Explore how raw materials are selected, obtained, and then distributed to the customer as a finished product – the supply chain. Learn how every step in the process can be affected by changes in distribution, resource availability, and other external factors.
Have you ever thought about how the goods we buy get to the stores where we buy them? When we buy a computer, do we consider where the parts came from, how they got to the manufacturing plant, and how they were shipped to the stores? What about the fruits and vegetables we buy, or the coffee we purchase at our favorite coffee shops?
In this course, we will explore the steps organizations use to select suppliers for raw materials, bring those raw materials to a manufacturing facility, and turn those resources into a finished product. After the manufacturing process is completed, the goods must be delivered to the customer. All of these steps are part of the supply chain. Along the way, things may happen that hinder the smooth operations of the supply chain management process. These might include problems with a supplier, changes in laws, inefficiencies, hidden costs, or many other factors.
As you study, consider how the concepts could be applied to real-world situations, and relate them to your own experiences as a consumer and a businessperson. Even if you do not have plans to work in supply chain management, understanding the process will enable you to be a more effective professional in any field.
- Unit 1: Fluctuations in the Supply Chain
- Unit 2: Supply Chain Procurement
- Unit 3: Supply Chain Distribution
- Apply the principles of supply chain management to various organizational settings;
- Explain the "bullwhip effect" and evaluate strategies to limit variation;
- Apply appropriate criteria in choosing suppliers; and
- Describe the two main areas of distribution management.