Supply Chain Management

Course Code: SCM 5000

This course is an introduction to the physical distribution aspects of supply chain management. The course will examine the different modes of transportation: truck, rail, ocean, air, pipeline and intermodal and the advantages and disadvantages of each. It provides an overview of warehousing operations including the main activities performed: receiving, storage, order filling and shipping. Effective methods of evaluating and selecting different transportation/warehousing options will be covered. Material handling technology, packaging, racking, safety, quality, labour efficiency, and layout and design of warehouses are explored. The course also examines emerging technologies such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), electronic product code (EPC), and voice directed activities.

Course Code: SCM 5001

Students will be exposed to the overall concept of logistics and supply chain management, which is the integrated process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient flow of materials, information and cash, from the raw material state (point of origin) to point of consumption of the finished goods by the end consumer. This course will focus on the processes of forecasting, demand management, inventory management, capacity management, production planning, quality management, and collaborative processes. More advanced topics in demand/supply management are covered in the second semester course SCM 5501.

Course Code: SCM 5002

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of the business processes that are integral to core supply chain management activities. The primary focus will be on understanding the integration of transaction-level processes that support the order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and the production processes. Business processes define the steps involved in completing various business functions, such as order taking, purchasing, materials management, financial accounting and planning. It is the understanding of these processes that is critical to understanding how the supply chain functions in real world situations. Hands-on experience using SAP (commercially available Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software) will help the students enhance their understanding of how computer systems are used to support the business processes in a real-world environment. Demonstrations using SAP, as well as other commercially available software will also be used throughout the course.

Course Code: SCM 5003

Students will develop proficiency in the use of the computer thorough exposure to Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office 2010 and the use of the Internet. In MS Office 2010 the focus will be on the correct application of Excel including Solver, PowerPoint, Visio and Project. The course is designed to help the student learn to use specific software to analyze problems, in particular those related to logistics.

Course Code: SCM 5004

It is estimated that, on average, 50 per cent of a company's revenue is spent by the purchasing function. As a result purchasing activities have a high impact on overall profitability. The quality, cost, and value of purchased goods and services directly influence a company?s overall success as measured by customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, competitiveness, and profitability. This course examines all aspects of developing and maintaining effective purchasing relationships to address long-term beneficial supplier management.

Course Code: SCM 5005

Effective communication is at the core of success in a supply chain function. This course deals with specific communication situations involved in presenting yourself and your ideas, as well as in working in teams. Students will complete written assignments and deliver presentations in class. This course addresses cultural diversity in the workplace, including ethics and values. It also addresses technology options for communication.

Course Code: SCM 5500

This course builds on the basic logistics principles and practices covered in Transportation and Warehousing 1 by applying these concepts to situations found in the logistics industry. Topics covered include distribution channels, logistics networks, facility design and location, reverse logistics, risk management, sustainability and methods for achieving green supply chains. The focus will be on the use of various tools and techniques to solve real-life logistics problems and to understand the benefits and limitations of these techniques. This course will require students to develop a level of creative thinking in order to solve problems and understand the role of logistics in the larger business environment. The course is structured around a combination of current lecture material and practical case studies. It will emphasize the interaction between the various parts of the supply chain. Where appropriate, the use of computer models will be applied to the problem solving exercises.

Course Code: SCM 5501

This course deals with advanced topics in demand and supply management. Techniques studied are ones used by companies to achieve superior performance and competitive advantage. Specific topics include just-in-time (JIT), lean manufacturing, strategic inventory placement, bullwhip effect, theory of constraints (TOC), optimization of aggregate plans, advanced planning and scheduling, supply chain performance monitoring, collaborative processes, and cycle--time reduction. Trends in the technology of supply chain management (SCM) will also be studied.

Course Code: SCM 5502

This course is a continuation of SCM 5002 Business Processes 1. Students will continue to work on business processes, business process re-engineering (BPR), and process modelling. They will be exposed to ERP software, as well as Decision Support software. The business processes within the supply chain will be examined. SAP will be used to demonstrate how efficient and effective business processes are designed. The students will be exposed to key supply chain modules within SAP R/3, so as to understand the process and functionality of each module and how all the modules tie together to complete all the processes within the organization. The students will also learn how to model and document processes for the purposes of re-engineering.

Course Code: SCM 5503

International logistics is influenced by the complexities of international trade, which encompass differences in cultures, physical environment, labour supply, politics and international organizations. This course will review the international business environment, and then apply traditional logistics activities, to the international context. Students will learn about trade restrictions, and agreements, such as North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). An overview of essential import and export procedures, documentation, and measures protecting U.S./Canada border security will also be covered. The course will discuss the role of Canada Customs both for achieving compliance with regulations as well as for facilitating a seamless flow of goods.

Course Code: SCM 5504

This course builds on all first semester courses to demonstrate how organizations integrate their supply chain processes with their supply chain partners, both upstream and downstream. It incorporates site visits to companies demonstrating leading supply chain practices and lectures by guest speakers. Students will analyze how the various companies use their competitive supply chain strengths to leverage their businesses and those of their supply chain partners.

Course Code: SCM 5505

This course will allow students to apply their knowledge and skills acquired from all other courses in the Supply Chain Management program, as well as independent primary research, site visits and interviews, on a topic chosen by the student. The topic will be relevant to the process of supply chain management in Canadian business today, focusing on the issue of sustainability and its relationship to supply chain management.