Procurement and Supply Chain Management MSc

Cranfield University

This module is intended to provide you with a sound foundation to the course by introducing the main concepts and principles that underpin Logistics and Supply Chain Management, including the important issue of sustainability. It presents the fundamental principles of contemporary logistics and supply chain management within a business context. This unit will explore the ways in which good practice in these fields can contribute to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. Overarching aspects of Supply chain sustainability are explored, such as corporate responsibility and ethics.

Global marketplaces are characterised by shortening product life cycles, increasing product variety, and highly variable demand that is difficult to forecast. The module explores how the competitive landscape is constantly changing, and the role of logistics and supply chain management in meeting the challenges raised. Research from Cranfield faculty is integrated with our own case studies, originating from a network of companies in a range of sectors to demonstrate particular concepts around agile and lean supply chains.

The course will explore the subject of procurement and supply in the industrial and commercial context, explaining its role and purpose within the supply chain. You will learn how procurement has developed, the skills and information needed by procurement professionals, the academic theory and knowledge accumulated on the subject area and the use of specific tools and techniques employed in managing the procurement function. In addition, we will explore and use some of the recently emerged technologies within e-procurement which are designed to improve both process and cost management.

To provide you with a comprehensive overview of the role of operations in the organisation’s collaborative/constructive working environment, business models and performance, within the overall context of supply chain management/external environment and enable you to analyse and design effective supply chain operations with the ultimate goal to improve the match between demand and supply.

The aim of the Accounting and Finance module is to introduce a number of traditional and contemporary accounting approaches that will increase the visibility of financial information and support management decision making. It aims to integrate basic financial knowledge in the management of a business organisation.

Managerial decisions in logistics and supply chain management are heavily based on quantitative analysis using models from the management science discipline. Data, models, and available software have dramatically changed the operations in manufacturing, services, and logistics sectors. The module aims to provide you with an introduction to the role and the relevance of analytical techniques in logistics and supply chain management.

From simple graphs to deterministic and stochastic optimisation models, it offers transferable skills to use associated techniques for the practice of these disciplines. You will develop the ability to model and solve realistic decision problems in the context of logistics and supply chain management. This process will be facilitated by spreadsheet-based software packages where you will have an opportunity to build your own spreadsheet models with emphasis on appropriate application of methods and interpretation of model outputs.

The Freight Transport module provides a sound foundation in road, rail, air and sea freight transport. The focus is primarily from a user perspective in order to provide a logistics and supply chain management viewpoint. However, in road freight, the module also covers more detailed fleet management and operational aspects, recognising that many organisations operate their own road transport fleets but also reflecting the importance of road freight as the primary inland freight mode in most geographies for national and urban freight traffic.

To provide theoretical and practical knowledge about:

• The value of information and the role of information systems (IS) for supply chain management.
• The role and impact of information systems in e-business.
• The opportunities and implementation challenges provided by information systems in supply chain management.

This is an introduction to the subject. However, it is our contention that projects are the building blocks of strategy. Also, the module provides a logical and simple process by which students may approach their own modules and objectives, and may well be a valuable source of confidence for taking on major elective projects later in the year.

Project Management Introduction (PMI) demonstrates how management respects no boundaries (either in terms of functional silos – departments, etc. or theoretical disciplines). PMI provides additional opportunities to practice personal communication skills, and generally the module provides a basis for personal development and increased confidence and self-awareness.

Today, a considerable part of the organisations’ turnover is assigned to purchasing goods and services. With so much of an organisation’s money on the line, and increasing reliance on external resources and outsourcing, suppliers are of great importance for the buying companies and have a crucial role for their success. Hence, buying organisations need to make strategic decisions on selecting the right suppliers with the right competences and performance. Supplier selection is the process by which the buyer identifies, evaluates, contracts with, and monitors suppliers.

This module aims to introduce the supplier selection process, and to discuss its elements and implications. The module demonstrates strategic and operational perspectives to supplier selection and rationalise the multiple dimensions of supplier selection and evaluation decisions. Different approaches to supplier selection are presented and various decision-making techniques are reviewed. Various supplier selection criteria and evaluation factors from different sectors are also introduced.

By the end of this module, you should have a clear understanding of supplier selection processes, be knowledgeable of supplier selection and evaluation criteria, and be able to develop the relevant decision-making models in sourcing and procurements contexts. This module is also distinctive because it provides you with the opportunity to experience the application of many management science techniques in one of the most crucial functions of procurement and supply chain management.

The aim of this module is twofold. Firstly, it aims to help you to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in managing negotiations. This involves understanding the principles of negotiation, getting an opportunity to practice them and obtaining feedback on their performance. Secondly the course aims to provide you with an understanding how to manage contractual relationships throughout their lifecycle, from negotiation through to contract termination.