Supply Chain Management Training Course

1. Introduction to Supply Chain Management

1.1 Supply Chain Fundamentals

• Supply chain definition including (network of organizations, material flow, information flow, financial flow, value creation, end-to-end process)

• Supply chain structure including (upstream suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, customers, multi-tier network, interconnected entities)

• Supply chain flows including (product flow, information flow, financial flow, reverse flow, bidirectional movement, integrated coordination)

• Supply chain objectives including (customer satisfaction, cost efficiency, responsiveness, flexibility, risk mitigation, competitive advantage)

• Supply chain evolution including (logistics focus, integration, collaboration, optimization, digital transformation, strategic importance)

1.2 Supply Chain Strategy

• Strategic alignment including (business strategy, supply chain strategy, functional strategies, corporate objectives, value proposition)

• Competitive priorities including (cost, quality, speed, flexibility, innovation, sustainability, strategic focus, trade-off management)

• Supply chain configuration including (responsive supply chain, efficient supply chain, agile supply chain, strategic fit, appropriate design)

• Make versus buy decisions including (vertical integration, outsourcing, core competency focus, strategic sourcing, capability development)

• Global versus local including (global sourcing, local sourcing, regional strategies, market proximity, cost-service balance)

1.3 Supply Chain Management Framework

• SCOR Model including (Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Return, Enable, process reference, performance metrics, best practices)

• Supply chain processes including (planning processes, execution processes, enabling processes, cross-functional integration, synchronized operations)

• Supply chain drivers including (facilities, inventory, transportation, information, sourcing, pricing, structural elements, performance impact)

• Supply chain integration including (internal integration, external integration, information sharing, collaborative planning, seamless coordination)

• Supply chain metrics including (cost metrics, service metrics, efficiency metrics, responsiveness metrics, KPI framework, balanced measurement)

2. Demand Planning and Forecasting

2.1 Demand Management

• Demand characteristics including (independent demand, dependent demand, demand patterns, seasonality, trend, variability)

• Demand planning process including (forecasting, demand shaping, demand fulfillment, demand sensing, collaborative planning)

• Demand collaboration including (Sales and Operations Planning, customer collaboration, cross-functional alignment, consensus forecasting)

• Demand influencing including (pricing, promotions, product availability, marketing, demand shaping, proactive management)

• Demand segmentation including (product segmentation, customer segmentation, channel segmentation, differentiated approaches, tailored strategies)

2.2 Forecasting Methods

• Qualitative forecasting including (market research, expert opinion, Delphi method, sales force estimates, judgmental approaches)

• Time series methods including (moving average, exponential smoothing, trend analysis, seasonal indices, historical pattern projection)

• Causal methods including (regression analysis, correlation, leading indicators, cause-effect relationships, explanatory variables)

• Forecast accuracy including (forecast error, MAD, MAPE, bias, tracking signal, accuracy measurement, performance evaluation)

• Forecast improvement including (data quality, method selection, collaboration, regular review, continuous refinement, learning)

2.3 Sales and Operations Planning

• S&OP process including (demand planning, supply planning, reconciliation, executive review, integrated planning, tactical alignment)

• Planning horizon including (strategic planning, tactical planning, operational planning, time horizons, planning frequency)

• Demand-supply balancing including (capacity analysis, constraint identification, gap resolution, scenario planning, balanced approach)

• Cross-functional collaboration including (sales, operations, finance, marketing, integrated teams, unified plan, organizational alignment)

• S&OP metrics including (forecast accuracy, plan attainment, inventory targets, service levels, financial performance, balanced scorecard)

3. Inventory Management

3.1 Inventory Fundamentals

• Inventory types including (raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, MRO inventory, pipeline inventory, safety stock)

• Inventory functions including (cycle stock, safety stock, anticipation stock, decoupling inventory, strategic purposes)

• Inventory costs including (holding costs, ordering costs, shortage costs, purchase costs, total cost consideration)

• Inventory metrics including (inventory turnover, days of inventory, fill rate, service level, carrying cost, performance measurement)

• ABC analysis including (classification, Pareto principle, differentiated management, focus allocation, prioritization)

3.2 Inventory Management Systems

• Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) including (optimal order quantity, total cost minimization, EOQ formula, lot sizing, economic balance)

• Reorder Point (ROP) including (demand during lead time, safety stock, service level, replenishment trigger, inventory control)

• Periodic review including (fixed review interval, order-up-to level, variable order quantity, systematic review, time-based control)

