Skip to main contentSkip to Xpert Chatbot

LouvainX: Supply Chain Management: A Decision-Making Framework

4.4 stars
8 ratings

Learn how to make rational and confident supply chain decisions, by understanding how they impact the finance, market and strategy of your company.

10 weeks
6–8 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

30,678 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Nov 15

About this course

Skip About this course

In this business and management course, you’ll learn how make effective supply chain decisions that take into consideration all aspects of your business.

The course will take a helicopter view for decision-making. The helicopter view is built upon:

  • Key questions to decide on: manufacturing organization, late differentiation, location, distribution networks, …
  • Objectives relevant to your business: cost, speed, flexibility, reliability, …

We will work through questions such as:

  • Should you locate a process in a given country? This decision has an obvious impact on your HR costs, but it also affects your working capital and your ability to react to the market needs.
  • Should you centralize your distribution? This decision leads to economies of scale and a better product availability, but it also impacts your carbon emission.

By the end of this course, you will have built a framework that allows you to make better decisions.

At a glance

  • Institution: LouvainX
  • Subject: Business & Management
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:

    Notions of business (marketing, finance and operations) might be helpful but are not a required prerequisite.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Working Capital, Management, Decision Making, Supply Chain, Finance, Supply Chain Management

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn

At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • recognize key questions in the design and management of a supply chain;
  • identify the possible options and solutions to key questions, along with their strengths and weaknesses;
  • translate the company strategy into a clear decision making framework;
  • make strategic decisions based upon this framework.

1. Get the big picture First touch with the supply chain Rough sketch of what “Supply chain objectives” means Rough overview of strategic “Supply chain decision”
2. Objectives - The business Strategy and the Business target Market segment - attributes Financial objectives Company values and strategic aims Decision in a multi-criteria environment 3. Process Structure Process organization. Artisan – Line – Functional Simulation and examples Strength and Weaknesses Supply chain view and managerial focus MTS/MTO and late differentiation 4. Distribution Centralized/decentralized Distribution flows Warehousing and X-docking Supply chain view and managerial focus 5. Inventory Inventory types Inventory cost Inventory management and supply chain view

Learner testimonials

Skip Learner testimonials

" Very good course. it provide technical and useful tools for professionals to use in their carriers. The course gives you a very good knowledge of the suply chain fundamentals and prepares you for the chalenges in the business life. " A learner on CourseTalk

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.