Sustainable Supply Chains from Coursera

This course focuses on the premise of “What is a Sustainable Supply Chain? It covers the building blocks of a supply chain, the sustainability related standards, rules, and legislation that are applicable to the supply chain and the role of business, society, and government in building a sustainable supply chain.

You will build a basic foundational knowledge of how supply chains work, the main nodes and flows with a supply chain. You will learn how to create a transparent supply chain process and close the loops on internal and external supply chains. Finally, you will be able to tie-in how national policies and climate and geo-political risks impact your supply chain.

This course is ideal for managers in the procurement, operations, supply chain, and strategy domains who need to create and manage a sustainable supply chain while navigating the various industry specific challenges.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Supply Chain Management

Welcome to the Introduction to Supply Chain Management module. In this module, we will trace the supply chain from the end consumer all the way back to the supplier. We will learn appropriate terminology, identify key decisions and learn how to make these decisions. We will also discuss how supply chains are currently being reshaped by firm-driven innovation, shifting consumer preferences, emerging technology and evolving public policy. Finally, this module will provide a basis for supply chain fundamentals and the sustainable supply chain challenges.

Creating and Managing a Sustainable Supply Chain

Welcome to the Creating and Managing a Sustainable Supply Chain module. In this module we will look at some commonly used frameworks for sustainable development, the standards and metrics available to measure sustainability, and recent laws and legislation that supply chains need to comply with around sustainability. You will learn how enabling supply chain visibility and transparency, align incentives, and design the supply chain to meet the sustainability goals.

Critical Supply Chains and National Interests

Welcome to the Critical Supply Chains and National Interests module. In this module we will look at the main components of a critical supply chain - critical products, critical processes, and critical resources. You will hear how recent geo-political and climate risks have impacted the supply chain. Finally, you will be able connect how national policies that are applicable within the country, and enacted in partnership with other countries, can influence sourcing, production, and distribution decisions in the supply chain.

Summary of Sustainable Supply Chains

Welcome to the final learning module of the course, a Summary of Sustainable Supply Chains. In this module, we'll recap the course and allow for you to reflect on your learnings and understanding.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the intersection of supply chain management and sustainability, which is highly relevant to various industries

Focuses on creating and managing sustainable supply chains, which is essential for businesses in today's market

Taught by instructors with expertise in supply chain management and sustainability

Provides a solid foundation in supply chain management concepts, including the building blocks, flows, and decision-making

Covers industry-specific sustainability standards, rules, and regulations, which is crucial for compliance and risk management

Examines the role of business, society, and government in building sustainable supply chains, providing a comprehensive perspective

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Supply Chains with these activities:

Review supply chain terminology

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Review the basic vocabulary and concepts of supply chain management to strengthen your foundational understanding.

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Gather resources and materials
Recognize and define key terms
Understand the relationships between different terms
Apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios

Review basic supply chain and sustainability fundamentals

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By reviewing these foundational concepts, you will have a deep understanding of core ideas in the course

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Review your notes from previous coursework or study materials on supply chain management and sustainability
Do practice questions or problems to test your understanding
Summarize the main concepts and frameworks in your own words

Review Supply Chain Management Concepts

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Be familiar with fundamental concepts in supply chain management prior to starting this course.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Review standard supply chain operating models and functions.
Identify the critical success factors in managing supply chains.
Research case studies of effective supply chain management.

Nine other activities

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Read 'Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation' by Sunil Chopra and Peter Meindl

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Explore a comprehensive and widely recognized textbook that delves into the core concepts and best practices of supply chain management.

View Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning,... on Amazon

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Read each chapter thoroughly
Take notes and highlight key points
Complete the practice questions and exercises

Review supply chain concepts

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Review the basic concepts of supply chain management to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Read the course syllabus and skim the textbook
Review your notes from previous supply chain courses or related work experience
Attend an introductory lecture or workshop on supply chain management

Join a study group or online forum

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Connect with peers and discuss course topics to enhance your understanding and learn from others.

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Find a study group or online forum related to supply chain management
Attend regular meetings or participate in online discussions
Share your knowledge and learn from others

Explore online supply chain simulations

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Participate in online simulations to gain hands-on experience in managing supply chains.

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Find a reputable online supply chain simulation platform
Complete several levels of the simulation
Review your performance and identify areas for improvement

Analyze case studies on supply chain disruptions

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Examine real-life examples of supply chain disruptions to gain insights into their causes and potential solutions.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Disruptions

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Identify and gather case studies
Analyze the root causes of the disruptions
Evaluate the strategies implemented to mitigate the impact

Design a sustainable supply chain for a specific industry or product category

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Applying the concepts taught in this course to a real-world scenario will help you develop a deep understanding of how sustainable supply chains are designed

Browse courses on Supply Chain Design

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Choose an industry or product category that interests you
Research the current supply chain for that industry or product category
Identify areas where the supply chain could be made more sustainable
Design a new supply chain that incorporates your sustainability improvements
Present your design to the class or a group of peers

Develop a supply chain case study

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Conduct a case study on a real-world supply chain to apply your knowledge and develop problem-solving skills.

Browse courses on Case Study Analysis

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Select a supply chain case study
Analyze the case study and identify the key issues
Develop recommendations for improving the supply chain
Present your findings in a written report or presentation

Develop a sustainability plan for a supply chain

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Create a comprehensive plan that outlines strategies and actions for implementing sustainable practices within a supply chain.

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Conduct a sustainability assessment
Identify areas for improvement
Develop specific sustainability goals
Outline a roadmap for implementation

Contribute to an open-source supply chain project

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Make a meaningful contribution to the open-source community by engaging in supply chain-related projects.

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Identify a project that aligns with your skills and interests
Submit a proposal or request to join the project team
Work collaboratively with other contributors

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Supply Chains will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability Consultants provide expert advice to organizations that are moving towards or have achieved various sustainability standards, certifications, or other sustainable business practices. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains will help you understand how to operate, manage, and maintain sustainable business practices on a wide scale. This course will help you build a foundation in the key aspects of building and maintaining a sustainable supply chain, which can be extrapolated to other business processes to develop a fuller sustainability plan.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers oversee, monitor, and manage an organization's approach to sustainability. This can extend to environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and governance sustainability. Sustainable Supply Chains provides a foundation in how to manage and operate sustainable supply chains. Corporate Social Responsibility Managers must understand how to lead and manage sustainable business practices with a focus on a company's supply chain, and this is a key focus of the course.

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Supply Chain Analyst

Supply Chain Analysts can work on projects that increase their organization's sustainability. For example, they may seek out vendors who specialize in environmentally sustainable raw materials. Sustainable Supply Chains can provide the foundation to identify such opportunities within your supply chain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst

Sustainability Engineer

Sustainability Engineers focus on environmental protections in a field such as manufacturing or energy. Making sustainable and environmentally friendly choices is a core component of being a successful Sustainability Engineer. The Sustainable Supply Chains course covers how to build and maintain a sustainable supply chain, which can help reduce a company's harmful environmental impacts.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists focus on protecting natural resources and developing more sustainable solutions to complex environmental issues. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains can help build a foundational knowledge of the environmental sustainability and regulations many industries face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers work to protect the environment and ensure that companies are operating within the confines of environmental regulations. Sustainable Supply Chains can help introduce you to the sustainability regulations companies face, which can help you better understand the environmental focus of the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Lawyer

Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers oversee the supply chain process, which includes strategic sourcing, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics. They may be tasked with improving their organization's sustainability. Sustainable Supply Chains can provide the knowledge to lead these efforts and understand the ins and outs of building a sustainable supply chain.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure that their organization operates within legal and regulatory requirements. Knowledge of sustainability regulations and standards is a key requirement for Compliance Officers, and this is a core focus of Sustainable Supply Chains.

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Sustainability Reporter

Sustainability Reporters communicate their organization's sustainability performance to various stakeholders, which can include customers, investors, and the government. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains will help build foundational knowledge of what sustainability is, how to measure and track it, and how to communicate sustainability.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts may work on projects that pertain to sustainability. Sustainable Supply Chains can help build a strong foundation in supply chain management and sustainability.

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ESG Analyst

ESG Analysts focus on the sustainability performance of various companies. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains can help build a foundational knowledge of what sustainability is and how to measure and track it.

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Corporate Sustainability Officer

Corporate Sustainability Officers oversee sustainability initiatives for their organization. Sustainable Supply Chains can provide a foundation in building and maintaining a sustainable supply chain, which is a key aspect of leading an organization towards sustainability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Sustainability Officer

Procurement Manager

Procurement Managers may be involved in selecting environmentally friendly vendors and sourcing sustainable products. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains help build a foundational knowledge in how to develop and manage a sustainable supply chain.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers may be responsible for developing processes that reduce their company's environmental footprint. Knowledge of sustainability best practices and standards can be applied in this role to improve environmental performance.

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Logistics Manager

Logistics Managers may be responsible for optimizing their organization's shipping and distribution processes for increased efficiencies. Courses such as Sustainable Supply Chains may help introduce concepts for reducing an organization's carbon footprint in logistic processes and optimize their supply chain for sustainability.

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Sustainable Supply Chains

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