MSc in Engineering Management

Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit TitleMANAGEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY FIRMS
Course Unit CodeMEM504
Course Unit DetailsMSc Engineering Management (Required Courses) -
Number of ECTS credits allocated7
Learning Outcomes of the course unitBy the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  1. Identify the requirements and effects of supply chain management within manufacturing and other technologically-based systems
  2. Exhibit knowledge and understanding of the key technologies involved in the improvement of core areas of supply chain management
  3. Conceptualise, design and formulate SCM-related problems in realistic settings
  4. Develop and exhibit critical thinking in the evaluation of SCM-related problems and the differentiation of realities in SME’s from common textbook cases within the SCM context
  5. Use computational tools for improving supply chain performance on formulated problems
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
PrerequisitesNONECo-requisitesNONE
Recommended optional program componentsNONE
Course Contents Part 1: Introduction to Supply Chain Management
What is a Supply Chain. Goals of Supply Chain Management. Examination of supply chain systems. Key factors and drivers in a supply chain. Responsiveness versus efficiency SCM in Cyprus and SMEs in general.
 
Part 2: Forecasting
Role of forecasting in SCM. Methods of forecasting. Application of forecasting techniques (quantitative). Handling trends, seasonality and uncertainty.  Forecasting practices in reality and common problems.
 
Part 3: Planning
Role and impact of aggregate planning. Modelling systems. Catering for capability and availability to promise. Solving planning models. Planning problems in realistic settings.
 
Part 4: Inventory Planning and Control
Costs in inventory and calculations of inventory cost in a SCM system. The EOQ formula and variations. Safety stocks and uncertainty. Location, aggregation and product substitutions. Inventories in volatile systems.
 
Part 5: Transportation - Supply Chain and Distribution Design Issues
Role of Transportation in SCM. Transportation networks and optimisation techniques. In-house vs outsourcing. Transportation issues in isolated systems (eg Cyprus). Designing the supply chain and degrees of freedom at the SME level. Impact of the distribution system.
 
Part 6: Information Systems in SCM - Supply Chain Coordination and Vertical Integration
Importance of IS infrastructure for SCM. ERP, DSS integration. Impact of e-business (B2C, B2B) in supply chains. Benefits from supply chain coordination. Potentials and risks of outsourcing. Addressing the bullwhip effect.

Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks
  • Chopra S, Meindl P: Supply Chain management: Strategy, Planning and Operation, Pearson Education 2007 (or a newer version)
References
  • G Cachon, Matching Supply with Demand, 2nd ed Mc Graw Hill, 2008
  • S Axsater Inventory Control, Springer 2006
  • D Bowersox D Closs M Cooper, Supply Chain Logistics Management, 2009
Planned learning activities and teaching methods The course is delivered through three hours of lectures per week, which include presentation of new material and demonstration of concepts and methods. Lectures also include in-class exercises to enhance the material learning process and to assess the student level of understanding and provide feedback accordingly.

Practical demonstrations and labwork are conducted in computer laboratories using various software (mainly Microsoft XL) as well as specialised tools (e.g. supply chain simulation software). Business games are also employed for interactivity and better comprehension of the concepts.

The course material (notes, exercises, forum, etc) is maintained on the university’s e-learning platform

Assessment methods and criteria
Assignments50%
Readings10%
Final Exam40%
Language of instructionEnglish
Work placement(s)NO

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