As an engineer, you may need to plan, implement and manage the flow of goods, services and related information to customers, in a process known as supply chain management.T

This module looks at the different aspects of the tools and techniques employed within supply chain management, including forecasting, planning, inventory and distribution, together with the strategic and management aspects of supply chain management, principally related to manufacturing industry, such as strategies, alignment, working within networks, purchasing, partnerships, collaboration, communication, coordination, and new business models.

You will complete a group research, where you will consider a particular industry from a strategic standpoint, to determine the important competitive aims and the supply chain management techniques that are applied within that industry. You will make a presentation on your findings as part of a group, so that all students benefit from the research.

You will also complete an individual assignment.

Building on the knowledge you already have of modern manufacturing systems and their design and management, this module teaches you the issues and concepts in manufacturing supply chains. You will also acquire knowledge of the associated tools and techniques for analysis and management of manufacturing logistics. Furthermore, you will develop an awareness of the current challenges faced by supply chain managers, including volatility in customer demand, changing markets and the introduction of new products. You will also develop through class and research an understanding of strategic and management aspects of supply chain management.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM1m–SM6m, SM1fl - SM3fl, EA1m-EA6m, EA1fl–EA3fl, D1m-D8m, D1fl-D3fl, ET2m–ET7m, ET2fl–ET6fl, EP2m, EP4m–EP11m, EP1fl–EP4fl, G1m–G4m, G1fl–G4fl.

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online:
https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/studentinfo/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to: 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM1m–SM6m, SM1fl-SM3fl, EA1m-EA6m, EA1fl–EA3fl, D1m-D8m, D1fl-D3fl, ET2m–ET7m, ET2fl–ET6fl, EP2m, EP4m–EP11m, EP1fl–EP4fl

1 demonstrate, in writing, systematic and in-depth understanding of the issues in supply chain management;

2 reveal in a class presentation systematic and in-depth understanding of the issues in supply chain management;

3 show, in writing, the ability to appraise tools and technologies for managing manufacturing supply chains;

4 apply proper tools and technologies to evaluate and explore managerial approaches in a given supply chain case.

Knowledge: EA2m–EA6m, EA1fl–EA3fl, D1m–D8m, D1fl–D3fl, ET2fl–ET4fl

5 choose the right tools and techniques to solve problems, and explain the choice;

6 use case examples to demonstrate understanding of business situations and applicable tools and techniques;

7 demonstrate competence in literature search, data collection, analysis and synthesis in the area.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge: G1m–G4m, G1fl–G4fl

8 present information and arguments to a professional standard, both in writing and orally, making a business case for senior management to agree on a course of action;

9 work constructively and supportively in a group through project work.

- developing strategic framework to analyse supply chains: introduction to supply chain management, achieving strategic fit and scope, drivers of a supply chain performance and obstacles to achieving fit;

- planning demand and supply in a supply chain: demand forecasting, aggregate planning and managing predictable variability;

- planning and managing inventories in a supply chain: types of inventories and their roles, managing economies of scale, managing uncertainty in a supply chain and determining optimal level of product availability;

- network design and information technology in a supply chain: transportation decisions, networks and design options, network design decisions, models of facility location and capacity allocation, the role, importance and use of IT in supply chain;

- co-ordinating supply chains and the role of E-business: supply chain co-ordination, the Bullwhip effect, barriers to co-ordination, strategic alliances, role and impact of e-business on supply chain performance.

Reassessment will be by a single piece of coursework worth 100% of the module. For deferred candidates, the mark will be uncapped. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 50%. 

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Other Resources:

Reading list for this module: