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Gain a practical understanding of how organisations design, manage and improve operations across manufacturing and service sectors. You’ll explore quality management tools, emerging technologies and the key challenges facing modern operations.

The module also examines sustainability in operations, including the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 12, using real-world case studies to develop sustainable and responsible operational strategies. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is embedded throughout, ensuring a diverse, inclusive and globally relevant learning experience.

Develop the knowledge and practical skills to plan, deliver and evaluate projects across a range of business contexts. You’ll explore key project management principles, including project scoping, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, stakeholder engagement, quality, and performance monitoring.

The module covers both traditional and agile approaches, using real-world examples, hands-on exercises and project management tools, including Monte Carlo simulation software. You'll also examine project success and failure factors, gaining valuable skills for managing projects in today's dynamic business environment.

The module provides a comprehensive introduction to the planning and management of contemporary supply chains and operations. The taught content takes a dual approach, covering both the business processes and the models, methods and techniques used in supply chain planning. The central role of digital information systems in planning and controlling enterprise operations is highlighted. The taught content is divided into three parts:  

• Concepts and Definitions in Supply Chain Planning and Management:
  • Fundamental concepts for supply chain and operations planning: classification of operational and supply systems.
  • Inventory forms and functions.
  • Capacity definitions and planning processes.
  • IT to support supply chain planning and management including MRPII, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and cloud-based systems. 

• Supply Chain Planning Models, Methods and techniques:
  • Qualitative and quantitative forecasting methods for supply chain and operations planning.
  • Inventory models for operations planning. Aggregate planning models and Sales and Operations Planning.
  • MRP calculations.
  • JIT principles, kanban systems
  • Theory of constraints (TOC)

• Supply Chain Collaboration: Planning and control across the supply chain.
  • Dynamic bullwhip effects.
  • Supply chain collaboration approaches including continuous replenishment, Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR).
  • Blockchain approaches for supply chain traceability. 

For the group assignment, you'll investigate a real-world supply chain using industry research and mapping techniques. This practical project develops your understanding of contemporary supply chain challenges, with a focus on sustainability, resilience and effective planning.

The emphasis in this module is on formulating (modelling) and solving models with spreadsheets. The topics covered include:

• modelling principles
• optimisation and linear programming
• network models
• introduction to integer programming
• key concepts of probability and uncertainty
• decision theory
• queuing systems
• simulation

The Operations and Supply Chain Strategy and Research module offers a comprehensive understanding of long-term planning in contemporary operations and supply chain management. It covers strategic frameworks essential for making informed decisions about global supply chains, capacity, product and process development, and innovation. The module fosters sustainable competencies to address global challenges within these key decision areas.

Students will develop critical and creative thinking skills, complex problem-solving abilities, effective communication techniques and the ability to create and evaluate strategic opportunities in the operations and supply chain. Assessments are designed to evaluate both theoretical knowledge and practical application and foster an inclusive and diverse learning environment through group work.

Students will undertake an extended piece of work, conducting research in the larger area of supply chain or operations management. This will involve formulating and refining a research problem/question focused on an issue in the theory or practice of supply chain in consultation with an assigned dissertation supervisor. The student will design an appropriate research methodology and carry out quantitative or qualitative empirical research. The student will present their research process and outcomes in the form of a written dissertation and presentation.  

This module explores how organisations can create responsible, ethical and sustainable supply chains that deliver both business value and positive social and environmental impact. You’ll examine key challenges such as carbon reduction, resource efficiency, circular economy principles, labour rights, ethical sourcing and transparent governance across global supply networks.

Through contemporary frameworks and industrial case studies, you’ll develop the critical thinking and practical skills needed to evaluate complex ethical issues, manage sustainability risks and design resilient, accountable supply chains for the future.

The module covers:

• Strategic sourcing concepts
• Supplier management
• Supplier segmentation
• Category management
• Negotiation
• Retail buying
• Services sourcing
• Compliance
• Sustainability
• Procurement organisation

Module content is organised around four themes:

1. More ‘advanced’ forecasting techniques (including more advanced time series and causal models)
2. Inventory modelling (quantity discount models; joint replenishment; reorder point – lot size systems; periodic review models; news vendor model; (S-1, S) model; multi-warehouse situations)
3. Shop floor control: WIP and Little’s law; introduction to operations scheduling and sequencing
4. Introduction to distribution logistics modelling, reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chains

Gain a practical understanding of how organisations design, manage and improve operations across manufacturing and service sectors. You’ll explore quality management tools, emerging technologies and the key challenges facing modern operations.

