Logistics and Distribution (OPRE 6370 Sec-501)

Fall 2011
Course Outline: Business logistics is an important area of management that has been observed to absorb more than 30 percent of the sales dollar for some firms. The mission of logistics is to provide goods and services to customers according to their needs and requirements in the most efficient manner possible. The overall objective of this course is to develop a familiarity with logistics concepts and operations. We will discuss the following topics: Logistics Strategy and Planning Customer Service Goals Transportation Decisions Inventory Management Location Decisions Logistics Organization and Control Implementing Change We will examine the models and techniques used for managing these activities and discuss practical applications. We will also talk about how to implement these applications successfully and achieve significant process improvement and benefits Textbook1 : Ballou, Ronald H., Business Logistics Management, 5th edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003. ISBN 0-13-0661848 Textbook2: Sabri, Ehap H. et al., Lean and Agile Value Chain Management: A Guide to the Next Level of Improvement: 1st edition, J Ross Publishing, FL, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-60427-025-9
Class Timing: Fridays from 7.00 P.M. to 9.45 P.M

Examinations: We will have a midterm examination and a final presentation/Project Class participation: I will assign papers (including questions) to read one week ahead in order to be discussed in the class. Some of these assignments will be submitted for grading Project: Option 1- Group Project (Team of 3 People) : These will cover specific topics in logistics management. The class will be divided into teams. Each team will present once in the last week.
Each team will select one of the industries: Automotive, Aerospace, Chemicals, Energy, Consumer goods, High Technology, Metals, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Textile & Apparel, and Telecommunication Select one topic related to the logistics management and what we are discussing in the course Locate case studies/white papers referring to the selected industry and topic (Use at least 10 sources (Bibliography must contain at least 4 academic paper sources) The team will identify a company/sponsor that is willing to sponsor the team, and allow them to investigate their AS-IS process and identify the pain points, by conducting several interviews and capturing related documents. This project Value Assessment should consist of the following: 1. Define the AS IS process and the pain points for that process 2. Identify the performance metrics/measures (KPI) for the under-study process 3. Highlight the root causes for the bad performance measures or pain points 4. Design To-Be process that can eliminate the pain points and improve the performance metrics 5. Mention the solution capabilities/features that are required in the new solution (solution is a combination of best practice to-be process and upto-date software that supports the process) to eliminate the pain points. You can use the lecture notes as one of your references 6. Define the potential value (opportunity) from implementing To-Be process and new solution Develop a presentation based on your findings Submit a word document (20 pages max) and mention all the references Pls note that its the responsibility of the group to find a company willing to sponsor them by week 2 of the class

Option 2 - Individual project (Team of 1 Person)

Select one of the industries: Automotive, Aerospace, Chemicals, Energy, Consumer goods, High Technology, Metals, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Textile & Apparel, and Telecommunication Select one topic related to the logistics management and what we are discussing in the course. The timing of the presentation will be determined based on the topic. Locate case studies/white papers referring to the selected industry Identify all sub-processes that at are valid for the selected industry (the class lecture notes covers a generic model that can fit most of the industries for a certain degree, but definitely it doesnt fit a certain industry 100%, and this what you need to verify/validate in your project) Mention the typical AS IS process and related pain points or challenges, and solution capabilities needed to eliminate the pain points,

The credit distribution is as follows: Exam: 50% (Nov 1th th, 2011) Class participation/Assignments: 20% Project/Presentation: 30% (TBD , 2011) Instructor: Prof. Ehap Sabri Telephone: 214-213-3324 (Cell) Email: sabridallas@yahoo.com
Ehap.sabri@utdallas.edu

Office number: my office Office hours: TBD Teaching Assistant : Name: TBD Email: Office hours: Office number: Phone number: