Supply Chain Management

How, where, and why consumers buy has radically shifted in the last two decades. This course will examine the commercial strategies required to get the right product to the right place at the right time at the right price. The overarching scope of this course will be exemplified by considering how and where consumers of the past purchased and consumed holidays, books, or music and comparing it to how and where consumers of today buy and consume them.

The course will take a dual focus on the two strategic pillars of Supply Chain Management & Logistics: Business to Consumer models and Business to Business models. Students will examine various management and economic cornerstones along with models of the Supply Chain and Logistics industry. Particular focus will be given to lean management, outsourcing, just-in-time (JIT), centralized purchasing, stockouts, relationship management, protectionism, and the free movement of goods. These topics will be considered in the context of how supply can be adversely affected by national economic policies such as Regional Economic Integration, 'Brexit,' and a tightening of US trade practices. With the increased globalization of business, the course will also examine different international and cultural approaches to supply chain management.

This course will consider the ecological dimensions of Supply Chain Management - such as the excessive use of plastics as the packaging of choice, the pollution factor, and the "carbon-footprint" of long-haul product distribution - as well as the economic impact caused by oil shortages and erratic fuel price fluctuations. The course will conclude with a look to the future - Amazon Prime, Amazon Fresh, and the advent of drone delivery - and the negative cultural and economic effects that changing "retail demographics" have on existing business communities and traditional independent "mom & pop" retailers and suppliers.