• Material Requirements Planning (MRP) including (dependent demand, BOM explosion, time-phased planning, scheduled receipts, planned orders)

• Just-in-Time (JIT) including (minimal inventory, pull system, waste elimination, continuous flow, demand-driven replenishment)

3.3 Inventory Optimization

• Safety stock optimization including (demand variability, lead time variability, service level, statistical calculation, buffer sizing)

• Multi-echelon optimization including (network optimization, inventory positioning, system-wide view, coordinated management, total system cost)

• Inventory reduction including (lead time reduction, demand variability reduction, lot size reduction, waste elimination, lean inventory)

• Slow-moving inventory including (obsolescence management, write-off, liquidation, prevention strategies, portfolio management)

• Inventory visibility including (real-time tracking, inventory accuracy, cycle counting, data integrity, transparency)

4. Procurement and Sourcing

4.1 Strategic Sourcing

• Sourcing strategy including (single sourcing, multiple sourcing, global sourcing, local sourcing, strategic approach, risk-benefit balance)

• Supplier segmentation including (strategic suppliers, leverage suppliers, bottleneck suppliers, routine suppliers, differentiated management)

• Make versus buy including (core competency, cost analysis, capability assessment, strategic decisions, outsourcing evaluation)

• Total Cost of Ownership including (purchase price, transaction costs, quality costs, logistics costs, lifecycle costs, comprehensive evaluation)

• Category management including (spend analysis, category strategy, market analysis, supplier strategy, value optimization)

4.2 Procurement Process

• Purchase requisition including (need identification, specification, authorization, requisition approval, procurement trigger)

• Supplier selection including (RFI, RFQ, RFP, supplier evaluation, bid analysis, negotiation, contract award)

• Purchase order including (PO creation, terms and conditions, delivery schedule, price agreement, formal commitment)

• Order expediting including (delivery monitoring, supplier follow-up, exception management, on-time delivery, proactive management)

• Invoice and payment including (three-way matching, invoice verification, payment processing, financial settlement, transaction closure)

4.3 Supplier Relationship Management

• Supplier development including (capability building, quality improvement, cost reduction, collaboration, performance enhancement)

• Supplier performance including (quality metrics, delivery metrics, responsiveness, cost performance, scorecard, continuous evaluation)

• Supplier collaboration including (joint planning, information sharing, process integration, innovation partnership, mutual benefit)

• Contract management including (contract negotiation, terms agreement, contract administration, compliance monitoring, relationship governance)

• Risk management including (supplier risk assessment, single-source risk, financial stability, contingency planning, mitigation strategies)

5. Manufacturing and Operations Planning

5.1 Production Planning

• Aggregate planning including (capacity planning, workforce planning, production rate, inventory level, medium-term planning)

• Master Production Schedule including (MPS development, demand allocation, capacity checking, feasible schedule, commitment)

• Capacity planning including (capacity requirements, bottleneck identification, capacity expansion, utilization optimization, constraint management)

• Production strategies including (make-to-stock, make-to-order, assemble-to-order, engineer-to-order, postponement, strategic positioning)

• Load leveling including (workload smoothing, capacity balancing, efficiency improvement, stable production, reduced variability)

5.2 Materials Planning

• Material Requirements Planning including (BOM, inventory status, planned orders, scheduled receipts, net requirements, time-phased planning)

• Bills of Material including (product structure, component relationships, phantom BOMs, planning BOMs, BOM accuracy)

• Lead time management including (procurement lead time, manufacturing lead time, cumulative lead time, reduction strategies, reliability)

• Lot sizing including (lot-for-lot, EOQ, period order quantity, part period balancing, economic consideration, practical constraints)

• MRP outputs including (planned orders, order releases, reschedule notices, exception reports, action messages)

5.3 Lean Manufacturing

• Lean principles including (value identification, waste elimination, flow optimization, pull production, perfection pursuit)

• Seven wastes including (overproduction, waiting, transportation, overprocessing, inventory, motion, defects, systematic elimination)

• Value stream mapping including (current state, future state, waste identification, flow improvement, lead time reduction)

• Kanban system including (visual signals, pull production, inventory control, work authorization, flow regulation)

• Continuous improvement including (Kaizen, problem-solving, employee involvement, incremental change, ongoing enhancement)

6. Logistics and Distribution Management

6.1 Transportation Management

• Transportation modes including (truck, rail, air, ocean, intermodal, mode characteristics, selection criteria, appropriate choice)

