Supply Chain Operations and Design

This unit develops core operational skills for designing, documenting, and improving supply chain systems. Students learn to map processes, apply the SCOR model, analyze cost drivers, and select operational technologies (warehousing, inventory, returns, automation) while integrating metrics, analytics, resilience, cybersecurity, and sustainability considerations to prepare for strategic planning and projects in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze customer value, cost drivers, and trade-offs to recommend supply chain system choices that balance cost, quality, and responsiveness
• Apply the SCOR model, SIPOC mapping, and supply chain mapping techniques to document processes and identify key performance attributes and improvement opportunities
• Evaluate warehousing, inventory, production environment, and returns-management options (including WMS/WES, AMRs, load boards, and postponement) to design an integrated operations plan that improves total cost and resilience
• Develop an analytics plan using SCOR metrics and performance indicators to monitor supplier relationships, quality assurance, cybersecurity risks, and greenhouse gas reduction efforts