The course provides a fundamental overview of the field of supply chain management. The focus is on providing students with fundamental knowledge of supply chain concepts, principles and theories from where they can further build a lifelong learning pathway into specialised areas in the supply chain discipline.

The focus of this course makes it suitable for individuals entering the world of work and those in various levels of supply chain management. Modern businesses cannot exist without access to a modern supply chain and managers at all levels need to understand the intricacies in this dynamic environment.

Students will gain practical skills in

• Customer service
• Purchasing
• Distribution
• Warehousing
• Inventory management
• Total quality management
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication
• ERP systems
• Managing ethical dilemmas

The course does not only cover the elements of a supply chain (technical skills) but also addresses some of the gaps identified in the smooth running of a supply chain. Students learn how to work with supply chain partners through being customer-centric, teamwork and collaboration which is all made possible through effective communication and an understanding of their role in the entire supply chain’s success. These skills contribute to increased sales, waste reduction, improved cost-effective savings across the supply chain.

The course addresses the gaps in skills identified by researchers in the field of supply chain operations. The course shares techniques for the improvement of organisational responsiveness through building a customer-centric supply chain and using effective communication between supply chain partners. The course highlights the many ethical dilemmas in the supply chain and methods to manage these.