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Timothy M Brown

This course will provide a solid understanding of what a supply chain is all about. The course:

- Provides an introduction to Supply Chain

- Leverages graphics to promote the Integrated Supply Chain model

- Emphasizes understanding the Extended Supply Chain

- Presents a holistic approach – Incorporating People, Process, and Technology

- Calls-out industry-specific supply chain

- Leverages discussions, videos, quizzes, and questions for consideration

- Provides awareness of career path opportunities

- Presents emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain

Read more

This course will provide a solid understanding of what a supply chain is all about. The course:

- Provides an introduction to Supply Chain

- Leverages graphics to promote the Integrated Supply Chain model

- Emphasizes understanding the Extended Supply Chain

- Presents a holistic approach – Incorporating People, Process, and Technology

- Calls-out industry-specific supply chain

- Leverages discussions, videos, quizzes, and questions for consideration

- Provides awareness of career path opportunities

- Presents emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain

and given that at GT we are focused on developing what’s next in the world, we include Discussion of emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain. There is very little math involved in this course – so don’t worry at all about your math skills.

The course incorporates reading materials that were developed as part of a $24.5M TAACCCT grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to the LINCS in Supply Chain Management consortium.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Supply Chain Concepts
Students: Please stay vigilant for potential Scams that may entail scammers mimicking an instructor to seek to engage you in dialog leading to phishing for private information, funds transfer, etc. At no point will the instructor of this course ask you to join him in a private conversation, use an app outside of Coursera, etc. or seek to collect any personal information.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Ideal for career changers and professionals in the supply chain who want to elevate their foundational understanding of the field
Tailored for industry professionals seeking a comprehensive overview of supply chain management and its complexities
Appropriate for business students and graduates seeking to develop a strong understanding of supply chains in various industries
Suitable for individuals who desire a foundational understanding of supply chain concepts and their practical applications
Useful for professionals looking to expand their knowledge and skills in supply chain management

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation in supply chain principles

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and a comprehensive introduction to supply chain principles. Students appreciate the clear explanations and the holistic view covering people, process, and technology across core functions like planning, warehousing, and transportation. The course is particularly accessible for beginners due to its minimal math requirement. While generally seen as highly valuable for those new to the field or exploring career paths, some experienced individuals found it too basic and wished for more depth. Overall, it is considered a strong starting point.
Accessible for non-quantitative learners.
"Great for those who aren't math inclined."
"They explicitly stated low math content, and it was true."
"Focuses on the concepts and strategy, not calculations."
Relevant concepts for career paths.
"Helped me connect the theory to real-world jobs."
"The concepts discussed are directly applicable in the industry."
"Gave me insight into potential roles and career opportunities."
Covers a broad range of topics well.
"Touched on all key areas of the supply chain."
"Provides a holistic view of the end-to-end chain."
"Good overview of different functions like warehousing and transport."
Concepts explained simply and clearly.
"The instructor explains complex ideas simply."
"Content is easy to follow and understand."
"Really helped me grasp the fundamentals of logistics."
Great starting point for beginners.
"Provides a solid foundation for anyone interested in supply chain."
"This course is an excellent introductory course to the field."
"Highly recommended for anyone new to supply chain management."
Quizzes and assignments could improve.
"Some quizzes seemed a bit off or didn't test what was emphasized."
"Wish the questions were a little more challenging."
"The quizzes didn't always feel perfectly aligned with the lectures."
Might be too superficial for experienced learners.
"Didn't go deep enough into details for my background."
"Felt a bit slow at times if you have prior experience."
"Good for beginners, but lacks advanced detail or techniques."

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 Supply Chain Principles with these activities:
Read 'Introduction to Supply Chain Management' by Sunil Chopra and Peter Meindl
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts and practices of supply chain management
Show steps
Review basic math skills
Supply chain management involves a lot of quantitative reasoning. This activity will help you brush up on the necessary math skills
Browse courses on Mathematics
Show steps
  • Review high school algebra
  • Practice solving basic arithmetic problems
Create a mind map of supply chain concepts
This activity will help you visualize and understand the relationships between different supply chain concepts
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a list of key supply chain concepts
  • Organize the concepts into a mind map
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Complete the 'Supply Chain Management Fundamentals' Coursera course
This course will provide you with a solid foundation in supply chain management concepts
Show steps
Solve supply chain case studies
This activity will help you apply supply chain concepts to real-world scenarios
Show steps
  • Find a supply chain case study
  • Analyze the case study and identify the key supply chain issues
  • Develop and evaluate solutions to the supply chain issues
Join a study group or online forum for supply chain professionals
This activity will allow you to connect with other professionals in the field and discuss supply chain concepts
Show steps
Develop a supply chain plan for a hypothetical product
This activity will help you synthesize your understanding of supply chain concepts and apply them to a practical scenario
Show steps
  • Define the product
  • Identify the target market
  • Develop a supply chain strategy

