the executive level.

Lesson 2 • Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing

Embeds environmental and social responsibility into supply chain strategy and operations. Prepares students to meet stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.

Lesson 3 • Financial Acumen for Supply Chain Leaders

Connects supply chain decisions to P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow outcomes. Enables students to build business cases and communicate value in financial terms.

Lesson 4 • Supply Chain Network Design

Applies quantitative and strategic tools to design or redesign end-to-end supply networks. Connects network structure to cost, service, and resilience objectives.