This course provides a comprehensive understanding for strategically managing and optimizing logistics and operations in today’s markets that are characterized by uncertainty and new disruptive competitors. Students will gain knowledge how logistics and operations can build resilient supply chains as well as how innovations and new technologies can help to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. The course will give an overview of the supply chain disruptions and the mitigation measures to overcome them. 

Furthermore, the course provides an introduction to the foundations of Operations Management (Process, Quality, Capacity and Supply Chain Management). The strategic objectives and drivers of operations performance are adressed. A further focus is laid upon the influence of uncertainty on capacities and waiting times in processes. 

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Analyse the principles underlying logistics management and how innovation can help to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
• Understand teh supply chain disruptions (cause and effect) and the mitigation strategies to overcome them. 
• Evaluate the concept and the different characteristics of resilient supply chains as a response to uncertainty, in particular with a focus on logistics activities.
• Define, analyze and measure the performance of business processes.
• Explain the relationship between different performance measures.
• Perform capacity analysis of business processes.
• Position a process in the Operations Management triangle by reducing workloads and increasing information.
• Make suggestions for process improvement using the principles of quality management.

Attendance is required in all sessions. Absence in one session is tolerated if a reasonable excuse is given before the session. 

General Topics include:

• Insights from basic Logistics and Operations Management principles and models
• Best practices from industry
• Experiental learning using software
• Case examples and case studies

Course Design:

Session 1-3 will cover topics of Logistics Management. In Session 2 there will be an exam on the contents of the Bridging Course in Supply Chain Management: Foundation of Transport and Logistics, see here. 

Sessions 4-6 will cover topics of Operations Management and include in-class and home-assignments.

In Session 7 there is going to be a practitioner's talk.

In Session 8 the final exam will be held. All contents from all previous sessions is relevant for the (hand-)written exam. Details on the exam will follow during classes.

Sessions 9 and 10 will be practical sessions with software applications of the topics covered in class. 

1. Logistics Management: (20%)

• In-Class Assignments: 7%
  • written assignments on the topic during class

• Bridging Course exam 6%
  • in-class written exam
• Case study Logistics and Supply Chain (Red Bull): 7%
  • written assignment on the case study

2. Operations Management: (30%)

• In-Class Assignments (individual): 10%
  • written assignments on the topic of each session during class
• Home Assignment (groups): 10%
  • Case examples to be handed in as management summary
• Experiental learning (groups): 10%
  • Case examples and applications to be done using software

Overall:

3. Final written Exam: 50%

• 120 min. written exam (min. 50 points out of 120 required)
• 72 points (i.e. 60%) Operations Management and 48 points (i.e. 40%) Logistics Management  
• All sessions and content up to the final exam date are relevant for the exam

Grading scale:

• Excellent (1): 90% - 100.0%
• Good (2): 80% - <90%
• Satisfactory (3): 70% - <80%
• Sufficient (4): 60.0% - <70%
• Fail (5): <60.0%

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By appointment with the lecturers.

program's website: www.wu.ac.at/master/scm