Global Sourcing and Logistics Management - 2019 entry

This module is designed to broaden students’ understanding of the global supply chain management, and specially from the perspectives of global sourcing and logistics management. We are currently living in a highly globalised world, in which most of our products are made in one country while sold in another country. The global sourcing and logistics management therefore plays important role to the supply chain management in many firms (especially multinational corporations). The rise of global supply chain has introduced management in a digital environment operating in a global infrastructure and raises questions around new business models, sustainability, ethics, sources of local supply and local economic development. The ultimate objective of global supply chain management is to link the market place, distribution network, manufacturing/processing/assembly processes and procurement activity in such a way that customers receive a higher level of service at lower cost. However, the global supply chain management challenges and strategies are changing overtime due to the changes of the business environment. In recent years, the new technologies (e.g. IoT, big data, 3D printing) are emerging, the international trading policies are changing, and the sustainability issues are becoming more important. All of these would greatly affected the global sourcing and logistic strategies.

The module provides the students with a global view of supply chain management from theories and practices. In this module, the students will learn the theoretical concepts of global sourcing and logistics, understanding the cutting-edge challenges in the context of global supply chain management, and use the practical methods/tools to solve problems. Case studies, methods and tools from the latest research will be provided in the module.

The aim of the module is to introduce the practical and theoretical elements of global supply chain management of MNCs including global sourcing and international logistics. In particular, the module intends to introduce a set of new and emerging concepts, knowledge and practical tools in global supply chain management and focus on the cross border context. The lectures are designed to enable participants to understand how MNCs as leaders of their supply chains manage relational risk caused by cultural differences, help their supply chains members learn, integrate sustainability and innovate in their supply chains. The module combines case studies, latest research findings, academic research papers and practical tools.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM3m, SM6m, EA1m, D1m-D4m, D6m, ET1m-ET7m, EP1m, EP7m, EP11m, G3m

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online:
https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/studentinfo/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:



Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: EA1m, ET1m-ET7m, EP1m, EP7m, EP11m


1. Gain a comprehensive knowledge of global supply chain management in the current world
;

2. Understand the key terminologies in global sources and logistic management;

3. Understand the supply chain risks that firms face and how to apply risk mitigation strategies;

4. Understand the sustainability challenges within global sourcing and international logistics context and the sustainability strategies;

5. Understand the servitization and its influence on the global supply chain management;

6. Understand leadership role and innovative approaches of MNCs in the dissemination of sustainable practice in emerging markets;

7. Understand the impact of the emerging digital technologies on the global supply chain management

.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM3m, SM6m, D1m-D4m, D6m


8. Apply appropriate theories and methods/tools to develop sustainability and global sourcing strategies;

9. Apply the learnt knowledge to analyse the real world challenges in global sourcing and supply chain;

10. Apply the knowledge and advanced problem-solving skills to develop potential solutions of the real world challenges in global sourcing and logistics management.



Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge: D6m, EP7m, EP11m, G3m

11. Communicate effectively to technical and non-technical people
;

12. Study independently, acquire necessary knowledge and skills unaided;

13. Work in groups and have teamwork skills
;

14. Critical thinking and research skills (i.e. desk-based, online search for archival data);

15. Write concise and high-quality individual report.

- Introduction: understanding the global supply chain context & environment
;

- Global sourcing definitions, structure and strategies;

- Sustainability & global supply chain management
;

- Global supplier selection, evaluation and supply base management for global sourcing
;

- Global sourcing risk management;

- Digital technologies, business model innovation and global supply chain management;

- Global sourcing logistics management
;

- Global supply chain integration, learning and leadership
;

- Future trends in global supply chain management.

Basic reading:

Handfield, R.B., Monczka, R.M., Giunipero, L.C., and Patterson, J.L. (2012). Sourcing and supply chain management. 5th edition. South-Western Cengage Learning

Coyle, J.J., Langley, C.J., Novack, R.A., and Gibson, B.J. (2008). Managing supply chains: a logistics approach. 9th ed. USA: South-Western

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Institute for Supply Management (publish world class research on global sourcing):

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/scforum

Stanford’s Global supply chain forum:

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/scforum

Other Resources:

In order to instil further industrial relevance, the module will include a selection of cases from the module leader’s own research.

Reading list for this module: