MSc PG Dip Logistics and Supply Chain Management with Lean Six Sigma

A good Honours degree (first or second class) or its non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject from a recognised British or overseas university. English language requirements; if your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component lower than 6.0.

Scotland/Non-UK EU: £7,290 England/N.Ireland/Wales: £8,600 Overseas: £14,310

The MSc dissertation is undertaken between May and August.

Strategies for Managing Supply Chains Semester 1 (mandatory) This course sets out the evolution of supply chain thinking and identifies the challenges faced by organisations. The nature and means of formulating business strategy is first identified before looking at the scope of supply chain strategic planning and the different perspectives of producers, retailers and logistics service providers.

Global Purchasing & Supply Semester 1 (mandatory) Purchasing processes and activities; theory and the make or buy decision; category management and supplier sourcing; supplier performance and relationship management; supplier development and the role that purchasing plays in New Product Development (NPD); procuring complex performance; partnership; ethics and social responsibility.

Freight Transport and Warehouse Management Semester 1 (mandatory) This course examines the activities, resources and processes used in freight transport and warehousing including the foundations of multi-modal freight (road, rail, air-freight, sea-freight, pipeline); the change from warehouse (storage) to a distribution centre and value adding activates; foundations of warehouse management (storage systems, handling systems, order picking systems, equipment choices and selection); and freight and distribution centre interface and implications.

Fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma Semester 1 (mandatory) Introduces the principles of Lean Six Sigma thinking, tools and techniques of Lean Six Sigma and looks at wider implications of the broader strategic issues of organisation management and how they impact on continuous improvement programme. Also covers Lean Six Sigma methodology, use of statistics to support business and management decisions, and importance of data collection and analysis for process improvements in the context of manufacturing, service and public sector organisations.

Demand and Inventory Planning Semester 2 (mandatory) This course develops in depth knowledge and understanding of relevant demand and inventory management concepts; an awareness of the impact of forecasting and inventory on supply chain performance; and critical appreciation of the complexities and dynamics of managing inventories in multi-echelon network.

Supply Network Design & Optimisation Semester 2 (mandatory) Examines the key issues that companies must address in designing a supply network and the theories underpinning this; the practice of supply network design and optimisation; as well as awareness of the trade-offs involved in the optimization of logistical networks.

Quality Management & Engineering Semester 2 (mandatory) Provides in-depth understanding of the principles, concepts, tools and techniques of quality management, quality engineering and continuous improvement together with awareness of how in practice these could be integrated to design and deliver an integrated continuous improvement programme. The module also aims to introduce students how to statistically plan, design and execute industrial experiments for process understanding and improvement in both manufacturing and service environments.

Research Philosophy and Practice Semester 2 (mandatory) Provides an understanding of the social science research process, as well as theory and approaches to research. Develops practical skills (i.e., quantitative and qualitative techniques) in data analysis to transform the raw data into information that guides marketing management valuations.