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