Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc

• Dr Hendrik Reefke

The module provides a thorough grounding in the role and operation of warehouses including the range of storage and handling equipment, the design of warehouses and the use of automation and information technology. It emphasises the strategic use of methods to analyse and appraise the wide range of available options, especially regarding manual and automated equipment and robotics. Additionally, the module focuses on developing the students’ ability to discern and use appropriate warehouse design methodologies.

This module is taught in light of the wider context of an organisation’s supply chain strategy and, thus, equips students with the means to address the warehousing decisions involved in wider supply chain developments.

The module covers:

• Introduction to warehousing
• Conventional palletised systems
• Automated palletised systems
• Non-palletised storage and handling systems
• Automation and robotics
• Order picking and replenishment
• Receiving and despatch operations
• Warehouse management systems
• Warehouse design, zoning, and scheduling
• Computer aided design and simulation
• Warehousing in modern supply chains

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

1. Critically evaluate warehousing's strategic role and technological trends, including automation and robotics, within modern supply chains.
2. Analyse warehouse equipment applicability, including robotic and automated systems, for different industrial and operational contexts.
3. Apply systematic principles and methodologies for warehouse design, optimising and proposing layout, staffing, and equipment integration.
4. Evaluate alternative warehouse decision, such as layout, robotics-enabled processes, and supporting information technology, against organisational requirements and supply chain strategies.
5. Assess complex warehousing challenges, including automation selection and implementation, within individual warehouse installations and across supply chain networks.

• Dr Matthias Nnadi

The aim of this module is to introduce a number of traditional and contemporary accounting approaches that will increase the visibility of financial information and support management decision making. It aims to integrate basic financial knowledge in the management of a business organisation.

• Accounting rules and preparation of a company balance sheet
• Income statement and adjustments
• Statement of cashflows
• Measuring financial performance using ratio analysis
• ESG reporting
• Company budgets
• Variance analysis
• Sources of finance
• Cost of equity/debts
• Capital investment decisions

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

1. Explain fundamental accounting rules and their applications in the management of a business organisation.
2. Apply financial principles in the decision-making process.
3. Measure financial performance using ratio analysis.
4. Prepare organisational budgets and analyse any variances.
5. Examine the cost and sources of business finance and their implications in investment decisions.

• Professor Andrew Angus

This module aims to provide students with the ability to analyse and present relevant data that will support evidence-based decision making.

Business analysts are frequently asked to gather, review and analyse business and industry data to produce robust, meaningful recommendations to senior managers. This requires the combination of a range of knowledge, skills and behaviours. For instance, the selection of quality data, building reliable databases and models, applying statistical models, deriving and communicating meaning from the findings.

The principles of business analytics:

• Research design,
• Planning a management project and formulating management questions,
• Data analysis using quantitative techniques,
• Principles of artificial intelligence, applications and challenges.

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

1. Critically evaluate the theoretical principles that underpin a range of analytical techniques.
2. Appraise the usefulness of different data analytics methods for inferring meaning from business data.
3. Create and communicate robust recommendations based on evidence and a critical assessment of options.
4. Assess the main concepts and paradigms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and critically examine AI-enabled applications in different sectors.

This capstone module develops MSc students' independent research capabilities through a substantial supply chain management investigation, equipping them for professional practice, doctoral study, or industry leadership. Students undertake a self-directed project in one of three formats:

• Company-led research project
• Systematic literature review
• Empirical study

The module synthesises core programme knowledge (research methods, analytics, operations strategy) while fostering critical higher-order skills: problem formulation under ambiguity, rigorous evidence generation, and actionable executive communication. Applying advanced methodological skills to address authentic supply chain challenges such as sustainability, digital transformation, resilience, or strategic procurement. By tackling real-world supply chain issues of their own selection, students demonstrate mastery of discipline-specific theory, methodological judgement, and professional scholarship expected at MSc level.

Project Selection & Scoping

• Identifying supply chain research topics aligned with MSc programme themes.
• Formulating research questions, objectives, and scope for company, literature review, or empirical formats.
• Developing project proposals with academic supervisors and industry stakeholders.

Research Design & Methodology

• Selecting appropriate methodologies based on project format.
• Applying research ethics, rigour, and validity considerations for MSc-level scholarship.
• Developing data collection instruments.

Company-Based Research Thesis

• Collaborating with industry partners on authentic supply chain challenges.
• Conducting stakeholder interviews, process mapping, and performance data analysis.
• Delivering actionable recommendations with implementation roadmaps.

Systematic Literature Review

• Executing systematic searches across academic databases.
• Synthesising evidence through thematic analysis.
• Identifying research gaps and theoretical contributions to supply chain management.

Empirical Study

• Designing qualitative/quantitative or mixed-methods primary research.
• Executing statistical analysis or qualitative coding.
• Validating findings against supply chain theory and practice.

Analysis & Synthesis

• Triangulating multiple data sources.
• Developing supply chain frameworks, models, or decision tools.
• Proposing theoretical and practical implications.

Reporting & Communication

• Structuring thesis document per academic conventions.
• Creating executive summaries, visualisations, and industry-ready deliverables as applicable.
• Delivering presentations to academic and industry audiences.

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

1. Formulate and scope a substantial supply chain research project, synthesising programme knowledge to develop research questions and objectives aligned with theoretical and industry priorities.
2. Autonomously plan and manage a research programme, applying project management principles to deliver within academic timelines and scope.
3. Critically review, synthesise, and evaluate supply chain management literature, identifying research gaps and theoretical contradictions to position the study within scholarly debates.
4. Design and justify rigorous research methodologies and analytical tools appropriate to complex supply chain problems.
5. Execute primary data collection and secondary research, demonstrating methodological judgement in supply chain contexts and ethical awareness.
6. Apply analytical techniques to generate robust evidence, triangulating multiple sources for validity and reliability expected at MSc-level.
7. Synthesise findings into theoretically-informed and practically-actionable conclusions, critically evaluating implications for supply chain theory, policy, and professional practice.
8. Communicate complex supply chain research through an academic thesis, executive summaries, and presentations to academic and industry audiences.

• Dr Abhijeet Ghadge

To provide theoretical and practical knowledge about:

• The value of information and the role of information systems (IS) for supply chain management.
• The role and impact of information systems in e-business.
• The opportunities and implementation challenges provided by information systems in supply chain management.

• ERP Principles and Implementation
• ERP hands-on
• Data Quality and Security in Supply Chains
• E-Business Models
• Blockchain Technology for Supply Chains
• Data Analytics for Supply Chains
• Technological Trends in Supply Chains
• Technological Trends in Supply Chains
• GS1 e-learning (Barcode and RFID)
• Innovation for Digital Supply Chain Management 

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

1. Identify the functionality of ERP systems for managing operations of companies.
2. Assess the value of information for managing supply chains by recognising the importance of data quality and data security.
3. Evaluate appropriate eBusiness models/solutions for supply chain problems.
4. Formulate the processes for implementing internal and inter-organisational information systems.
5. Critically evaluate and identify the appropriate technology/information systems required for supporting different functions related to managing supply chains.

• Professor Catarina Figueira

This module recognises that professional effectiveness is not limited to individual performance. Working with others - leading teams, influencing stakeholders, navigating conflict and building collaborative relationships across diverse cultural and organisational contexts - is at the heart of what employers expect of managers, analysts, finance professionals, supply chain leaders, procurement specialists and marketers. The module accordingly gives substantial attention to leadership development, emotional intelligence, negotiation and the interpersonal dynamics of professional life. Storytelling - the ability to structure and deliver a compelling professional narrative - is treated as a distinct and teachable skill that connects self-awareness to effective communication in interviews, pitches and stakeholder interactions alike.

• Self-assessment, professional identity
• Sector landscape
• Professional application materials
• Navigating the selection process
• Interview excellence
• Leadership, commercial awareness and project management
• Digital professionalism, ethics and inclusion
• Professional communication, negotiation, networking and career planning.

1. Synthesise personal attributes, strengths, values and skill gaps into a coherent professional identity and personal value proposition aligned with their target sector, by constructing a Professional Portfolio with actionable short- and medium-term career goals.
2. Produce professionally targeted application materials and prepare for postgraduate role selection formats, applying structured frameworks to evidence personal strengths and experience.
3. Appraise a range of professional communication techniques and leadership behaviours, to convey information persuasively and enable effective collaboration in diverse team settings.
4. Analyse current trends shaping their target professional sector, using structured problem-solving, decision-making and demonstrating the ethical awareness and principled judgement expected of professionals in their field.
5. Critically reflect on personal professional development needs and commitments to professional conduct, resilience, commercial curiosity and inclusive practice.

