Course syllabus

CONTACT DETAILS

Examiner:               Patrik Jonsson, patrik.jonsson@chalmers.se

Course assistant:   Sahil Ahmed, sahil.ahmed@chalmers.se

 

1. THE COURSE AIM AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is a compulsory course in the Master of Science programme Supply Chain Management. It builds on the courses in the two first study periods in the master’s programme. In line with the teaching objectives of the whole programme, the course includes a mix of practical and theoretical aspects.

The overall aim of the course is to critically analyse and evaluate common operations planning and control methods and processes, and to develop skills to design and use operations planning and control systems in firm and supply chain specific environments. It thus provides knowledge about design and practical use of planning and control processes and methods in supply chain contexts. After finishing the course the student should be able to:

  • understand the role of operations planning and control in the firm and supply chain.
  • define the basic data, planning parameters, activities and most common planning methods of demand management, sales & operations planning, master production scheduling, capacity planning, and material planning.
  • understand and compare the characteristics of common processes and methods for demand management, sales & operations planning, master production scheduling, capacity planning, material planning and material supply in a firm and a supply chain.
  • evaluate and relate operations planning and control processes and methods to the planning environment and to various aspects of performances.
  • understand how to design and manage operations planning and control systems to improve supply chain performance

 

2. THE COURSE CONTENT

The course takes a focal firm (manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, etc.) perspective in a supply chain. It contains lectures, literature and assignments covering the following topics:

  1. Fundamentals of operations planning and control
  • Structures and perspectives on manufacturing and supply chain planning
  • Planning and control performances
  • Planning parameters and planning variables
  • Planning environment characteristics
  1. Demand management and master planning of resources
  • Forecasting
  • Customer order management
  • Sales and operations planning
  • Master production scheduling
  • Capacity management
  1. Material planning and material supply
  • Materials planning approaches and methods
  • Safety stock methods
  • Lot sizing methods
  • Materials planning in multi-echelon networks
  • Material supply and collaborative planning
  1. Planning data and systems
  • Basic data
  • Information sharing
  • ERP and APS systems

 

3. THE COURSE OPC AND THE MASTER’S PROGRAMME

The course is a compulsory course in the master’s programme Supply Chain Management. It is taught in Q3.

 

4. TEACHING FORMS

The focus on operations planning and control is both conceptual and quantitative. The course includes a mix of practical and theoretical aspects, lectures, case studies, and seminars.

 

Lectures: Each theme of the course is supported by literature and lectures. During the lectures, main content of the respective theme is explained and discussed. Lectures will not cover all relevant content, but they introduce themes and emphasize important issues. It is preferred to be prepared in advance and skim the chapters and articles presented at the lectures. Lectures will contain a mix of lecturing, discussion and case work.

Guest lectures: There will be guest lectures of COOP, AB Volvo, Optilon, Infor and Meridion. The focus of guest lectures is on the design and use of operations planning and control processes and methods at the different companies, and on ERP and APS systems. Guest lectures are compulsory to attend.

Quantitative planning problem seminars: The course textbook contains quantitative problems with answers. In the quantitative planning problem seminars, quantitative methods are presented and you have the opportunity to discuss specific issues related to the problems. The students should prepare for the seminar by calculating the problems in the textbook belonging to the chapters for the session. You may need to look in the textbook during the seminar so bring the textbook to the sessions. You also need to bring a calculator or computer for calculations.

Demand management and S&OP assignment: The first assignment is a literature seminar report on demand management and sales and operations planning (S&OP). This assignment (and hand-in) is individual. It is presented and discussed in small groups. See Appendix A.

Material planning assignment: There is a case study on material planning. It is solved and reported in groups of two students. The case solution is then presented and discussed in small groups. Students who have prepared and submitted a common report are not participating in the same seminar. See Appendices B.

ERP and APS system practice assignments and seminars: There are two practical software assignments. In the first on APS you will work with a supply chain optimisation software and solve a supply chain design problem. This task is introduced and finished during a half-day session in course week 5. See Appendix C. The second focuses on ERP. Here the task is introduced on the Monday in course week 6. In groups of two students you then work with it during the week and in a session on Thursday and hand-in and present a report on the Friday session the same week. See Appendix D.

Volvo GTO project assignment: The Volvo GTO case study is conducted in groups of 4-5 students. The student group gets a project task to analyse and propose a solution to. There are three scheduled class events related to the task: an introductory session, a half day workshop ay Volvo and a presentation day. The task is introduced during the first of these sessions and each group prepares questions and collects additional information during the workshop, and finally presents its proposed solutions on the final presentation day. A final report is also handed in in the last course week.

Appendices: As described above, there is one individual hand-in, three hand-ins conducted in groups of two students, and one hand-in in groups of 4-5 students; 1. Demand management and S&OP, 2. Materials planning, 3. ERP case study, 4. Volvo project task. There is also an APS system laboratory with a compulsory seminar but without hand-in. Appendices A-E contain detailed instructions for the respective assignment, hand-in and seminar. The appendices will be available as files here on Canvas. All seminars are compulsory.

 

5. LITERATURE

Textbook and book chapter:

  • JM: Jonsson, P. and Mattsson, S-A. (2009), Manufacturing planning and control, McGraw-Hill, London. This is the main text in the course.

Articles and book chapters:

Demand management

  • A1. Ross, D.F. (2015), “Chapter 6 Demand management”, Distribution Planning and Control: Managing in the Era of Supply Chain Management, Springer Science & Business Media, New York. Available as eBook at Chalmers Library. (Read sections 6.1-6.2 on demand management and creating the demand plan. Section 6.2.5 is somewhat overlapping with the forecasting chapter in the Jonsson & Mattsson, 2008, textbook).
  • A2. Chase, C. (2013). “Using demand sensing and shaping to improve demand forecasting”. Journal of Business Forecasting, Winter 2013-2014, pp. 24-31 (Complements the forecasting text in the JM, 2008, textbook on judgmental forecasting and demand shaping).
  • A3. Hainey, S. and McFadden, B. (2024), “Adding demand shaping to your IBP process”, Journal of Business Forecasting, Fall 2024, pp. 6-10 (Complements the demand management S&OP text in the JM, 2008, textbook on demand shaping).

Sales and operations planning

  • A4. Lapide, L. (2011), “S&OP: The linchpin planning process”, Journal of Business Forecasting, Fall 2011, pp. 18-20. (Complementary content about the hierarchical levels of OPC and especially S&OP).
  • A5. Danese, P., Molinaro, M., Romano, P. (2018). “Managing evolutionary paths in Sales and Operations Planning: key dimensions and sequences of implementation”, International Journal of Production Research. Vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 2036-2053. (Complementary content to the JM, 2008, textbook on S&OP design and maturity).
  • A6. Lapide, L. (2024), “Demand optimization planning under severe supply shortages”, Journal of Business Forecasting, Fall 2024, pp. 33-37. (Complementary content to the JM, 2008, textbook on S&OP during disturbance and uncertainty).

Material planning

  • A7. Ross, D.F. (2015), “Chapter 9 Replenishment in a multi-echelon channel environment”, Distribution Planning and Control: Managing in the Era of Supply Chain Management, Springer Science & Business Media, New York. Available as eBook at Chalmers Library. (Complementary content to the JM, 2008, textbook on DRP).
  • A8. Silver, E.A., Pyke, D.F., Thomas, D.J. (2017), “Chapter 11 Multiechelon inventory management”, Inventory and production management in supply chains, CRC Press, Boca Raton. Available as eBook at Chalmers Library. (Complementary content to the JM, 2008, textbook on material planning in multi-echelon inventories and remanufacturing).
  • A9. Harris, F.W. (1913), “How many parts to make at once”, Factory, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 135-136, 152. (Original article on the EOQ formula. Gives a historical perspective)
  • A10. Wilson, R.H. (1934), “A scientific routine for stock control”, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 116-128. (Original article on the re-order point. Gives a historical perspective).

Supply chain planning in the circular economy

  • A11. Goltsos, T.E., Ponte, B., Wang, S., Liu, Y., Naim, M.M., Syntetos, A.A (2019), “The boomerang returns? Accounting for the impact of uncertainties on the dynamics of remanufacturing systems”, International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 57, No. 23, pp. 7361-7394. (Gives on overview on operations planning and control in the context of remanufacturing)

 

6. COURSE SCHEDULE

W

Date

Time

Subject

Literature

Lect

Room

1

Mon, 20 Jan

 

Mon, 20 Jan

13-14

1. Course introduction and OPC fundamentals

JM 1-4,

PJ

Vasa C

14-17

2. Demand management and forecasting Intro. Assignment A (S&OP/DM)

JM 7-8, A1-3, App. A

PJ

Vasa C

Thu, 23 Jan

8-12

3. Demand management and forecasting

JM 7-8, A1-3

PJ

Vasa C

2

Mon, 27 Jan

13-17

4. Sales and operations planning (S&OP) & Master production scheduling (MPS)

JM 9-10, A1,4-6

PJ

Vasa C

Thu, 30 Jan

Thu, 30 Jan

8-10

10-12

5. Forecasting and S&OP exercises

6. Supply chain planning at COOP*

JM 7-9

 

SA

AA

Vasa A

Vasa A

Fri, 31 Jan

 

Fri, 31 Jan

15-17

7. Forecasting and S&OP exercises

JM 7-9

SA

Vasa C

17.00

Hand-in Assignment A

App. A

 

Canvas

3

Mon, 3 Feb

Mon, 3 Feb

Mon, 3 Feb

1200-1340

1340-1520

1520-1700

8. S&OP/DM seminar* – Grp 1

8. S&OP/DM seminar* – Grp 2

8. S&OP/DM seminar* – Grp 3

App. A

App. A

App. A

PJ

PJ

PJ

Vasa C

Vasa C

Vasa C

Thu, 6 Feb

Thu, 6 Feb

8-10

10-12

9. MPS (cont.), MRP and inventory management, Intro. Assignment B (Material planning)

10. OPC at Volvo Trucks*, Intro. Assignment E

JM 10,11, A7, App. B

App. E

PJ

MW

Vasa A

Vasa A

Fri, 7 Feb

15-17

11. MPS and MRP problems

JM 10,11

SA

Vasa B

4

Mon, 10 Feb

 

13-17

 

12. Inventory management/Material planning, lot sizing & safety stock methods

Intro. Assignment B (Material planning, cont.)