• Transportation strategy including (private fleet, common carrier, contract carrier, 3PL, cost-service optimization, strategic approach)

• Route optimization including (route planning, vehicle scheduling, load optimization, distance minimization, efficiency maximization)

• Freight management including (consolidation, freight forwarding, customs clearance, documentation, carrier selection, cost management)

• Transportation metrics including (on-time delivery, freight cost, damage rate, transit time, performance measurement, KPI tracking)

6.2 Warehousing Management

• Warehouse functions including (receiving, put-away, storage, picking, packing, shipping, cross-docking, value-added services)

• Warehouse layout including (functional areas, flow patterns, storage systems, material handling, space utilization, efficiency design)

• Storage systems including (bulk storage, rack systems, automated storage, high-bay storage, appropriate technology, capacity optimization)

• Picking strategies including (discrete picking, batch picking, zone picking, wave picking, order fulfillment, productivity optimization)

• Warehouse operations including (cycle counting, inventory accuracy, slotting optimization, labor management, operational excellence)

6.3 Distribution Network Design

• Network configuration including (number of facilities, location selection, capacity allocation, distribution channels, optimal structure)

• Distribution strategies including (direct shipment, cross-docking, consolidation centers, distribution centers, multi-echelon networks)

• Facility location including (proximity to customers, transportation costs, labor availability, infrastructure, strategic positioning)

• Network optimization including (cost modeling, service level, inventory positioning, facility roles, total system optimization)

• Last-mile delivery including (final delivery, urban logistics, delivery density, customer expectations, cost challenge, innovation)

7. Supply Chain Technology and Analytics

7.1 Supply Chain Information Systems

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) including (integrated system, functional modules, data integration, process automation, enterprise backbone)

• Warehouse Management System (WMS) including (inventory control, receiving, picking, shipping, warehouse automation, operational efficiency)

• Transportation Management System (TMS) including (route planning, carrier selection, freight audit, shipment tracking, optimization)

• Supply chain planning systems including (demand planning, supply planning, S&OP, APS, optimization tools, decision support)

• Supply chain visibility including (track and trace, real-time monitoring, event management, control tower, transparency)

7.2 Supply Chain Analytics

• Descriptive analytics including (historical analysis, performance reporting, dashboards, trend identification, what happened)

• Predictive analytics including (forecasting, demand sensing, risk prediction, machine learning, what will happen)

• Prescriptive analytics including (optimization, scenario analysis, decision support, simulation, what should happen)

• Big data analytics including (data volume, data velocity, data variety, advanced analytics, insight generation)

• Analytics applications including (demand forecasting, inventory optimization, route optimization, supplier analysis, decision-making)

7.3 Emerging Technologies

• Internet of Things including (sensors, connected devices, real-time tracking, condition monitoring, data collection, visibility)

• Artificial Intelligence including (machine learning, predictive analytics, intelligent automation, decision support, cognitive computing)

• Robotics and automation including (warehouse automation, autonomous vehicles, robotic process automation, efficiency gains)

• Blockchain including (distributed ledger, transparency, traceability, smart contracts, trust, secure transactions)

• Digital twin including (virtual model, simulation, scenario testing, optimization, digital representation, predictive capability)

8. Supply Chain Risk Management

8.1 Risk Identification and Assessment

• Supply chain risks including (demand risk, supply risk, operational risk, environmental risk, security risk, comprehensive identification)

• Risk categories including (disruption risks, delay risks, system risks, forecast risks, intellectual property risks, diverse threats)

• Risk assessment including (probability evaluation, impact assessment, risk matrix, priority determination, severity analysis)

• Vulnerability analysis including (single points of failure, dependency identification, resilience assessment, weakness detection)

• Risk mapping including (supply chain mapping, critical nodes, risk exposure, geographic concentration, network understanding)

8.2 Risk Mitigation Strategies

• Supplier diversification including (multiple suppliers, geographic diversity, backup suppliers, supply security, dependency reduction)

• Inventory buffering including (safety stock, strategic inventory, buffer positioning, disruption protection, resilience)

• Flexible capacity including (excess capacity, flexible manufacturing, postponement, adaptability, responsive capability)

• Supply chain design including (redundancy, alternate routes, dual sourcing, resilient network, robust structure)

• Collaboration and visibility including (information sharing, early warning, collaborative planning, transparency, joint response)

