Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module ENGI4171: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Department: Engineering

ENGI4171: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2010/11 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to H100
Tied to H221
Tied to H300
Tied to H420
Tied to H150

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • This module is for students intending to fulfil the requirements of the M.Eng. streams in Aeronautics (H420), Design and Operations Engineering (H150), Mechanical Engineering (H300), New and Renewable Energy (H221), and General Engineering (H100).
  • This module will provide graduates with the knowledge and the tools necessary to understand, develop, implement and sustain strategies for managing supply chain networks. Furthermore, students will be exposed to the various functional and management areas of an enterprise enabling them to recognise the numerous obstacles of today's global market.
  • This module is complemented by the 60 credit MEng Research and Development project module or by the 40 credit Technical Project where the final year MEng student has the opportunity to apply the material taught in this module in a large scale project.
  • The module provides a firm foundation for a broad range of engineering careers in management and logistics.

Content

  • Production planning and supply chain management.
  • Inventory Management.
  • Transshipments in supply chains.
  • Multi-Echelon inventory systems.
  • Strategic alliances, outsourcing, electronic supply chain.
  • Distribution strategies, models and algorithms, applications.
  • The inventory routing problem.
  • Facility location and planning.
  • The strategic management process.
  • Industry and competitive analysis.
  • Company situation analysis.
  • Strategy and competitive advantage.
  • Analyzing resources, competencies and capabilities.
  • Corporate diversification strategies.
  • Strategic analysis of diversified companies.
  • Implementing strategies for change management.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • An appreciation and technical understanding of supply chain management hard and soft problems.
  • An understanding of production and supply network drivers.
  • Understanding of management principles of different production and logistic networks.
  • Familiarisation with the various types of operational strategies and best practices in change management.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • The use of analytic tools and techniques necessary to develop solutions for a variety of production network and logistical problems.
  • The ability to design and model complex production and logistic networks.
  • The development of an understanding of change management and awareness of how to apply knowledge in practice.
  • The development of strategies for the effective management of organisational change, with respect to both people and systems.
  • An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialised and advanced technical and professional skills in conjunction with an ability to perform critical assessment and review of proposed solutions.
Key Skills:
  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Highly specialised modelling and optimisation skills appropriate to an engineer.
  • Highly specialised use of information technology (IT) relevant to the engineering profession.
  • Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The courses in Supply Chain Management are covered by single lectures and by triple workshop-style lectures.
  • Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis.
  • Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 19 1 per week 1 hour 19
7 1 per week up to 3 hours 19
Tutorials 4 8 per module up to 1 hour 4
12 1 per week 1 12
Seminars 2 1 (week 20) 1 2
Teaching Days 1 8
Preparation and Reading 136
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Management of Production Networks & Logistics 2 hours 50% No
Strategic & Change Management 2 hours 50% No

Formative Assessment:

None


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University