MSc International Supply Chain Management

University of Exeter

In an ever changing world, businesses can stay ahead of the game by using competitive operation and supply chain strategies. Manufacturing and service are two industries that benefit from employing a range of enterprise concepts and techniques, including lean enterprise and agile manufacturing, which have implications to both internal operations as well as supply chains. Lean production concerns the creation of quality products, consuming less human energy and using less equipment, time and space. Agile manufacturing, on the other hand, is related to bringing new products into changing markets in a responsive way and the ability to be innovative and to thrive in a changing environment. These two operation strategies have significant implications to and are closely related to supply chain management.

This module aims to develop your skills in industrial engineering and management science, by applying advanced analytical methods to help you make optimal decisions. It will also enhance your ability of the use of mathematical modelling technologies and computer simulation to tackle modern project management, operations and supply chain management problems. The knowledge you gain on this module will help you to understand and manage a range of associated courses, especially in manufacturing and supply chain management areas.

This dissertation will give you the chance to demonstrate your knowledge, to exercise your initiative and personal responsibility, and to use the research techniques and skills you have developed throughout your degree. You will be required to solve a research or industrially-related practical problem based on the topics learned within, but not exclusive to, the MSc programme you are registered for. The project work will lead to a major piece of work (dissertation) of approximately 30,000 words that involves project planning, analytical, experimental or empirical results and their interpretation, showing how the goals of the project have been met. You will receive a list of potential projects and will be requied to express your two preferences. Alternatively, you can discuss your own dissertation ideas with the module leader / potential supervisor (academic staff) with a view to explore if they offer required technical rigour and research challenge. You will be encouraged to discuss your preferences with relevant academic staff before we allocate projects. As part of the research project, you are expected to undertake a considerable amount of self study. There is no formal taught component in the module, apart from suggested regular meetings with the supervisor. Prerequisite modules: All compulsory modules listed for (or equivalent) the MSc programme you are registered for.

This module looks at the different aspects of the tools and techniques employed within supply chain management, including forecasting, planning, inventory and distribution, together with the strategic and management aspects of supply chain management, principally related to manufacturing industry, such as strategies, alignment, working within networks, purchasing, partnerships, collaboration, communication, coordination, and new business models. In your group research, you will consider a particular industry from a strategic standpoint, to determine the important competitive aims and the supply chain management techniques that are applied within that industry. You will make a presentation on your findings as part of a group, so that all students benefit from the research.

Business is international in scope as managers take advantage of the comparative advantages countries around the world offer through complex and geographic dispersed value chains, not only to sell products but also to access inputs, knowledge and skills. This module provides the theoretical foundations of international business and its practical applications in explaining the dynamics and constraints of firms? international strategies. It analyses changes in the international economic environment as a result of globalization as well as the increased interdependence between countries and firms in terms of flows of goods, services, finances and people. The module considers also political, economic and institutional differences around the world and the strategies companies adopt when conducting business across national boundaries. While many practical examples are provided, focus is given to developing an analytical approach to addressing these questions, drawing on several theoretical perspectives.

This module focuses on the practical and theoretical elements of managing global supply chains. It presents a step-by-step approach to the emerging field of Purchasing & Supply Management, emphasising the importance of a strategic approach to managing supply chains and networks. Supply chains not only involve fast moving consumer goods, but also often involving complex product-service delivery to the public and private sectors. The 10 lectures on the module are designed to enable participants to understand where ?Purchasing & Supply Management? fits in today?s business decision-making, going beyond cost reduction and consolidation, towards concerns of adding value and introducing issues on global supply chain sustainability.

The concept of a smart production systems emerged from the future factories, future cities and autonomous and adaptive robotic systems production philosophies that then has been supported with recent technological advances in IoT systems, communication technologies, high -performance computing, intelligent systems and algorithms and augmented reality. The concept initially developed and applied on the Industry 4.0 framework which is the 4th industrial revolution to digitise the manufacturing environment to provide optimal production conditions for the manufacturing environment and interoperability between cyber and physical systems. Later, this philosophy has been enhanced for different systems which has paved new enhancements and philosophies like digital twins, smart cities and 4.0 frameworks for manufacturing systems.