8.3 Business Continuity Planning

• Continuity planning including (disruption scenarios, response plans, recovery procedures, business continuity, preparedness)

• Crisis management including (incident response, decision protocols, communication plans, rapid mobilization, effective response)

• Disaster recovery including (recovery strategies, alternate facilities, data backup, restoration procedures, operational continuity)

• Supply chain resilience including (flexibility, redundancy, visibility, collaboration, adaptive capability, bounce-back ability)

• Risk monitoring including (early warning indicators, continuous monitoring, risk dashboard, proactive management, vigilance)

9. Global Supply Chain Management

9.1 International Trade and Logistics

• Import/export processes including (customs clearance, documentation, duties and taxes, compliance, international shipping)

• Incoterms including (delivery terms, responsibility transfer, cost allocation, risk transfer, international standards)

• Documentation including (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, import/export documentation)

• Customs compliance including (tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, trade agreements, regulatory requirements)

• Trade finance including (letters of credit, payment terms, currency exchange, financial instruments, transaction security)

9.2 Global Sourcing

• Offshore sourcing including (cost advantage, global suppliers, quality considerations, lead times, total cost analysis)

• Low-cost country sourcing including (emerging markets, labor cost, manufacturing capability, risk assessment, strategic evaluation)

• Regional sourcing including (nearshoring, regional suppliers, proximity benefits, supply chain responsiveness, balanced approach)

• Global supplier management including (cultural considerations, communication, quality assurance, performance monitoring, relationship building)

• Total landed cost including (purchase price, freight, duties, insurance, handling, inventory carrying, comprehensive costing)

9.3 Global Supply Chain Challenges

• Complexity management including (network complexity, coordination challenges, visibility gaps, control difficulties, systematic approach)

• Lead time variability including (long lead times, transportation delays, customs delays, unpredictability, buffer strategies)

• Quality management including (supplier quality, inspection challenges, specification communication, quality assurance, standards compliance)

• Currency fluctuations including (exchange rate risk, pricing impact, cost variability, hedging strategies, financial management)

• Regulatory compliance including (trade regulations, environmental standards, labor laws, product regulations, diverse requirements)

10. Sustainable Supply Chain Management

10.1 Sustainability Fundamentals

• Triple bottom line including (economic, environmental, social performance, balanced objectives, sustainable value)

• Environmental sustainability including (carbon footprint, energy efficiency, waste reduction, resource conservation, green practices)

• Social responsibility including (labor standards, ethical sourcing, community impact, human rights, fair practices)

• Circular economy including (closed-loop supply chain, product lifecycle, recycling, remanufacturing, waste minimization)

• Business case including (cost savings, risk mitigation, brand reputation, customer expectations, competitive advantage)

10.2 Green Supply Chain Practices

• Green procurement including (sustainable sourcing, supplier environmental performance, eco-friendly products, responsible purchasing)

• Eco-friendly packaging including (minimal packaging, recyclable materials, packaging optimization, waste reduction, sustainable materials)

• Carbon footprint reduction including (emissions measurement, transportation optimization, energy efficiency, carbon offset, climate action)

• Reverse logistics including (product returns, recycling programs, remanufacturing, disposal management, circular flow)

• Green warehousing including (energy-efficient facilities, renewable energy, waste management, sustainable operations, environmental footprint)

10.3 Ethical Supply Chain

• Supplier code of conduct including (ethical standards, labor practices, working conditions, compliance expectations, responsibility)

• Supplier audits including (social audits, environmental audits, compliance verification, corrective action, accountability)

• Conflict minerals including (responsible sourcing, supply chain transparency, regulatory compliance, ethical materials)

• Fair trade including (fair pricing, labor rights, community development, ethical relationships, equitable practices)

• Transparency including (supply chain visibility, disclosure, reporting, stakeholder communication, accountability demonstration)

11. Supply Chain Performance Management

11.1 Performance Metrics

• Perfect Order including (complete, on-time, damage-free, correct documentation, comprehensive quality, customer satisfaction)

• Cash-to-cash cycle including (days inventory outstanding, days sales outstanding, days payable outstanding, working capital efficiency)

• Supply chain costs including (logistics costs, inventory carrying costs, procurement costs, total supply chain cost, cost-to-serve)

• Asset utilization including (inventory turnover, warehouse utilization, transportation utilization, asset efficiency, productivity)

• Responsiveness including (order fulfillment time, supply chain cycle time, flexibility, agility, speed metrics)

