Supply Chain Operations and Information (DSC 477 / DSC 577)
Supply chain management focuses on coordinating material and information
beyond the walls of the factory. Supply networks encompass flows
of goods, services, and related information through a interconnected
set of retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. Effectively tracking
and coordinating the diverse flows in the supply chain requires
both cost-effective operations and sophisticated information systems.
The complexity of modern supply chain poses formidable management
challenges, including issues of product design, demand management
and forecasting, inventory deployment, and distribution system design.
This course will provide a managerial perspective of both the
important tactical and strategic issues, as well as an understanding
of the analytical tools that are used to solve important supply
chain problems. We will explore order-fulfillment strategies and
the impact of the Internet on distribution and back-end processes.
We also examine issues relating to enterprise integration and information
visibility, which traditionally have been a severe hurdle for achieving
successful supply chain integration. By the end of the course, we
will develop a thorough understanding of the supply chain function
and its operations, including how to evaluate and design effective
supply chains.
