Supply Chain and Operations Management 

Unit Reference Number

R/616/2728

Unit Title

Supply Chain and Operations Management

Unit Level

7

Number of Credits

20

Total Qualification Time (TQT)

200 Hours

Guided Learning Hours (GLH)

100 Hours

Mandatory / Optional

Optional

Sector Subject Area (SSA)

15.3 Business Management

Unit Grading Structure

Pass / Fail

Learning Outcomes – the learner will:

Assessment Criteria – the learner can:

Indicative content

1. Understand the relationship between supply chain management, operations management and organisational business objectives.

1.1 Critically explain the significance of effective supply chain and operational management in achieving organisational objectives.
1.2 Explain the relationship of supply chain management with other business functions in an organisation.
1.3 Critically analyse the key success factors that aid in developing an integrated supply chain strategy in an organisation. 

Operations management: definition, aims, objectives, features; importance of effective operations management; the relationship of operations management with different areas of an organisation e.g. operations, management, administration, procurement; value chains.

Supply chain and operations management relationship types: basic and critical understanding of relationship between supply chain and operations management types; alliances e.g. strategic, adversarial, collaborative, developmental; business relationship e.g. supplier, business to business, business to consumer; networks e.g.  personal, business; organisational; association e.g. supplier association; supplier development; intermediation and disintermediation.

Key success factors that support to develop an integrated supply chain strategy in an organisation: success factors identification and critical analysis; cost reductions and customer service; demand fulfilment; time compression; total ownership cost reduction; basic facilitators for   effective   supply   chain   management   e.g. inventory, facilities, information, transportation, pricing, sourcing, technology, customer services.

Critically evaluate factors and strategies that drive operations management: the conceptual understanding   of   information   technology   and operation management; the impact of globalisation; factors to adopt information technology;   the   impact   of   IT  on   operations management.

Analyse and use information technology to create strategies to develop effective supplier relationships: the use of extranets, intranets, internets and virtual private networks to manage order processing, supply chain integration, tracking system and a comprehensive data interchange system on the web; supply and operational management information exchange; dependencies on digital platforms.

2. Be able to critically analyse the role of technology in supplier relationships.

2.1 Critically evaluate factors and strategies that drive organisations to maintain supplier relationships.
2.2 Assess the use of information technology to create strategies to develop effective supplier relationships.
2.3 Recommend supplier relations systems to maintain relationships with suppliers.

3. Be able to critically analyse the importance of logistics and procurement in supply chain management.

3.1 Justify the importance and use of logistics in supply chain management in an organisation.
3.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of procurement strategies and procedures in an organisation.
3.3 Critically analyse factors that may improve logistics and procurement strategies in an organisation.

4. Be able to develop a systematic order of procurement and inventory control.

4.1 Design effective and economic order quantity for procurements in an organisation.
4.2 Critically evaluate the role of the principles of LIFO and FIFO in inventory control.
4.3 Evaluate the just in time systems of managing inventory.

5. Be able to develop a strategy to improve an organisation’s supply chain.

5.1 Analyse factors involved in developing a strategy to improve an organisation’s supply chain.
5.2 Plan various supply chain strategies to improve an organisation’s supply chain.
5.3 Justify the choice of a supply chain strategy according to its suitability, feasibility, acceptability and overall performance benefits in an organisation.

Learning Outcomes to be met

Assessment Criteria to be covered

Assessment type

Word count (approx. length)

All 1 to 5

All ACs under LO 1 to 5

Coursework

4500 words