11.2 Balanced Scorecard

• Financial perspective including (cost reduction, revenue growth, profitability, return on assets, financial performance)

• Customer perspective including (on-time delivery, fill rate, order accuracy, customer satisfaction, service quality)

• Internal process perspective including (process efficiency, quality, productivity, cycle time, operational excellence)

• Learning and growth including (employee competency, technology capability, innovation, organizational capability, continuous improvement)

• Metric cascading including (strategic objectives, operational metrics, aligned measures, organizational alignment, integrated performance)

11.3 Benchmarking and Continuous Improvement

• Benchmarking including (performance comparison, best practices, industry standards, gap identification, improvement targets)

• Continuous improvement including (Kaizen, process improvement, waste elimination, efficiency gains, systematic enhancement)

• Lean Six Sigma including (waste elimination, variation reduction, process optimization, quality improvement, data-driven improvement)

• Innovation including (process innovation, technology adoption, business model innovation, competitive advantage, transformation)

• Change management including (stakeholder engagement, communication, training, implementation, adoption, sustained improvement)

12. Supply Chain Collaboration

12.1 Internal Collaboration

• Cross-functional teams including (sales, operations, finance, marketing, integrated planning, unified objectives)

• Information sharing including (demand information, capacity information, inventory visibility, transparent communication, data access)

• Collaborative planning including (S&OP, joint forecasting, coordinated execution, aligned objectives, integrated approach)

• Process integration including (seamless handoffs, coordinated activities, workflow automation, efficiency, synchronization)

• Performance alignment including (shared metrics, aligned incentives, common goals, collective accountability, unified focus)

12.2 External Collaboration

• Supplier collaboration including (collaborative planning, joint forecasting, capacity sharing, innovation partnership, mutual benefit)

• Customer collaboration including (demand sharing, joint planning, account management, partnership approach, value co-creation)

• Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) including (supplier-managed replenishment, inventory visibility, automated ordering, partnership)

• Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) including (joint planning, shared forecasts, synchronized supply, partnership)

• Strategic partnerships including (long-term relationships, mutual investment, risk sharing, value creation, competitive advantage)

12.3 Supply Chain Networks

• Network orchestration including (coordination, collaboration, visibility, synchronization, network management, value optimization)

• Ecosystem management including (multiple parties, complex relationships, value networks, orchestration, collaborative value)

• Digital platforms including (cloud platforms, collaboration tools, visibility platforms, information exchange, digital enablement)

• Blockchain applications including (traceability, transparency, smart contracts, trust, decentralized collaboration)

• Network optimization including (end-to-end optimization, system-wide view, total value, collaborative improvement, win-win outcomes)

13. Supply Chain Strategy and Design

13.1 Supply Chain Network Design

• Network structure including (manufacturing sites, distribution centers, warehouses, cross-docks, retail locations, optimal configuration)

• Facility location including (location analysis, market proximity, cost factors, infrastructure, strategic placement, optimization)

• Capacity decisions including (facility capacity, expansion timing, flexibility, investment decisions, strategic sizing)

• Distribution strategy including (direct distribution, multi-echelon, centralized, decentralized, hybrid approaches, appropriate design)

• Scenario analysis including (demand scenarios, cost scenarios, service requirements, sensitivity analysis, robust design)

13.2 Supply Chain Segmentation

• Product segmentation including (product characteristics, demand patterns, service requirements, differentiated strategies, tailored approach)

• Customer segmentation including (customer importance, service expectations, profitability, strategic value, differentiated service)

• Channel segmentation including (distribution channels, channel characteristics, service requirements, channel strategy, appropriate approach)

• Service differentiation including (premium service, standard service, economy service, tiered offerings, value alignment)

• Cost-to-serve including (customer profitability, channel costs, service costs, profitability analysis, strategic decisions)

13.3 Supply Chain Transformation

• Digital transformation including (technology adoption, process digitization, data analytics, automation, digital capabilities)

• Organizational transformation including (structure, capabilities, culture, change management, transformation enablement)

• Process transformation including (process redesign, standardization, automation, optimization, operational excellence)

• Technology enablement including (system implementation, integration, capability building, change adoption, digital foundation)

• Change management including (stakeholder engagement, communication, training, adoption, sustained transformation, cultural change)

14. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Real-world supply chain scenarios including (network optimization cases, inventory challenges, supplier issues, logistics optimization)

• The importance of proper training in developing effective supply chain management capabilities