The course provides an introduction to the foundations of Supply Chain Planning (forecasting, S&OP, master planning, order fulfilment and available-to-promise, short term planning and distribution planning), with a focus on quantitative aspects of the planning process.

Content:

• Supply Chain Planning in the SCM context
• Demand forecasting: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, forecast accuracy, managing the forecast process
• Master planning: Level, chase, mixed strategies, application of linear programs for master planning, aggregation in time, product, place, process, etc.
• Demand fulfilment: Distribution planning, detailed demand fulfilment planning, available-to-promise
• Short-term planning: Production planning and scheduling

After successful completion of the module, students will

• Be able to discern and apply appropriate planning techniques to analyse and solve common supply chain planning problems
• Be able to select and apply appropriate demand forecasting techniques for different product characteristics
• Be able to evaluate the application of forecasting techniques to a given set of products and critically discuss their applicability, strength and weaknesses
• Be able to select, apply and evaluate the application of appropriate master planning techniques such as level and chase strategy, and mixed strategy as well as solutions based on linear programs
• Be able to select, apply and evaluate the application of appropriate demand fulfilment and available-to-promise planning techniques
• Be fully aware of the limitations of various supply chain planning techniques in a problem context

Attendance of at least 80% of the classes is necessary to fulfill the requirements.

The course is based on lectures, discussion of assigned readings, cases, and application exercises.

The final mark in this course is composed of three parts:

1. Three assignments (20+20+10%)
2. Exam (50%)

Incoming students (exchange programs): min. 5 ECTS credits in a quantitative methods course including linear programming and/or forecasting.