Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MRK3081

 
TITLE Logistics

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Marketing

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will be organised around the following topics:

- Introduction to Inventory Models;
- Inventory Models with Constant demand;
- Deterministic Inventory Models with Time-Varying Demand;
- Single-Stage and Multiple Stage Inventory Models;
- Travelling Salesman Vehicle Routing;
- Facility Location;
- Warehouse Management – Centralisation versus Decentralisation;
- Risk Pooling;
- Managing Supply Chain Inventory;
- The value of Information;
- Channel Coordination;
- Supply Contracts.

Study-unit Aims

This study-unit provides participants with fundamentals of logistics and supply chain management through the use of quantitative models and rigorous analysis. It aims to develop the ability and desire to confidently apply quantitative models to problems in logistics, transportation and supply chain management. The study-unit will also prepare participants to do research in logistics, transportation and supply chain management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Interpret the concept of logistics and logistics planning;
- Recognise the components of logistics;
- Know the principles of sourcing and procurement;
- Understand the different types of purchasing arrangements;
- Apply the sources of purchasing costs;
- Comprehend the modal options for different types of demand and different goods; Preempt the packaging, labelling and handling needs of different types of cargoes
- Appreciate the complexity of an increasingly competitive industry working in an ever changing global environment;
- Comprehend various legal and political reforms carried out to constantly improve and upgrade the infrastructure and logistics and transport industry;
- Upgrade the infrastructure and logistics and transport industry;
- Understand the stages in the transport planning process.

2. Skills (including transferable [generic] skills): By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Have a knowledge of the concept of logistics and logistics planning;
- Plan and manage the logistics process;
- Strengthen relationships with all stakeholders in the supply chain;
- Develop effective sourcing and procurement measures;#Assess and recommend the appropriate purchasing arrangements;
- Evaluate modal options for different cargoes and customers;
- Ensuring that the packaging, labelling and handling of different types of cargoes is done in accordance with industry and legal practice;
- Work within a complex, competitive and constantly changing industry to meet the needs of the various clients, companies and different stakeholders.
- Evaluate the different data collection methods.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

Core Textbook:

- Grant, D. (2012) Logistics Management. Pearson Education Ltd, UK (not available in Library)

- Simchi-Levi, D.; Chen, X.; Bramel, J. (2010) The Logic of Logistics: Theory, Algorithms and Applications for Logistics Management. Springer, USA. (not available)

- Christopher, M.; Peck, H. (2003) Marketing Logistics. Butterworth-Heinemann, UK (available)

Additional Reading:

For students to apply course material to current issues and promoting critical evaluation and debate, regular review of Marketing Journals and publications is recommended.

- Anupindi, Rand Y. Bassok, Centralisation of Stocks: Retailers vs. Manufacturer. Management Science/Vol. 45, No. 2, February 1999.

- Baker, K., M. J. Magazine and H.L. W. Nuttle, The Effect of Commonality on Safety Stock in a Simple Inventory Model. Management Science/Vol, 32, No. 8, August 1986.

- Clark, A. J. and H. Scarf, Optimal Policies for a Multi-Echelon Inventory Problem. Mangement Science/Vol. 6, 1960, pp. 475-490.

- Eppen, G. and L. Schrage, Centralised Ordering Policies in a Mult-Warehouse System with Lead Times and Random Demand. TIMS Studies in the Management Sciences 16 (1981).

- Gavireni S., R. Kapuscinski, and S. Tayur, Value of Information in Capacitated Supply Chains. Management Science/Vol. 45, No. 1, January 1999.

- Jeuland A.P. and S. M. Shugan, Managing Channel Profits. Marketing Science/Vol. 2, No. 3, Summer 1983.

- Lee, H.L. and C. Billington, Managing Supply Chain Inventory: Pitfalls and Opportunities. Sloan Management Review, Spring 1992.

- Lee, H.L., K. C. So and C. Tang, The Value of Information Sharing in a Tw o-Level Supply Chain. Management Science/Vol. 46, No. 5, May 2000 pp. 626643.

- Lee, H. L. and C. Tang, Modeling the Costs and Benefits of Delayed Product Differentiation. Management Science/Vol.43, No. 1, January 1997.

- Petruzzi. N. C. and M. Dada, Pricing and the Newsvendor Problem: A Review with Extensions. Operations Research/Vol 47, March-April 1999, pp. 183-194.

- Schwarz, L. B., A Model for Assessing the Value of Warehouse Risk-Pooling over Outside-Supplier Leadtimes. Management Science/Vol. 35, No. 7, July 1989.

- Tsay, A. A., S. Nahmias and N. Agrawal, Modeling Supply Chain Contracts: A Review. Quantitative Models for Supply Chain Management, Chap. 10, Ed.s S. Tayur, R. Ganeshan and M. Magazine (2000).

- Iyer, A., Modeling the Impact of Information on Inventories. Quantitative Models for Supply Chain Management, Chap. 11, Ed.s S. Taur, R. Ganeshan and M. Magazine (2000).

Suggested periodicals include:

- European Journal of Marketing
- Journal of Marketing
- Journal of International Marketing
- Quarterly Review of Marketing
- Journal of Vacation Marketing

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Project Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Martin M. Zammit

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit