N90318 Business Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Logistics is one of the world’s leading economic industries.

Today logistics has a wider meaning than the mere provision of handling and transport of goods and information: it has evolved from an operational function to a key business process, the so-called Supply Chain Management (SCM).

This course is intended to provide students with:

- an overview of the logistics and supply chain topical issues;

- an implementation of managerial solutions by means of real-life case studies and business games;

- the possibility to combine an understanding of managerial issues with theoretical and practical knowledge of appropriate methodologies for planning and managing complex logistics projects.

After having completed this module, students will be able to:

- understand the concepts of logistics and supply chain managements and their basic components

- understand the different supply chain processes

- critically analyze and discuss the implications deriving from the different choices regarding supply chain strategy, design and planning

- critically analyze the phyisical distribution of products with respect to the choices regarding warehousing, materials handling and transportation

- understand the value of information in the supply chain and implement solutions for an effective integration and collaboration of supply chain partners

Below a list of the indicative content of the module is provided.

Topic 1: what are Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

- A definition of Logistics and Supply Chain Management

- Supply Chain Management processes

- The principles of Supply Chain Management

- Using the Supply Chain to compete

Topic 2: Supply Chain strategy and Design

- Competitive and Supply Chain strategies

- The Strategic Fit

- Elements of Supply Chain Design

Topic 3: Network design in the Supply Chain

- A methodological framework for logistics network design

- Types of logistics/distribution networks

- Logistics and distribution costs

- Design tools and models

Topic 4: Transportation Systems

- Key modes of transport and major issues

- Transportation Costs

- Tradeoffs in transportation design

Topic 5: Physical Distribution and Materials Handling

- Types of warehouses: depots, distribution centers, transit points

- Main warehousing operations, activity flow and functional areas

- Pallet Retrieval & Pallet Storage Systems

- Order Picking Systems

Topic 6: Demand planning and sales forecasting

- Forecast and planning process

- Forecasting methods

- Performance measurement

Topic 7: Inventory management and control

- The role of inventories in the supply chain

- Inventory carrying costs

- The inventory control systems

- Safety stocks

Topic 8: The Value of Information in the Supply Chain - the Beer Game and the Bullwhip Effect

- The Beer Game

- The Bullwhip Effect

- Causes of the Bullwhip Effect

- Integration and coordination in the supply chain

Lectures and Classes

Each class will be composed of a frontal lecture combined with practical sessions represented by real-life case studies, business games and/or experiential laboratories.

Furthermore in-class discussions will be used based on reading assignments.

Our reading assignments are selected articles and cases from Scholarly Journals. You will receive the readings by e-mail 6 days before classes.

The exams will be closed books and closed notes and are constituted by a written test with multiple choice and open questions focused on the topics studied during the classes.

The overall final mark is based also on the evaluation of the teamwork concerning business games, on the attendance and on the individual contribution to class discussions.