Supply Chain: Planning, Logistics & Inventory Management

Supply Chain Management concepts including Planning, Sourcing, Logistics, Warehousing and Inventory Management

Supply chains are the invisible engines driving today’s global economy. From the food we eat to the technology we use, every product relies on a complex network of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers working together to deliver value. This course, Introduction to Supply Chain, is designed to demystify that process and provide you with a solid foundation in supply chain management.

You will begin by exploring the essential building blocks of supply chains: procurement, production, inventory management, logistics, and distribution. Each module breaks down these concepts into practical insights, showing how decisions in one area ripple across the entire system. Through real‑world examples and case studies, you’ll see how leading companies optimize lead times, balance costs, and adapt to challenges such as fluctuating demand, global disruptions, and sustainability requirements.

The course emphasizes both theory and application. You’ll learn key frameworks for analyzing supply chain performance, understand the role of technology in modern operations, and discover strategies for building resilience in uncertain environments. Interactive exercises and downloadable resources will help you apply these principles to real scenarios, ensuring that your learning is actionable and relevant.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental components of supply chain management: procurement, production, inventory, logistics, and distribution.

• Identify key supply chain drivers and explain how they impact efficiency and cost.

• Map the flow of goods, services, and information across a supply chain network.

• Analyze real‑world case studies to see how companies optimize lead times and manage demand fluctuations.

• Recognize the role of technology and data in modern supply chain operations.

• Apply basic frameworks to evaluate supply chain performance and resilience.

• Explore strategies for balancing cost, quality, and speed in global supply chains.