Course Description
This course is very relevant to any manager, whether in a service organization or in a manufacturing
company. This course provides a survey of concepts and issues involved in managing an
organization’s supply chain that are directly related to producing and delivering its products or
services. Managing resources and supply chain dynamics are key focus of this course. Among the
issues discussed are the strategic role of a supply chain, key strategic drivers of supply chain
performance and common problem-solving approaches that help supply chain and logistics
professionals make better decisions. Topics include supply chain design, planning, and
operation,facilities, inventory, transportation, information management, and coordination in the supply
chain.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Appreciate the variety of issues involved in supply chain management.
2. The strategic importance of good SCM and how to use it as a competitive advantage..
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Class attendance will be taken at every class meeting. If you must miss a class period due to work or
some other valid reason, it is up to you to get the class notes from another student for the class that you
missed. If an assignment is due on the date you miss, you should plan on turning it in early. Points
will be deducted for late assignments. Since we will have many discussions during class, it will be in
your best interest to miss class as little as possible.
Source MATERIALS
1. Text: Supply Chain Management:Startegy, Planning, and Operation. By Sunil Chopra and
Peter Meindl, Third Edition, Prentice Hall.
2. Text: Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Creating Valu-Adding Networks. By Martin
Christopher. Prentice hall.
3. The Internet Search Engines
4. Youtube
GRADING
Case 25%
Take Home Exam 25%
Team Project 50%
100%
See Project Guidelines and Rubric for developing the Team Project.
Supply Chain Management Group Project
Basic information:
• Each student will be in a group of 4/5 students and will submit to me the
name of their group and group members by January 25.
Report information:
• For the group project, each group is responsible for submitting a written
report on the due date. Your report will be graded on your ability to
thoroughly analyze the company, organize the necessary information and
develop strong recommendations.
• Because the group project involve actual companies, it is critical that all
group members be involved in researching the company and understanding
the processes. Although it may be helpful for one or more group members to
draw on job experience for group projects, it is not acceptable to only draw
on previous experience in writing your report. Revisiting the business is
necessary to get complete and updated information.
Discussion Questions
1. Choose a company from business or personal experience. Briefly describe
the company, goods and/or services it produces, and major competitors.
2. Identify the key suppliers and customers of your company. Gather as much
information as you can about the relationships between the company and these
supply chain members.
3. How involved are the suppliers and customers in daily operations. Describe
the ways that customers and suppliers influence the decisions being made
within the company.
4. Describe how the company manages inventory. Discuss how they know how
much and when to order certain products. Who handles this function within the
organization and what is the process that they use to manage the different
types of inventory. Is an ABC analysis in any form used?
5. Describe the types of technology that the company uses to manage their
supply chain?
6. What other challenges does the company face in managing their supply
chain? List some recommendations, changes, or improvements that you believe
should be implemented.
Assume that your group has been given $10,000 for each group project as a
consulting fee. Divide the money among your group based on the quality and effort
of each team member’s contribution. This evaluation is due to the instructor
during the last class and will be used to adjust case grades. Please justify your
response.
Group Group
Project Project
1 2
$10,000 $10,000
Discussion:
Grade Breakdown for Supply Chain Group Project
Team Name:
Content
_______ How well did you describe your company including its background,
goods and/or services and competitors? – 10 points
_______ How thorough were you in analyzing the company’s supply chain
including the types and names of suppliers and customers, decision-
making, relationships and technologies? – 20 points
_______ How well did you describe how the company manages their inventory
including their ordering policies? - 20 points
_______ How well did you determine the supply chain challenges that the
company faces and how strong and thorough were your suggestions for
improvement? – 20 points
_______ What level of creativity and extra effort did your group put into the
report beyond the discussion questions? – 10 points