Supply Chain Analyst Course

Lesson 1 • Supply Chain Trade-offs and Objectives

Explains the cost-service-risk triangle that governs every supply chain decision. Prepares analysts to frame recommendations within business constraints.

Lesson 2 • Core Supply Chain Processes

Introduces the Plan-Source-Make-Deliver-Return framework as a process lens. Links each process to measurable business outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Key Roles and Stakeholders

Identifies internal and external actors and their decision rights. Clarifies how analyst outputs serve each stakeholder group.

Lesson 1 • Building and Maintaining Data Pipelines

Introduces repeatable workflows that refresh datasets automatically. Reduces manual effort and ensures analyses stay current.

Lesson 2 • Data Quality Assessment

Teaches methods to detect and quantify data quality issues before analysis. Poor data quality is the leading cause of flawed supply chain decisions.

Lesson 3 • Data Cleaning and Transformation

Covers practical techniques to standardize and reshape raw data into analysis-ready formats. Builds the preprocessing habits that underpin all subsequent analytical work.

Lesson 1 • Data Visualization Best Practices

Teaches how to choose and design charts that communicate supply chain insights clearly. Effective visuals accelerate stakeholder decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Statistical Analysis Fundamentals

Covers descriptive and inferential statistics relevant to supply chain data. Provides the mathematical foundation for forecasting and performance analysis.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to SQL for Analysts

Provides hands-on SQL skills for querying operational databases. Enables analysts to extract custom datasets without relying on IT teams.

Lesson 4 • Spreadsheet Mastery for Supply Chain

Builds advanced spreadsheet skills applied directly to supply chain scenarios. Spreadsheets remain the most common analyst tool across industries.

Lesson 1 • Forecast Accuracy Measurement

Teaches standard error metrics and how to use them to improve forecast processes. Accuracy measurement closes the feedback loop in demand planning.

Lesson 2 • Demand Patterns and Segmentation

Identifies the demand behaviors that determine which forecasting method to apply. Segmentation prevents one-size-fits-all errors.

Lesson 3 • Quantitative Forecasting Methods

Covers time-series models from simple averages to exponential smoothing and regression. Builds the technical toolkit for statistical demand planning.

Lesson 1 • Safety Stock and Service Level Analysis

Quantifies the buffer stock needed to achieve target service levels under uncertainty. Links safety stock decisions to customer experience metrics.

Lesson 2 • Inventory Segmentation and Rationalization

Applies ABC-XYZ and other segmentation frameworks to prioritize inventory management effort. Identifies candidates for elimination or consolidation.

Lesson 3 • Inventory Fundamentals and Costs

Defines inventory types and the full cost of holding, ordering, and stocking out. Establishes the economic logic behind every inventory decision.

Lesson 4 • Inventory Performance Metrics

Defines and calculates the KPIs used to track inventory efficiency over time. Enables analysts to build inventory scorecards for management review.

Lesson 1 • Spend Analysis and Category Management

Teaches how to cleanse, classify, and analyze procurement spend data. Spend visibility is the prerequisite for any sourcing strategy.

Lesson 2 • Supplier Performance Measurement

Defines and tracks KPIs that assess supplier quality, delivery, and responsiveness. Performance data drives supplier development and contract decisions.

Lesson 3 • Bid Evaluation and Total Cost Analysis

Structures the quantitative comparison of supplier bids beyond unit price. Total cost of ownership reveals the true cost of sourcing decisions.

Lesson 1 • Carrier Performance Analysis

Measures carrier reliability, transit time, and damage rates using shipment data. Carrier scorecards support contract negotiations and routing decisions.

Lesson 2 • Freight Cost Analysis and Benchmarking

Breaks down freight invoices and compares rates against market benchmarks. Cost visibility enables targeted negotiation and mode optimization.

Lesson 3 • Network Design Fundamentals

Introduces the analytical framework for evaluating warehouse and distribution center placement. Network structure determines the baseline cost and service capability.

Lesson 1 • Root Cause and Variance Analysis

Applies structured problem-solving tools to diagnose performance deviations. Moves analysts from describing problems to identifying actionable causes.

Lesson 2 • KPI Framework Design

Builds a balanced set of supply chain metrics aligned to business strategy. A well-designed KPI framework prevents metric gaming and misalignment.

Lesson 3 • Building the Improvement Business Case

Teaches analysts to quantify benefits, estimate costs, and present investment proposals. A compelling business case converts analysis into funded action.

Lesson 4 • Benchmarking and Competitive Analysis

Compares internal performance against industry peers using structured benchmarking methods. Benchmarking identifies performance gaps and prioritizes improvement efforts.