Supply Chain and Operations Management

Course Overview

In recent years the range of responsibilities related to Supply Chain and Operations Management has been constantly growing. Due to this development logistics scientists and managers face growing challenges. Globalization, reduction of the vertical range of manufacture, new information and communication technologies, the creation of new networks as well as Industry 4.0 currently cause the field of Supply Chain Management to go through a period of radical change. Logistics and Supply Chain Management as a field of research is still in its beginnings but continuously gains significance, not only for top-level management but also as a challenge for society, since logistics play a role anywhere from pharmaceutical distribution to the management of a central coach terminal. A broad and interdisciplinary approach is needed to understand logistics as an interdepartmental function within companies and along supply chains. This approach allows a holistic view of the field of Supply Chain Management, from the development of a sustainable strategy using different processes and methods to the management of systems and resources. In their second semester, students may either opt for a sector-specific specialization or choose to focus on the area of insurance, customs, and foreign trade. Students enrolled in the interdisciplinary Master’s program gain skills in the areas of business, law, and engineering. As “highly specialized generalists” logisticians know how to integrate various perspectives on the entire supply chain management process: different parties such as suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers, various company departments like procurement, production, and sales, two different scientific disciplines: business and engineering.