• Dr Joshua Haist

The module is primarily designed to provide you with an understanding of what is required to undertake successful academic studies and to conduct research in business contexts considering that todays’ managers:

• are paid to make decisions
• are expected to make ‘informed’ decisions (i.e. based on evidence)
• are evaluated on the basis of the outcomes from their decisions

Therefore, understanding the process of producing evidence will ensure you have the core skills to inform management decisions.

Introduction to evidence-based management

• Study skills
• The elements of evidence-based management
• Uses and misuses of generative AI

Conducting research in management

• Defining management problems
• Reviewing the literature

Understanding and evaluating qualitative research methods

• Interviews and focus groups in qualitative research
• Qualitative data analysis

Understanding and evaluating quantitative research methods

• Designing questionnaires and conducting surveys
• Quantitative data analysis
• Presenting research evidence & academic writing
• Translating data into information to support management decisions

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

1. Critically evaluate evidence to inform management decisions.
2. Assess and select appropriate methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection to gather a varied range of evidence to support decision.
3. Choose and apply appropriate methods of qualitative and quantitative data analysis to gain insights from data and explore the implications of decisions.
4. Access different sources of evidence to gain a comprehensive and critically reflective understanding of organisational issues.
5. Design and formulate high quality academic and business documents employing critical, evidence-based thinking.

• Dr Farooq Habib

The course will explore the subject of procurement and supply in the industrial and commercial context, explaining its role and purpose within the supply chain. Students will learn how procurement has developed, the skills and information needed by procurement professionals, the academic theory and knowledge accumulated on the subject area, and the use of specific tools and techniques employed in managing the procurement function. In addition, we will explore and use some of the recently emerged technologies within e-procurement which are designed to improve both process and cost management. This procurement focus extends to inventory management and forecasting, where professionals leverage demand predictions and stock optimisation techniques to align procurement activities with supply chain efficiency and minimise holding costs.

• Issues affecting procurement and supply and the role of procurement, including drivers, context, structures, and objectives
• Supply strategy and segmentation approaches & matrices; buyer-supplier collaboration and partnerships; and trust and power issues
• Managing complex inter-organisational relationships across multiple and diverse stakeholders
• Supplier selection, development and evaluation, including make versus buy decisions, negotiation and contract
• e-Procurement – approaches, benefits and limitations
• New trends in purchasing: retail industry
• International sourcing, supply risks, and sustainability challenges
• Demand management and forecasting
• Inventory management

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

1. Critically analyse procurement's strategic purpose, organisational role, and processes within integrated supply chains.
2. Apply knowledge of strategic/tactical procurement management and spending segmentation models.
3. Analyse suppliers, supply markets, and develop relevant procurement strategies.
4. Demonstrate practical use of automated/web-based procurement applications.
5. Appraise and apply forecasting and inventory management approaches in supply chains.

• Professor Heather Skipworth

This module is intended to provide you with a sound foundation to the course by introducing the main concepts and principles that underpin Logistics and Supply Chain Management, including the important issue of sustainability.

The module is called ‘Supply Chain Strategy & Sustainability’ and presents the fundamental principles of contemporary logistics and supply chain management within a business context. This unit will explore the ways in which good practice in these fields can contribute to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Overarching aspects of Supply chain sustainability are explored, such as corporate responsibility, ethics and reverse logistics. Further the Global Supply Chain Game will enable you to understand through an interactive and competitive business game the principles of building an efficient global sourcing and supply chain under conditions of uncertainty so as to achieve high levels of profit and product availability.

Global marketplaces are characterised by shortening product life cycles, increasing product variety, and highly variable demand that is difficult to forecast. The module explores how the competitive landscape is constantly changing, and the role of logistics and supply chain management in meeting the challenges raised. Research from CLSCM faculty is integrated with our own case studies, originating from a network of companies in a range of sectors to demonstrate particular concepts around agile and lean supply chains.

