Course syllabus

Course-PM

TEK240 TEK240 Production logistics lp2 HT25 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the Department of Technology Management and Economics

Contact purpose

The course in Production logistics takes its point of departure in the manufacturing planning and control (MPC) system. The focus is on medium- and short-term materials, priority, and capacity planning, ranging from the Sales and Operation Planning process via rough-cut capacity planning to detailed materials and capacity planning and production activity control. The course addresses concepts related to the physical materials flow process, activities, and efficiencies at the shop floor level, such as kanban and the theory of constraints. The focus on this level includes some related parts of management information systems and production databases. Accordingly, the course’s purpose is to understand the role of MPC in the manufacturing system, choose methods and techniques at the different planning levels, master the selected methods and techniques, and apply them in typical manufacturing environments.

Learning objectives

After completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • use and understand existing methods and models for Manufacturing Planning and Control (MPC),
  • explain how different planning environments affect the MPC conditions,
  • interpret the role of MPC in business and manufacturing strategies,
  • specify and configure planning and control systems for specific manufacturing functions and environments,
  • appraise the MPC relation to typical production and materials flow activities,
  • analyze the efficiency of in-plant material flows and describe the principles of achieving efficiency in such systems,
  • and assess the performance impact of how MPC systems are used in practice.

Link to the syllabus on the Chalmers Web page: https://www.chalmers.se/en/education/your-studies/find-course-and-programme-syllabi/course-syllabus/TEK240/

Course design

The course consists of five types of activities, having different aims:

  1. Lectures - to provide the theoretical background and perspectives.
  2. Guest lectures - to demonstrate the application, function, and appropriateness of production logistics in differing environments and reflect on the application of theory.
  3. Exercises – to provide skills and enable understanding of methods and techniques.
  4. Literature and case seminars – to provide opportunities for more profound knowledge and reflection on the topics.
  5. Lab exercises – to facilitate understanding of the topics by applying theoretical content from lectures in games.

Course literature

  • JM: Jonsson, P. and Mattsson, S.A. (2009), Manufacturing Planning and Control, ISBN 0077117395, McGraw-Hill Education, (Can be bought at Cremona - Chalmers Store)
  • BL: Baudin, M. (2004), Lean Logistics: the nuts and bolts of delivering materials and goods, Productivity Press, New York. (Available in the e-book collection "skillsoft" - previously “books24x7”). Selected chapters according to the course schedule.
  • BA: Baudin, M. (2002), Lean Assembly: the nuts and bolts of making assembly operations flow, Productivity Press, New York. (Available in the e-book collection "skillsoft" - previously “books24x7”). Selected chapters according to the course schedule.
  • RCB: Rushton, Croucher, Baker (2014), The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management, 5th edition, Kogan Page Ltd, London. (Available in the e-book collection "skillsoft" - previously “books24x7”). Selected chapters according to the course schedule.
  • Articles (used in Seminar 1):
    • Dittfeld, H., Scholten, K., Van Donk, D.P. (2021), “Proactively and reactively managing risks through sales & operations planning”, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 566-584. (Complementary content to the textbook on S&OP during risk and uncertainty – and to Seminar assignment 1).
    • Lapide, L. (2022), “Quick response forecasting & planning: Revisited”, Journal of Business Forecasting, Summer 2022, pp. 9-12. (Complementary content to the textbook on S&OP during risk and uncertainty – and to Seminar assignment 1)
    • 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 textbook on S&OP design and maturity – and to Seminar 1 assignment)
    • Sengupta, S., Jonsson, P, Dreyer, H., Kaipia, R., Choi, T. (2025), “Uncertainty regulation and supply chain planning”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2025-0645 (On uncertainty-implications on planning - used in Seminar 1 assignment)
    • Browning, T., Kumar, M., Sanders, N., Sodhi, M., Thürer, M., Tortorella, G. (2023), ” From supply chain risk to system-wide disruptions: research opportunities in forecasting, risk management and product design”, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 43, No. 12, pp. 1841–1858. (On uncertainty-implications on planning - used in Seminar 1 assignment)

Examination form

The course ends with a written closed-book exam (4 hours). Passing the course also requires that:

  • the literature seminars are passed,
  • the lab exercises are passed,
  • and the mandatory guest lectures are attended.

For further details, see separate document on examination.

Written exam

  • Final written exam (individual, closed-book): Maximum 35 points, 14 points (40%) are needed to pass the exam.

Lab exercises

  • The course includes two lab exercises. Active participation in each of these is required. 

Literature and case seminars

  • The course includes three literature and case seminars. A written hand-in should be submitted before each seminar, according to the instructions provided in advance of the respective seminar. The hand-in needs to be approved. Active participation in the seminar is required.

Guest lectures

  • The course schedule includes guest lectures. Participation in each of these lectures is mandatory.

Contact details

Examiner:

Course responsible / Main lecturer:

Further lecturers: