MO9528 - Applied Logistics and Supply Chain Management

What will I learn on this module?

You will learn the key theories and principles of logistics and supply chain management and the knowledge and skills of applying these in real business practices. The module is delivered to you using weekly lectures and seminars, the seminars principally concentrate on the development of your discipline-specific problem solving skills and associated “soft skills”, e.g. communication and presentation competencies.

Within this module, you will cover the following main topics:
• Logistics in manufacturing and service
• SCOR model
• Order management
• Demand management
• Inventory management
• Distribution strategy
• Sourcing management
• Supply chain coordination
• Supply chain network design
• Transportation management
• Global supply chain management
• The future of supply chain management

The module will lead you to the development of supply chain management competencies and confidence in handling complex problems relating to logistics, supply chain and their inter-relationship. In doing so, it will expose you to a wide range of quantitative or qualitative models and techniques that support the analysis relating these problems. You will therefore become knowledgeable about the theory and practice of logistics and supply chain management and skilful in the use of various related tools and techniques.

On completing the module, you will be able to apply the theories and principles to analyse logistics and supply chain problems in a variety of business applications. You will be capable of identifying the root causes of various supply chain problems and be capable of proposing relevant solutions.

How will I learn on this module?

The two one-hour weekly lectures will provide you with a theoretical underpinning of the module content, supported by one-hour weekly seminar and one-hour weekly webinar will give you an opportunity to analyse real problems in the selected cases using the theories, principles and techniques, allowing you to establish the connection of theory and practice. Besides the case study, supply chain simulation games will be used to make you play with the real and experience the real business practice.

The module has a supporting reading list that helps you to have a more in-depth understanding of the related theories and principles and how they are applied to various business problems.

Your directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. You will be set a selection of takeaway exercises to complete. To aid with self-assessment on progress, guidelines for case analysis will be made available to you on the e-learning portal.
Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.
The problem solving nature of the seminars means that tutor (formative) feedback will be received continuously. Specific comments will be provided to presentations, and game playing performance.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by the module tutor who is an academic lead for the module, in addition to an academic teaching team comprising subject experts from the supply chain management discipline. The team of academic staff will deliver lectures, seminars, IT workshops and webinars. The IT workshops and seminars will be in small groups so that there is opportunity for exploring the subject matter in detail with both the academic staff and your fellow students.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, seminar cases, alongside assessment details and various support facilities such as recordings of certain lectures and other electronic support facilities such as indicated above.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic reports, journal papers, industry reports that showcase the application of various latest supply chain management theories and principles presented in the module.

Your will be supplied with formative feedback through seminar and IT workshop discussion and reflection, which will be throughout the module, particularly in relation to seminar and supply chain simulation games where the practical aspects of the module with offer you opportunities to give and receive feedback from your tutors and fellow students. . The final aspect of the direct contact support is a 1-hour weekly webinar, where students can link with the module tutor and other members of the teaching team to engage in question and answer sessions on the module materials and assessment brief.

The module assessment consists of two related tasks. This will encourage your active participation in the learning process throughout the semester. The e-learning portal will be used to permanently host these tasks after release to ensure that you can access the information required at all times. Your work on these tasks will be an essay at the end of the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Understand a variety of Logistics and Supply chain Management theories and principles and their application to real business. [MLO1]

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Evidence skills in using various techniques to analyse real business problems for progression to more advanced contexts [MLO2]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Evidence awareness of the cultural and sustainable issues in logistics and supply chain management [MLO3]

How will I be assessed?

The formative assessment will be based on the seminar activities including (but not limited to) case analysis, oral presentation, supply chain game playing. The feedback and comments will be delivered immediately after the activities.


The summative assessment is a 2,500 words individual assignment including two tasks: one is a reflective report on the supply chain simulation and the other is a critical analysis of a supply chain chosen by yourself. Your work on these tasks will provide you the chance to synthesise the knowledge and skills acquired in the module

The 2,500 words summative assessment will cover module learning outcomes MLO1-MLO3.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Many companies nowadays use their supply chain to gain a competitive advantage in a busy marketplace, so effective supply chain
management is in high demand. This module introduces you to the essentials of logistics and supply chain management, giving you a strong
theoretical understanding which you will be able to apply to real-world business practices. This will be enhanced by various interventions
including an online supply chain simulation, designed to give you more confidence to take what you’ve learnt into the workplace. The module
will also develop your independent research skills, as well as your problem solving and analytical skills. Additional reading will increase your
awareness of the broad scope of supply chain management, including crucial areas such as sustainability.

Course info

UCAS Code N1NS

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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