• Supply chains and competitive advantage introduce the principles of logistics and supply chain management and the potential impact on a focal firm’s competitive position and its organisational vision and performance.
• Supplier relationships cover the different types of supplier relationships from arm’s length transactional to Joint Ventures, explores the nature of collaboration between supply chain members and supplier networks.
• Strategic capacity planning and manufacturing process selection covers different approaches to changing production or logistics capacity on a long-term horizon and how to select appropriate production processes on the basis of product volume and variety.
• Managing the lead-time and lean thinking explains how to measure and improve lead-time gap and describes the implementation of lean thinking (Just-In-Time), compares push versus pull systems, identifies the seven deadly wastes and a number of tools and techniques to reduce waste in the supply chain, including value stream mapping.
• Agile supply chains are necessary to thrive in volatile demand situations experienced in many markets today.This session compares and contrasts agile with lean, provides a framework for agile supply chains, including capabilities and practices to improve agility.
• Variety challenge focuses on proliferating product ranges and strategies that can be employed to deal with this, such as mass customisation, form postponement and design for the supply chain.
• Segmented supply chain strategy explores how supply chain strategy can be differentiated to meet different customer needs, and new market strategies/business models.
• Integrating the supply chain explores internal integration between functions and external integration between supply chain members, integrations effect on firm performance and how it can be improved.
• Introduction to supply chain sustainability concepts and examines some of the global trends impacting on the sustainability of supply chains and discusses some of the strategies to improve the performance of SCs against the triple bottom line (i.e. environmental, social, and economic/technological implications).
• Corporate responsibility and ethics: Understand the business case for major brands to convert to sustainable sourcing and addresses the challenges of aligning suppliers behind a major market transformation effort.

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

1. Analyse and debate the basic principles underlying supply chain management and understand how the performance of an organisation’s supply chain is impacted by alignment between functions, strategy and partners in the supply chain, and changing customer demands and supply chain risks.
2. Understand approaches to measuring the lead-time gap and evaluate ways to improve it, emphasising the lean thinking (Just-in-time), how its applied through pull rather than push systems and approaches to reducing activities which do not add value (waste).
3. Evaluate how agile supply chains can be applied in practice to provide high variety and customised products and how they can be combined with lean approaches in a segmented approach to deliver high performing supply chains.
4. Evaluate approaches to supply chain integration, both internally and externally, distinguishing supply relationships from arm’s length to Joint Ventures.
5. Evaluate the concepts of supply chain sustainability across the triple bottom line (i.e. environmental, social, and economic/technological implications), corporate responsibility and ethics.

• Dr Nicky Yates

The network is the cornerstone of any logistics and supply chain operation. The location of factories, distribution centres, suppliers and customers and the means by which they are linked, fundamentally affects the efficiency with which an organisation operates.

This module aims to introduce the concepts and techniques of supply chain modelling, network theory and analysis, We will use these to demonstrate how supply chain networks are designed, modelled and optimised. Before investigating how modelling tools and current trends and challenges are influencing supply chain decision making. All aspects of the module are illustrated by the use of practical examples, ranging from manual calculations through to computerised network optimisation software.

• Introduction to Supply Chain Network Modelling.
• Principles of Supply Chain Modelling – including manual and spreadsheet models
• Advanced modelling techniques and their application in supply chain design and logistics.
• Optimisation in Supply Chain Design and the role of Commercial Network Planning Software
• Digital Twins and Simulation in Supply Chain decision making
• Emerging trends in supply chain operations and the impact on decision making and design.

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

1. Apply knowledge of practical aspects of supply chain strategy and the underlying cost trade-offs.
2. Apply the concepts of good design to the analysis of a Supply Chain Network
3. Evaluate the use of a range of supply chain modelling and simulation concepts and techniques and select the appropriate techniques for the analysis of a supply chain decision or network design
4. Develop analytical and simulation models using a variety of manual and computer-based techniques.
5. Assess the impact of current logistics trends on supply chain networks, operations and decision making.

• Dr Ioannis Koliousis

The Freight Transport module equips students with a comprehensive foundation in road, rail, air, and sea freight systems, viewed primarily from a logistics and supply chain management perspective to optimise multimodal operations. It delves deeper into road freight fleet management and operational details, acknowledging its dominance as the primary inland mode for national and urban distribution, while many organisations maintain in-house fleets. With a sustainability focus, the module examines strategies for low-carbon freight, such as electrification, alternative fuels, and efficient routing to reduce emissions across supply chains.

• Freight transport's strategic role in supply chain integration
• Landed cost modelling for multimodal transport decisions
• Modal freight characteristics: road, rail, air, and sea operations
• Road freight: vehicle selection techniques and fleet management
• Road freight operations, planning, and productivity constraints
• Road freight routing, scheduling, and single depot optimisation
• Urban/city logistics: last mile operations and consolidation strategies
• Sustainable freight strategies: low-carbon technologies and emissions reduction
• Freight transport models, collaboration costing, and cost/service trade-offs
• Transport Management Systems (TMS) and smart freight technologies
• Future freight: AI routing, IoT telematics, and regulatory compliance
• Freight transport sustainability: electrification, alternative fuels, and policy impacts.

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

1. Categorise and critically discuss modal attributes, operational/environmental issues, market structures, and sustainable strategies across transport modes.
2. Construct and apply freight transport cost models, assessing cost/service trade-offs in proposed solutions.
3. Evaluate transport modes, select optimal combinations, and integrate with supply chain elements for efficiency.
4. Plan routes, schedules, and operations in single depot environments, analysing constraints on road freight productivity.
5. Apply smart freight technologies (IoT, telematics, AI routing) to optimise multimodal operations and real-time visibility.

• Professor Emel Aktas

Artificial intelligence and big data analytics are fundamentally reconfiguring supply chain management, challenging established frameworks of coordination, risk, and decision-making. Where traditional approaches relied on aggregated, retrospective, and cross-sectional data, AI-enabled systems now permit real-time, predictive, and increasingly autonomous analytics and decision support across complex, multi-tier networks. AIBD equips students with the critical and analytical capabilities to rigorously evaluate AI and big data developments, engaging with both their transformative potential and the governance challenges that define contemporary supply chains. Using advanced predictive and prescriptive analytics techniques, the AIBD elective aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and understanding of different tools and techniques such as data mining, feature engineering, supervised machine learning methods including regression and classification, and decision support systems. The module will offer transferable skills such as data literacy, evidence-based decision-making, systems thinking, and ethical reasoning. Students will develop the ability to analyse and solve realistic decision problems in the context of logistics and supply chain management. Analytical methods will be implemented in Python, providing students with hands-on experience in processing and interrogating large-scale datasets using industry-relevant libraries and tools.

Some of the key aims of the module are:

• To understand the use of predictive and prescriptive analytics tools and techniques within business/supply chain context.
• To develop quantitative skills in the extraction, analysis, and interpretation of information from big data sources.
• To develop practical knowledge on assessing and extracting useful information from big data.
• To appreciate the multiple benefits provided by AI and big data analytics for improving supply chains.

• Unsupervised data mining techniques (supported with Jupyter Notebooks for independent learning)
• Supervised data mining with artificial neural networks (supported with Jupyter Notebooks for independent learning)
• Mathematical modelling for prescriptive decisions (supported with Jupyter Notebooks for independent learning)
• Applications of predictive and prescriptive analytics for driving supply chain performance.

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

1. Appraise multiple predictive and prescriptive analytical techniques to evaluate AI and big data in a business/supply chain context.
2. Critically evaluate complex supply chain data using supervised and unsupervised data mining techniques.
3. Demonstrate the use of artificial neural networks and mathematical modelling techniques to analyse big data and interpret model results.
4. Reflect on the association between AI and big data analytics and other Industry 4.0 capabilities for improving supply chain performance.
5. Utilise Python as an analytical tool to critically apply AI and big data techniques in diagnosing and addressing complex, real-world supply chain challenges.

• Dr Hendrik Reefke

This module focuses on supply chains with social impact, combining circular economy principles for planetary resource stewardship with humanitarian supply chains for crisis response and aiding populations in need.

Circular Supply Chains: Introduces circularity concepts and business model evolution to reduce planetary impact through resource efficiency. Based on a simulation approach, students apply key metrics like the Materiality Circularity Index, which involves tracking virgin materials, landfill waste, and product utility. Further considerations include consumer proximity, shared ownership and leasing models, as well as recycling/reuse of material and subassemblies. Builds on core MSc skills (strategy, purchasing, finance) to foster holistic, mindful decision-making for circular transitions.