The module also examines sustainability in operations, including the role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 12, using real-world case studies to develop sustainable and responsible operational strategies. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is embedded throughout, ensuring a diverse, inclusive and globally relevant learning experience.

Develop the knowledge and practical skills to plan, deliver and evaluate projects across a range of business contexts. You’ll explore key project management principles, including project scoping, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, stakeholder engagement, quality, and performance monitoring.

The module covers both traditional and agile approaches, using real-world examples, hands-on exercises and project management tools, including Monte Carlo simulation software. You'll also examine project success and failure factors, gaining valuable skills for managing projects in today's dynamic business environment.

The module provides a comprehensive introduction to the planning and management of contemporary supply chains and operations. The taught content takes a dual approach, covering both the business processes and the models, methods and techniques used in supply chain planning. The central role of digital information systems in planning and controlling enterprise operations is highlighted. The taught content is divided into three parts:  

• Concepts and Definitions in Supply Chain Planning and Management:
  • Fundamental concepts for supply chain and operations planning: classification of operational and supply systems.
  • Inventory forms and functions.
  • Capacity definitions and planning processes.
  • IT to support supply chain planning and management including MRPII, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and cloud-based systems. 

• Supply Chain Planning Models, Methods and techniques:
  • Qualitative and quantitative forecasting methods for supply chain and operations planning.
  • Inventory models for operations planning. Aggregate planning models and Sales and Operations Planning.
  • MRP calculations.
  • JIT principles, kanban systems
  • Theory of constraints (TOC)

• Supply Chain Collaboration: Planning and control across the supply chain.
  • Dynamic bullwhip effects.
  • Supply chain collaboration approaches including continuous replenishment, Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR).
  • Blockchain approaches for supply chain traceability. 

For the group assignment, you'll investigate a real-world supply chain using industry research and mapping techniques. This practical project develops your understanding of contemporary supply chain challenges, with a focus on sustainability, resilience and effective planning.

The emphasis in this module is on formulating (modelling) and solving models with spreadsheets. The topics covered include:

• modelling principles
• optimisation and linear programming
• network models
• introduction to integer programming
• key concepts of probability and uncertainty
• decision theory
• queuing systems
• simulation

The Operations and Supply Chain Strategy and Research module offers a comprehensive understanding of long-term planning in contemporary operations and supply chain management. It covers strategic frameworks essential for making informed decisions about global supply chains, capacity, product and process development, and innovation. The module fosters sustainable competencies to address global challenges within these key decision areas.

Students will develop critical and creative thinking skills, complex problem-solving abilities, effective communication techniques and the ability to create and evaluate strategic opportunities in the operations and supply chain. Assessments are designed to evaluate both theoretical knowledge and practical application and foster an inclusive and diverse learning environment through group work.

The module focuses on international transport and logistics management in the context of the global economy. It covers operational, technological, economic and regulatory issues relevant to contemporary transport and logistics practice.

Specific topics covered include:

• modes of transport in a modern society
• modal and inter-modal transport characteristics
• organisation, regulation and competition in international transport and logistics
• freight costs and pricing
• trade and customs procedures

The module covers:

• Strategic sourcing concepts
• Supplier management
• Supplier segmentation
• Category management
• Negotiation
• Retail buying
• Services sourcing
• Compliance
• Sustainability
• Procurement organisation

The E-Business module is aimed at future managers and business people who want to know how information and communications technologies (ICTs) can help them to be successful in their careers by understanding how companies use these technologies.

Aims of the module:

• To familiarise the strategic management issues and technology developments associated with e-business
• To provide a solid strategic business view of the uses of web technologies and information systems
• To help understand how and why e-businesses are successful or not, i.e. what makes them 'tick'

This module explores how Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming organisations, supply chains and business models. You’ll examine the strategic use of emerging technologies to improve efficiency, innovation and competitive advantage, while critically assessing their wider impact on society.

The module also considers key ethical, legal and social challenges, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, automation, the future of work and the digital divide. Through contemporary case studies and practical applications, you’ll develop the skills to implement digital technologies responsibly and lead organisational transformation in an increasingly connected world.

Students will undertake an extended research project within the field of supply chain and operations management, with a focus on logistics management. Working closely with an assigned supervisor, you will identify and refine a research question relating to contemporary logistics, transportation, procurement or distribution challenges. You will design and conduct an appropriate research study using qualitative or quantitative methods, and present your findings through a written dissertation and presentation, demonstrating your ability to apply research to real-world logistics issues.