Logistics in Supply Chains

Aim

The purpose of the course is to provide theoretical knowledge about logistics in supply chains. The course covers inter organizational as well as intra organizational issues. Inter organizational issues provides insights regarding how the different actors within the supply chain apply/are affected by different logistics strategies. Intra organizational issues provides insights regarding how the different functions within a company apply/are affected by different logistics strategies. The course should provide understanding of different general logistics strategies and their inter- and intra-organizational impacts. After passing the course should the student be able to:

• Master theoretical concepts such as supply chain management, flexibility, coordination, integration, outsourcing, vendor managed inventories, postponement, purchasing strategies, production strategies and their relation to logistics and the focal company’s logistics strategies.
• Understand how the theoretical concepts are related and their mutual interdependencies.
• Understand drivers, barriers and prerequisites for different logistics strategies in supply chains.
• Apply the theoretical concepts and understand their implications and based on this be able to understand, explain, evaluate and question different logistics strategies within companies as well as supply chains.
• Read and understand academic journal papers within logistics strategies in supply chains.
• In a structured way evaluate academic journal papers and to be able to explain under what circumstances they are valid.

Content

The course deals with inter-organizational questions in relation to logistics between companies in a supply chain, e.g. the flow of material from the manufacturer, through the wholesaler to the industrial customer. Also intra-organizational questions are an important part of the course content, e.g. materials supply issues and distribution issues and their relation to purchasing, production and marketing. The parts of the logistics structures discussed are e.g. physical structures, roles, physical and information flows. The course deals with barriers and prerequisites for different logistics strategies in supply chains.