Career center

Learners who complete Supply Chain Principles will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Operations Manager
Operations Managers may pursue this course to build a foundation in the elements of a supply chain as well as industry specific supply chains. The holistic approach to understanding the supply chain, encompassing people, process, and technology, will greatly benefit in organizing tasks and projects.
Supply Chain Analyst
Supply Chain Analysts can benefit from this course for its thorough understanding of supply chain fundamentals. Through leveraging graphics to illustrate the integrated supply chain model, analysts will be able to better analyze data and patterns within supply chains.
Logistician
Logisticians will find this course helpful when looking to get into or advance in their career. Through understanding industry specific supply chains, logistics operations will become more efficient and effective. The holistic approach to the supply chain will help to find synergy amongst the interconnected elements.
Inventory Manager
Inventory Managers should pursue this course to enhance their knowledge of supply chain management. This course will teach them how to better understand the flow of inventory through the supply chain, and how to optimize inventory levels to minimize costs and improve customer service. Additionally, the understanding of industry specific supply chains will improve their decision making process and outcomes.
Procurement Manager
Procurement Managers may take this course to begin to understand the extended supply chain and the holistic approach to it through people, process, and technology. This course is an introduction to supply chain management but may enhance the procurement process through better understanding various elements.
Transportation Manager
Transportation Managers will benefit from this course as they can focus on the element of transportation specifically within the supply chain. The course incorporates discussion, videos, quizzes, and questions for consideration which will aid in better preparing managers for real world scenarios.
Warehouse Manager
Warehouse Managers may consider taking this course to gain a better understanding of how they fit into the supply chain, as well as how other elements are connected to their work. The holistic approach will allow managers to see how their decisions and processes affect the entire supply chain.
Materials Manager
Materials Managers will find this course helpful for understanding how to manage materials throughout the supply chain. This course will teach them how to optimize the flow of materials, reduce costs, and improve customer service. Additionally, the understanding of industry specific supply chains will improve their decision making process and outcomes.
Demand Planner
Demand Planners can use this course to advance their career through better understanding extended supply chains and the flow of materials through them. This course may help to forecast demand more accurately, which can lead to improved customer service and reduced costs.
Project Manager
Project Managers seeking to work in supply chain management may take this course to gain foundational knowledge. This course will teach them the basics of supply chain management, including the different elements of the supply chain, the different types of supply chains, and the different challenges that supply chain managers face. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain management.
Consultant
Consultants may use this course as an introduction to supply chain management when working with clients in this field. This course will provide a solid understanding of what a supply chain is all about so that consultants can better advise their clients on how to improve their supply chains.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts may pursue this course to broaden their understanding of business, particularly in supply chain management. This course will teach them the basics of supply chain management, including the different elements of the supply chain, the different types of supply chains, and the different challenges that supply chain managers face. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain management.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts may consider this course for a basic understanding of how data flows through a supply chain. This course will teach them how to collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and patterns. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain management.
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts may use this course to gain a basic understanding of supply chain management. This course will help them to understand how supply chains work and how they can impact a company's financial performance. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain management.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers working in supply chain technology may use this course to broaden their understanding of supply chain management. This course will teach them the basics of supply chain management, including the different elements of the supply chain, the different types of supply chains, and the different challenges that supply chain managers face. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the emerging and futuristic trends in supply chain management.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Supply Chain Principles.
Provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain logistics management. It covers topics such as transportation, warehousing, and inventory management.
Provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain management and logistics. It covers topics such as supply chain strategy, planning, and execution.
Provides a practical guide to implementing lean principles in supply chains. It covers topics such as waste reduction, process improvement, and customer collaboration.
Provides an overview of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. It covers topics such as ERP implementation, data management, and business process integration.
Provides an overview of quantitative methods for supply chain management. It covers topics such as linear programming, inventory management, and transportation.
Provides a practical guide to supply chain analytics. It covers topics such as data collection, analysis, and decision-making.
Provides a cross-functional perspective on supply chain management. It covers topics such as supply chain strategy, planning, and execution from a cross-functional perspective.

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