Supply Chain Design from edX

This Supply Chain Design course is part of the MITx MicroMasters Credential in Supply Chain Management, offered by #1 ranked SCM Master's program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

CTL.SC2x Supply Chain Design covers all aspects involved in the design of supply chains for companies and organizations anywhere in the world. The course is divided into four main topic areas: Physical flow design, Supply chain finance, Information flow design, and Organization/Process design. In the design of physical flows, we show how to formulate and solve Transportation, Transshipment, Facility Location, and Network Design Problems. For financial flows we show how to translate supply chain concepts and actions into the language of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a company. We cover Activity Based Costing, Working Capital, the Cash-to-Cash cycle and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. The design of the information flow section describes how firms communicate with suppliers (procurement, risk contracts), internal resources (production planning, bills of materials, material requirements planning), and customers (Sales & Operations Planning and other collaboration based processes). In the last section, we introduce performance metric design and organizational design within the supply chain organization focusing mainly on the centralize/decentralize decision.

The main topic areas we will focus on in this course are:

Supply Chain Network Design
Supply Chain Finance
Supplier Management
Production and Demand Planning
Process and Organizational Design

This course is indispensable if you’re considering a supply chain management career and, specifically, the positions of Supply Chain Analyst , Operations Manager , or Logistics Coordinator.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Network design and facility location
Supply chain finance
Procurement and sourcing

Production planning
Demand management and sales & operations planning

Network design and facility location
Supply chain finance
Procurement and sourcing
Production planning
Demand management and sales & operations planning

Syllabus

Week 1: Overview of Supply Chain Design: Introduction to Network Flow models.Week 2: Basic Supply Chain Network Design: Facility Location and Network Design problems.Week 3: Advanced Supply Chain Network Design: Modeling multiple products, multiple echelons, and multiple time periods.Week 4: Supply Chain Finance I: Activity Based Costing, Working Capital, and Cash-to-Cash conversation cycle.Week 5: Supply Chain Finance II: Discounted cash flow analysis and capital budgeting and investing.Week 6: Supplier Management I: Auctions, sourcing, and procurement.Week 7: Supplier Management II: Optimization based procurement, and risk sharing.Week 8: Production Planning: Introduction to Bills of Material (BOM), Material Resource Planning (MRP) systems, and Distribution Resource Planning (DRP) systems.Week 9: Demand Management: Challenges of collaboration with customers and management levers to improve coordination.Week 10: Process & Organizational Design: The design of the supply chain organization itself.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores industry-standard network flow models in supply chain management and their use for solving logistical problems

Taught by renowned MIT professors with extensive expertise in supply chain design and management

Covers a comprehensive range of supply chain design topics, from network optimization to process and organizational design

Provides foundational knowledge and practical skills for professionals aspiring to careers in supply chain management

Incorporates real-world case studies and examples to illustrate the application of supply chain design principles

Requires prerequisite knowledge and experience in supply chain management

Reviews summary

Valuable supply chain primer

Learners say this supply chain management course is a good primer for those starting out in the retail industry. Students felt like the concepts were relevant and enjoyed the engaging assignments. Reviewers indicate this course is challenging but worthwhile.

The assignments in this course enhance the learning process and make the material more interesting.

"This was both challenging and fruitful as the concepts shared are relevant to everyday situations."

"Loved the roller coaster."

This course serves as a strong foundation for those new to retail supply chain management.

"This course is a good primer to someone starting out a business in retail."

"This was both challenging and fruitful as the concepts shared are relevant to everyday situations."

Concepts covered in this course translate well to real world business scenarios.

"This was both challenging and fruitful as the concepts shared are relevant to everyday situations."

Be prepared to put in effort to succeed in this course.

"This was both challenging and fruitful as the concepts shared are relevant to everyday situations."

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 Design with these activities:

Review Supply Chain Management Fundamentals

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Get a head start on the course material by reviewing some of the basic principles governing Supply Chain Management. For a quick refresher, read Operations Management for Dummies, 3rd Edition by Mary Ann Anderson

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Read the first three chapters of our textbook
Go through your notes from any previous supply chain management courses
Focus on reviewing concepts of supply chain networks, supply chain finance, and supplier management

Review materials on production planning and inventory management

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Strengthen foundational knowledge in production planning and inventory management to better grasp the concepts covered in the course.

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Review notes or textbooks on production planning
Practice solving inventory management problems

Review cost-benefit analysis concepts

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Review basic concepts of cost-benefit analysis to strengthen foundational knowledge for the Supply Chain Finance section.

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Review definitions and types of costs and benefits
Practice calculating net present value (NPV) and other key metrics

Five other activities

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Follow a tutorial on supply chain network design

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Enhance understanding of supply chain network design principles through a guided tutorial, complementing the course material.