Humanitarian Supply Chains: Equips students with concepts, tools, and approaches for disaster preparation, response, recovery, and ongoing operations. Explores unique challenges through lectures, case studies, simulations, and guest speakers: serving beneficiaries (not customers), unpredictable demand, multi-sector coordination (private/public/NGOs), and humanitarian-specific metrics. Prepares students for roles in aid organisations (characterised by high supply chain spend) and commercial disaster relief roles.

Circular Supply Chain Principles

• Fundamental concepts of the circular economy, supply chain circularity and business model transitions
• Key circularity metrics (such as material productivity, virgin material use, waste generation, product utility)
• Management of circularity levers and developing and examining circular operations

Humanitarian Supply Chain Principles

• Humanitarian supply chains, stakeholders, and Disaster Management Cycle (Prepare, Respond, Recover, Mitigate)
• Coordination challenges across stakeholders (such as governments, NGOs, private sector, military, charities)
• Supply chain activities: procurement (local/global), prepositioning, transportation, last-mile distribution

Social Impact Application

• Data-driven decision-making tools for crisis environments
• Performance evaluation using circularity/humanitarian-specific metrics
• Simulation exercises: circular business transitions and humanitarian scenarios
• Case studies and guest speakers on real-world circular and humanitarian practice
• Strategic reflection: applying concepts across social impact supply chains

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

1. Critically evaluate challenges in implementing circular business models and humanitarian supply chain responses under resource constraints.
2. Construct circular supply chain strategies and formulate humanitarian procurement/logistics plans tailored to organisational and crisis contexts.
3. Apply financial, strategic, and lean/agile supply chain thinking to improve decision-making in circular transitions and disaster response scenarios.
4. Analyse performance using circularity metrics and humanitarian-specific KPIs to assess stakeholder/beneficiary impacts.
5. Synthesise learnings from simulations to develop transferable frameworks for social impact supply chains across crisis and sustainability contexts.

• Dr Farooq Habib

This elective module will build on and develop some of the analytical skills introduced during the core modules of the course in term one. The aim of this module is to give students a comprehensive understanding of the state-of-the-art digital procurement analytics they can implement in their future careers to tackle the complexities of developing an end-to-end procurement strategy for an organisation.

• Current trends in digital procurement analytics.
• Evaluating alternative digital procurement analytics.
• Unlocking the true value of digital procurement.
• Transforming insights into action through Opportunity Assessment Framework and Spend Cube Analysis (supported by computer lab).
• Application of e-Flow to create new disruptive digital platforms (supported by computer lab).
• Spotlight on the future vision of digital procurement.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Assess the robustness of alternative digital procurement analytics that are currently available to procurement organisations.
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the existing procurement strategy of an organisation.
3. Conduct Spend Cube Analysis to identify alternative opportunities for improving the procurement strategy of an organisation.
4. Design an end-to-end procurement roadmap for an organisation based on a portfolio of suitable digital procurement analytics.

• Professor Heather Skipworth

The aim of this module is to give students a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practice of S&OP, and in doing so providing them with useful tools, techniques and approaches they can implement in their future careers.

Sales and operations planning is seen by many large organisations as being a critical cross functional process where senior supply chain managers and directors are expected to show leadership This module examines how a typical Sales and Operations Planning process works in a large multi-site commercial organisation.  It then explores the challenges in implementing the process and the insight that can be delivered to prevent avoidable strategic planning errors.

The module gives a thorough foundation in the methodologies that underpin an effective S&OP process so that it can be adapted to fit the different configurations of organisation in which students will find themselves employed.

The module will extend students supply chain management skills involved in managing difficult interactions including:

• Managing the interfaces between supply and demand led organisations driven by conflicting objectives.
• Managing the tensions and behaviours driven by the unpredictability of demand and constraints in supply.
• Managing the consequences of the need to prioritise and the realisation that not all markets, products and services are of equal importance.
• Managing context-specific performance metrics.
• Managing an S&OP process that is not working effectively.

• Definition and discussion of what S&OP is
• What the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is looking for and S&OP KPIs
• The S&OP Process in more detail
• Demand Planning
• Application of AI in S&OP
• Integrating Sales & Operations Planning
• Challenges and tensions (including short case)
• Pre-requisites for S&OP
• Main interactive case study, with syndicate groups and multiple S&OP cycles

The last part 9 is an extended interactive case study, which will run over 8 hours.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of an integrated sales, operations, and demand planning process.
2. Design a plan to implement or enhance an integrated sales, operations, and demand planning process.
3. Contribute effectively to decision-making discussions that balance supply and demand considerations.
4. Evaluate the perspectives of Sales and Operations Planning stakeholders and analyse the causes of dysfunctional behaviour.
5. Formulate or adapt performance metrics and assess the integration of Sales and Operations Planning with other business functions.

• Professor Michael Bourlakis

Over the past decades, retailers have increased their power in the supply chain becoming key chain members and dominating a range of logistics activities. A detailed analysis of the retailers’ logistics activities will expose and analyse these issues focusing on omnichannel and last mile which are becoming key aspects in retail logistics.

Thus, the aim of this module is twofold. Firstly, it aims to provide an overview of the breadth of Retail Logistics operations in modern retail organisations with a focus on omnichannel and last mile logistics. This involves raising awareness and understanding of the key strategic issues involved in the way retail organisations manage their logistics activities including omnichannel and last mile. Secondly, the course aims to provide participants with an understanding and appreciation of the key contemporary trends in the omnichannel and last mile domain.

The module will include the following topics:

• Retail buying and retail procurement.
• Retail transportation & retail warehousing with a focus on omnichannel and last mile.
• Customer Service and Out-of-Stocks.
• Retail supply chain performance measurement.
• Information technology in the retail supply chain.
• Sustainability practices in omnichannel and last mile.
• Evolution of retail supply chains.
• Omni channels & Key future trends.
• Last mile
• Global Retail Logistics.

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

1. Evaluate retail logistics operations (such as procurement, warehousing, and transportation) and their integration within omnichannel supply chains.
2. Analyse frameworks and performance metrics for omnichannel retail, assessing cost-service trade-offs in last-mile execution.
3. Synthesise the strategic role of retail logistics in competitive positioning with a focus on omnichannel customer experience and supply chain resilience.
4. Evaluate emerging trends and technologies (such as information technology and sustainability) transforming omnichannel and last-mile operations.
5. Assess retail supply chain vulnerabilities (out-of-stocks, returns, sustainability) and formulate strategic recommendations for retail organisation and their supply chains.

• Dr Nicky Yates

Organisations can and should develop supply chain resilience as a means to building routines for non-routine events. In today’s interconnected world future supply chain professionals must recognise the potential risks of experiencing a supply chain disruption and be able to prepare for, react to and recover from unforeseen supply chain events, i.e. to develop resilience. This module explores the dimensions, approaches, decision-making and causalities of resilience. Insights from retrospective and real time case studies will provide the basis for understanding the vulnerability of today’s global supply chains. Moreover, they will enable the students to experiment both with the perspectives of supply chain planners anticipating supply chain risks and improving the resilience of the supply chain design and supply chain continuity managers responsible for ensuring rapid recovery after a disruptive event.

Supply chain risk management

• Introduction to the key concepts
• Examples of large scale disasters and their impact on global supply chains
• Ripple effects in supply chains
• Trade-offs in supply chain resilience management (e.g. redundancy versus efficiency; centralisation versus dispersion)

Supply chain risk and vulnerability analysis

• Overview of existing methods for identifying and assessing supply chain risks and vulnerabilities
• Application of a selected methodology

Resilient supply chain design principles issues and their implementation

• Collaboration
• Velocity
• Flexibility
• Visibility
• Robustness
• Redundancy
• Agility

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

1. Critically analyse the relationships between supply chain risk management, supply chain vulnerability and supply chain resilience.
2. Assess the effect of contemporary supply chain practices in routine- and non-routine situations.
3. Appraise the key steps involved in developing and implementing resilient supply chain designs.
4. Evaluate the management challenges of formulating and implementing resilience into supply chains.
5. Synthesise key concepts identified from literature and business practice into a resilient supply chain design framework.