Retail Buying and Logistics Management is that part of supply chain management that plans, implements and controls the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet consumers’ requirements.
As can be seen from the definition above, buying and logistics management is key in making operational supply chain decisions. This module identifies, describes and relate the flows, assets, structures, participants and service providers linked to the operation of a retail supply chain. It also introduces the students to some analytical tools used in buying and logistics to improve performance, for example inventory management, total cost of ownership, and demand management.
The aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive foundation for non-specialists with a retail knowledge base.. The conceptual building blocks of procurement and logistics will be supplemented by industry specific cases and praxis to provide the student with an insight into current good practice.
1- Overview of Retail Logistics
(Basic concepts of retail logistics and supply chain management: definitions, mission, goals and benefits; Evolution and development of retail supply chain management)
2- Inventory Management across the SC
(Inventory and the Supply Chain; Inventory Models; Distribution Centre management)
3- Matching Supply and Demand: Buying and Selling
(Purchasing, Sourcing & Procurement; a comparison of different logistics networks and the role of distribution centres; Upstream and downstream material flows; order processing: Tracing the route of an order through the supply chain, forecasting demand)
4- Digital SC: Omnichannel retailing
(information flows; information sharing (real-time) and the role of technology in effective supply chain management, virtual and physical stores)
5- Retail Performance
(The key retail logistics metrics, performance priorities and tradeoffs)
6- SC Integration
(Collaborative planning (CPFR); virtual and physical integration; outsourcing and services)
Learning and teaching will take place via lectures, tutorials, class assignments/pre-reading, class discussion, case studies (best practices) and a group project. Formal lectures are supplemented by tutorials to analyse relevant examples / case studies, providing a forum for applying skills learned and interpreting the results.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |