Supply Chain Management

Overview

This Supply Chain Management  module from The Open University UK  is delivered online, and is designed for those who want a sound knowledge of and insight into supply chain management, and will appeal to both Supply Chain professionals and managers in other professions.

This module will provide you with an in-depth insight into the theory, problems, solutions, and best practice in the area of supply chain management.  It will provide you with opportunities to question and reflect upon your own organisation and its role in the wider supply chain.  It will also help you to develop your ability to identify opportunities for improvement of product design, manufacturing processors, sourcing strategies, and market development.

Unit 1 provides you with an introduction to supply chain management, followed by Unit 2, on structure and performance of supply chains, and Unit 3 which gives an insight into supply chain design.  In Unit 4 you will participate in a practical simulation of managing a typical, but simplified, supply chain and learn from the challenges you encounter in attempting to address the problems generated by supply chain dynamics.  This work will be assessed through a reflective tutor-marked assessment (TMA) that will encourage you to relate your knowledge and experience to theory and identify the challenges of implementing best practice.   The subsequent units, leading up to the end of module assessment (EMA), cover supply chain relations, sustainability, risks, and supply chain costs and financial issues.  The final unit you will study in more depth the supply chains within three specific areas including the public sector, the mining sector and automotive sector.

The module aims to:

• develop an understanding of the nature of supply chain management, and the approaches to addressing the relevant business decisions in this area.
• develop critical understanding Supply chain management theories, including supply chain dynamics, supply chain risk management, and supplier relationship management
• develop critical understanding of the impact of the external context on supply chain decision making, including internationalisation and globalisation, social and technological change, and government policies and regulation.
• develop an understanding of the challenges of implementing supply chain solutions in context.