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Find a reputable tutorial or course on supply chain network design
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, taking notes and practicing the concepts

Participate in a peer study group on supply chain finance

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Engage in discussions and knowledge sharing with peers to reinforce concepts covered in the Supply Chain Finance section.

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Find or form a study group with peers taking the course
Meet regularly to discuss course material, ask questions, and share insights

Solve practice problems on supplier evaluation and risk management

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Reinforce understanding of supplier evaluation and risk management concepts through repetitive practice problems.

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Find practice problems or exercises on supplier evaluation
Solve the problems and review the solutions

Develop a supply chain management case study

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Apply course concepts to a real-world scenario by developing a comprehensive case study, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Identify a specific supply chain challenge or issue
Research and gather data on the case
Analyze the data and develop recommendations
Write a case study report presenting the findings

Design a supply chain network model for a hypothetical company

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Apply theoretical knowledge to a practical scenario by designing a supply chain network model, enhancing problem-solving and decision-making skills.

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Define the company's supply chain requirements and constraints
Develop a network model using appropriate software or techniques
Analyze the model and identify potential improvements

Career center

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

Logistics Coordinator

This Supply Chain Design course will be an important addition to your preparation for a career as a Logistics Coordinator. It will give you the knowledge to design all aspects of supply chains. Whether you need to design a particular flow like physical, information, or organization/process flow, this course has you covered.

See salaries and explore the career path for Logistics Coordinator

Operations Manager

Operations Manager is a great pick for someone completing or preparing to complete the Supply Chain Design course. When you design supply chains, there are a myriad of design choices. This course will provide you with the expertise to make those decisions with confidence. From designing how products are transported to how information flows, this course will get you up to speed.

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Supply Chain Analyst

If you wish to become a Supply Chain Analyst, then this course is a must-take. This course was designed and structured for your success in this very role. It will give you a comprehensive background in the design of supply chains. The course will ensure your readiness for the challenges of designing supply chains for companies anywhere in the world.

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Procurement Manager

As a Procurement Manager, you play a pivotal role in the management of a company's supply chain. This course will teach you how to handle all aspects of procurement, from sourcing to negotiation to contract management. You will also learn how to develop and implement procurement strategies that will optimize your company's supply chain.

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Inventory Manager

Supply Chain Design is a critical course for any aspiring Inventory Manager. The course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to design and manage efficient and effective inventory systems. You will learn how to optimize inventory levels, reduce waste, and improve customer service.

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Warehouse Manager

If you want to become a Warehouse Manager, taking this course will help you establish a foundation for success. The course will teach you how to design and manage efficient and effective warehouse operations. You will learn how to optimize warehouse space, reduce costs, and improve customer service.

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Transportation Manager

The Supply Chain Design course can get you to the next level in your Transportation Manager career. Whether you are managing the transportation of goods for a single company or for multiple clients, this course can help.

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Supply Chain Consultant

When you become a Supply Chain Consultant, you will help companies to design and improve their supply chains. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to analyze supply chains, identify inefficiencies, and develop and implement solutions.

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Project Manager

A background in Supply Chain Design can help you to succeed as a Project Manager. Many projects involve the management of supply chains. If you want to advance into management of complex projects, then this course will give you the skills and knowledge you need.

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Business Analyst

A role for which the Supply Chain Design course may be useful is Business Analyst. This course will help you to develop the analytical and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in this role. You will also learn how to communicate effectively with business stakeholders and develop solutions that meet their needs.

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Data Analyst

Supply Chain Design is a course that can be useful for those looking to start a career in Data Analytics. The course will teach you how to collect, analyze, and interpret data to improve supply chain performance. This is essential in the field of data analytics.

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Financial Analyst

For those looking to advance into Financial Analyst roles, the Supply Chain Design course may be helpful. The course will provide you with a strong foundation in the financial aspects of supply chain management. You will learn how to analyze financial data, develop financial models, and make investment decisions.

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Management Consultant

Those looking to begin their Management Consulting career would find this Supply Chain Design course to be quite helpful. The course will provide you with a broad understanding of the different aspects of supply chain management. This will give you a strong foundation for your consulting work.

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Marketing Manager

Those seeking to advance or begin their Marketing Manager career may find the Supply Chain Design course to be somewhat helpful. The course will teach you how to develop and execute marketing strategies that will reach your target audience and achieve your marketing goals.

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Sales Manager

Supply Chain Design is a course that could potentially be of some use to you if you are trying to start a career in Sales Management. The course will provide you with a basic understanding of the supply chain and how it can impact sales. This knowledge can be helpful when you are developing sales strategies and negotiating with customers.

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