JM 12-13, A8,10,11,

App. B

PJ

 

Vasa C

 

Thu, 13 Feb

Thu, 13 Feb

8-10

10-12

13. Inventory management – multi-echelon stocks

14. Inventory/material planning at Volvo SML

A7-8

 

PvL

JA

Vasa A

Vasa A

Thu, 13 Feb

17.00

Hand-in Assignment B

App. B

 

Canvas

Fri, 14 Feb

Fri, 14 Feb

Fri, 14 Feb

1200-1340

1340-1520

1520-1700

15. Material planning seminar* – Grp 1

15. Material planning seminar* – Grp 2

15. Material planning seminar* – Grp 3

App. B

App. B

App. B

PJ

PJ

PJ

FL41

FL41

FL41

5

Mon, 17 Feb

13-17

16. Supply chain planning for closed-loop supply chains

A7,8,11

PvL

Vasa C

Wed, 19 Feb

13-17

17. APS system lab* - Grp A

Appendix C

JL, ER

Sal A/B

Thu, 20 Feb

8-12

17. APS system lab* - Grp B

Appendix C

JL, ER

Sal A/B

Thu, 20 Feb

17.00

Hand-in Assignment E questions

 

 

Canvas

6

Mon, 24 Feb

13-17

19. ERP, planning data and information sharing*

Appendix D

JB, MD

Vasa C

Thu, 27 Feb

8-12

20. ERP lab - working seminar with supervision & lecture on ERP strategy

Appendix D

JB, AF, FT, HS

Vasa 7

Fri, 28 Feb

15-17

21. Seminar D: ERP lab*

Appendix D

JB, HS

Vasa C

7

Mon, 3 Mar

13-17

22.OPC workshop at Volvo Trucks**

App. E

PJ, MW

Volvo/ Lundby

Thu, 6 Mar

Thu, 6 Mar

8-12

8-12

23. Supply planning, capacity planning and ICT

24. OPC problems

JM 14,17

JM11, A9

SA

SA

Vasa C

Vasa C

Fri, 7 Mar

15-17

25. OPC problems

 

SA

Vasa C

8

Mon, 10 Mar

13-17

26. Course summary

JM

PJ

Vasa C

Tue, 11 Mar

12.00

Hand-in Assignment E – final presentation

 

 

Canvas

Thu, 13 Mar

8-17

27. Seminar E***

App. E

 

Vasa B

 

Tue, 18 Mar

AM

Final written exam

 

 

 

 

Tue, 10 Jun

AM

Final written re-exam

 

 

 

 

Tue, 26 Aug

AM

Final written re-exam

 

 

 

*Compulsory session (guest lectures, seminars, labs), **The session is compulsory and is held be at the Volvo Trucks HQ in Lundby/Gropegårdsgatan 2 (We meet in the Volvo lobby. You can get there by tram - Tram stop “Gropegårdsgatan”), ***compulsory session – each student group participates part of the time.

Chalmers lecturers: Sahil Ahmed (SA), Patrik Jonsson (PJ), Patricia van Loon (PvL)

Industry lecturers: Joakim Andersson/AB Volvo (JA), Andreas Aspsäter/COOP (AA), Johan Bystedt/Meridion AB (JB), Anton Fågelström/Meridion (AF), Felicia Turesson/Meridion (FT), Håkan Strömbeck/Infor (HS), Jakob Ludéen/Optilon (JL), Emma Rosén/Optilon (ER), Magnus Wallmander/AB Volvo (MW)

 

7. EXAMINATION

Grading scale:

<40 p:                                 Fail

40-59p:                              Grade 3

60-79p:                              Grade 4

>79p:                                  Grade 5

 

To pass the course you need to pass the final written exam and all individual and group assignments.

  • Final written exam (individual): Maximum 100 p. A minimum of 40 p is required to pass.
  • Assignments and seminars: Five assignments are compulsory. A failed presentation/report has to be revised and resubmitted. A missed seminar will require an additional task to hand in.
  • Assignment A is individual. Assignments B has two hand-ins (one individual and one in groups of two students), Assignments C-D are conducted in groups of two students. Assignments A-D are graded Fail/Pass. Assignment E is conducted in groups of four students and graded pass or with up to 9 bonus points. A revised report cannot get bonus points.

 

8. CONTINUOUS COURSE AND PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

Course and programme development will be discussed continuously throughout the programme by a group of students (representing the class) and teachers (representing the programme as a whole and the individual courses). There will be meetings during the first weeks of the course in order to decide about a proper development process.