Supply Chain Analytics from Coursera

Welcome to Supply Chain Analytics - the art and science of applying data analytics to assess and improve supply chain performance!

A supply chain is a complex system with conflicting objectives of cost efficiency and customer satisfaction. Supply chain management is becoming increasingly data driven. Through the real-life story and data of a major US telecommunication company, you will learn the analytics tools / skills to diagnose and optimize a supply chain. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to

1. Use data analytics to assess the impact of various strategies on all aspects of a supply chain, from inventory, shipping, to warehouse order fulfillment, store operations and customer satisfaction.

2. Customize the supply chain strategy by product to improve the overall cost efficiency without sacrificing customer service.

3. Obtain hands-on experience on the application and financial impact of analytics in integrated supply chain and logistics planning.

VASTA (name disguised) is a major wireless carrier in the US selling cell phones through a national network of retail stores. Recently, it wrote off a huge amount of obsolete inventory each year and was suffering a significant cost inefficiency in an increasingly stagnant market. VASTA must assess the competitive environment, and renovate its supply chain to stay competitive. At the end of this course, you will help VASTA save $billions on supply chain cost and retain its leadership in a stagnant and saturated market.

I hope you enjoy the course!

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome!

Welcome to Supply Chain Analytics! In this week, I shall first tell you the story of VASTA and the challenge it faces, then provide an overview of the course, learning outcomes and weekly topics. You will then learn competitive analysis and benchmarking to assess a firm’s competitive environment and identify the business opportunity.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches students about the art and science of applying data analytics to supply chain management

Offers a hands-on approach to data analytics, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world problems

Provides a comprehensive overview of supply chain management, from inventory management to customer satisfaction

Helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by engaging with case studies and real-world data

Emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in supply chain management

Provides opportunities for students to work in teams and collaborate with peers

Reviews summary

Supply chain analytics with vasta case study

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in supply chain analytics, primarily through the lens of an engaging and realistic VASTA case study. Students particularly appreciate the focus on practical application and understanding the financial impact of supply chain decisions. While the course content is well-structured and covers key principles, some reviewers found the technical implementation, particularly financial modeling in Excel, could be challenging and might require supplementary resources. The final project is highlighted as a valuable way to apply concepts. Overall, it's considered a highly relevant course for professionals seeking an introduction or brush-up on analytical approaches in supply chain management.

Good for beginners/overview.

"This course provides a very solid foundation in supply chain analytics principles and how to approach real problems."

"It's a great starting point if you're new to the field or want a comprehensive overview of applying data."

"I felt it gave me a good understanding of the general principles before diving into the quantitative analysis."

Appling learning via project.

"The final project was instrumental in consolidating my learning and applying the analytical techniques myself."

"I enjoyed completing the project to analyze geographic differences; it felt like a culmination of the course's material."

"Working through the project helped solidify my understanding and allowed me to practice the skills."

Highlights financial implications.

"A key takeaway for me was understanding the financial impact of supply chain decisions – the course did a great job explaining this."

"The segment on cost estimation and assessing financial impact was particularly valuable for my professional work."

"Learning how analytics can lead to billions in savings was a powerful way to demonstrate the value of these skills."

Focuses on real-world relevance.

"The course is very practical and gives you tools and strategies you can immediately apply to analyze a supply chain."

"I gained hands-on experience on the application and financial impact of analytics, which is exactly what I needed for my job."

"It showed me how to use data analytics to assess the impact of strategies on various aspects of the supply chain, from inventory to customer satisfaction."

Uses a realistic company example.

"The VASTA case study provides an excellent real-world context for applying the concepts taught in the course."

"I really appreciated learning through the story and data of a major US telecommunication company. It made the theory much more tangible."

"Using the VASTA case throughout the course helped tie everything together nicely. It felt like solving a real business problem."

Modeling can be challenging.

"While the concepts were clear, the hands-on implementation, especially the financial modeling in Excel, was sometimes difficult to follow without prior experience."

"Some parts required a bit more guidance or prerequisites in advanced spreadsheet functions than expected."

"I felt the technical steps for data analysis and cost estimation could have been broken down more clearly in some modules."

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 Analytics with these activities:

Connect with Supply Chain Professionals

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Connecting with supply chain professionals will provide you with valuable insights and guidance throughout your learning journey.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Attend industry events and conferences.
Reach out to supply chain professionals on LinkedIn.
Ask your professors or colleagues for recommendations.

Review Supply Chain Management Concepts

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Refreshing your knowledge of supply chain management concepts will ensure that you are well-prepared for the course material.

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Review your notes or textbooks from previous supply chain management courses.
Read articles or watch videos to stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in supply chain management.

Review Probability and Statistics

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Reviewing probability and statistics will provide a strong foundation for understanding the concepts of supply chain analytics.

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Review basic concepts of probability, such as independence, conditional probability, and Bayes' theorem.
Refresh your knowledge of statistical distributions, including normal, binomial, and Poisson distributions.
Practice solving problems involving probability and statistics.

Five other activities

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Learn Python for Data Analysis

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Learning Python will equip you with the necessary programming skills to analyze supply chain data effectively.

Browse courses on Python

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Complete online tutorials on Python basics, such as data types, control flow, and functions.
Learn how to use Python libraries for data analysis, such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.
Practice writing Python code to analyze and visualize data.

Collaborate on Supply Chain Projects

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Collaborating with peers will provide you with valuable feedback and insights on your supply chain projects.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Form a study group with other students in the course.
Work together to solve supply chain problems and case studies.
Share your knowledge and experiences with each other.

Solve Supply Chain Case Studies

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Solving case studies will provide you with hands-on experience in applying supply chain analytics to real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Read and analyze supply chain case studies.
Identify the key issues and challenges in each case.
Develop and evaluate supply chain solutions.

Contribute to Supply Chain Open Source Projects

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Contributing to supply chain open source projects will allow you to gain practical experience and make valuable connections within the supply chain community.

Browse courses on Supply Chain Management

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Identify supply chain open source projects that align with your interests.
Read the project documentation and contribute bug fixes or feature enhancements.
Collaborate with other contributors to improve the project.

Create a Supply Chain Model

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Building a supply chain model will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course to a practical project.

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Define the scope and objectives of your project.
Gather and analyze data on your supply chain.
Develop a supply chain model using appropriate software tools.
Validate and analyze the results of your model.
Present your findings and recommendations.

Career center

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

Supply Chain Analyst

As a Supply Chain Analyst, you will be responsible for studying, assessing and making recommendations to improve different aspects of a supply chain, ranging from inventory and warehousing costs to customer service. Supply Chain Analytics can help you develop the analytical and strategic decision-making skills you need to succeed in this role. This course provides a real-life case study, and you will build experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst

Logistics Manager

As a Logistics Manager, you will be responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring the movement of goods, services, and information across an organization's supply chain. Supply Chain Analytics can help you understand the data analytics tools and skills needed to diagnose and optimize a supply chain. The course's focus on a real-world example will also be very helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Logistics Manager

Operations Manager

As an Operations Manager, you will be responsible for planning and directing an organization's day-to-day business operations to improve efficiency and productivity. Supply Chain Analytics provides a solid foundation in the analytics tools and skills needed to assess, improve, and optimize supply chain performance, which is a critical aspect of efficient operations management.

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Procurement Manager

As a Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for managing the acquisition of goods and services for an organization. Supply Chain Analytics can provide you with the tools and knowledge to assess the impact of various procurement strategies on the supply chain and the overall cost efficiency of your organization.

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Inventory Manager

As an Inventory Manager, you will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities of an organization's inventory, including forecasting, planning, purchasing, receiving, storing, and issuing inventory, as well as related clerical activities. Supply Chain Analytics can provide you with the analytical tools and skills needed to optimize inventory levels and improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Inventory Manager

Warehouse Manager

As a Warehouse Manager, you will be responsible for planning and directing the activities of a warehouse, including receiving, storing, and shipping goods, and supervising warehouse personnel. Supply Chain Analytics can provide you with the analytical tools and skills to diagnose and optimize warehouse operations to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Warehouse Manager

Transportation Manager

As a Transportation Manager, you will be responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring the movement of goods and materials across an organization's supply chain. Supply Chain Analytics can provide you with the analytical tools and skills needed to assess, diagnose, and optimize transportation operations to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Transportation Manager

Data Analyst

As a Data Analyst, you will be responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in specializing in supply chain data analysis. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in specializing in supply chain analysis. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Management Consultant

As a Management Consultant, you will be responsible for advising clients on how to improve their business performance. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in specializing in supply chain management consulting. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

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Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in managing supply chain projects. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Financial Analyst

As a Financial Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing financial data and making recommendations on investments. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in specializing in supply chain finance. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

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Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns to promote products or services. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in understanding how supply chain decisions can impact marketing and customer satisfaction. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

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Sales Manager

As a Sales Manager, you will be responsible for leading and motivating a sales team to achieve sales goals. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in understanding how supply chain decisions can impact sales and customer satisfaction. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Service Manager

As a Customer Service Manager, you will be responsible for managing a team of customer service representatives and resolving customer issues. Supply Chain Analytics may be useful to you if you are interested in understanding how supply chain decisions can impact customer service. The course provides a real-world case study and hands-on experience in applying data analytics to improve supply chain performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager