Supply Chain Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

• Semester 1: 3 hours per week plus a minimum of 6 hours per week in self directed study;
• Summer Semester: 6 hours per week plus a minimum of 12 hours per week in self directed study.

Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject covers the concepts and practices of the developing field of supply chain management, involving the arrangement of information, goods and services and business relationships within and between organisations in a supply chain. Strategic management thinking in supply terms has moved away from optimising the purchasing of goods and services to focusing on how a company can manage all aspects of supply activity to create the maximum level of competitive advantage. This involves cost savings (through such activities and concepts as economies of scale, open-book pricing arrangements and transparency); improving time-to-market; developing market-leading innovative products and services; and improving both the effectiveness and efficiency of the firm.

• Understand the major factors driving the focus on more effective supply chain management practices
• Appreciate the importance and role of inventory in determining overall supply chain performance
• Be able to articulate the major factors that need to be considered when designing logistics networks
• Be familiar with the theory and practice of supply chain integration
• Understand the issues and challenges facing organisations managing activities involving trading partners in an international context
• Understand the role and importance of information exchange in managing supply Chains
• Appreciate the strategic significance of alliances and cooperative partnering
• Understand the need for coordinated product and process design within the firm, and between trading partners

• A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (50%)
• A written group assignment totalling not more than 5000 words due in week 6 (Summer) and week 8-9 (Semester 1) (50%)

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• High level of development: written communication; collaborative learning; team work; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking; accessing data and other information from a range of sources; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

• Moderate level of development: oral communication; problem solving; application of theory to practice; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information.

• Some level of development: statistical reasoning; use of computer software.