Logistics and Supply Chain Management
MSc

The aim of this programme is to equip you with state-of-the-art knowledge and the skill set required to lead a successful career in logistics and supply chain management (SCM) in an international context. The ambition is to help shape the logistics and supply chain managers of the future, enabling them to analyse and solve problems and to make decisions with an awareness of the strategic context, the role of technology and of managing within and between organisations. The programme is designed to provide you with a solid core knowledge in operations and SCM, logistics management, procurement and supply, and analytics.

A speciality of this programme, which distinguishes it from other similar supply chain management programmes in other universities, is its focus on data and its analysis to drive important supply chain and logistics decisions. The programme is designed for graduates interested in building skills in not only supply chain and logistics management but also data analytics. Graduates from this module can expect to work as logistics managers, procurement managers, supply chain analysts, business consultants and business analysts.

Demand has never been higher for people who can creatively manipulate data to take well-informed decisions for supply chain and logistics management. This module equips you with the skills to achieve that.

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Operational Research and Prescriptive Analytics

In this module, you will be introduced to business analytics, management science, and related disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the modelling and solution of real-world problems.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand business analytics, management science, and their connections with other disciplines
• Appreciate the power and limitations of analytical techniques, particularly prescriptive ones, when addressing issues and problems in organisations
• Build analytical models of problems and issues in organisations
• Apply specific quantitative techniques appropriately and select the right technique for a given context
• Implement analytical models using spreadsheet software

Statistics and Descriptive Analytics

In this module, you will explore a range of statistical methods motivated by real-world business problems, building your ability to select and apply appropriate techniques to address practical challenges across a variety of business contexts.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand probability and statistical arguments
• Understand the hypothesis testing mechanism and its application in business contexts
• Select appropriate statistical methods for a range of important business applications
• Apply a range of statistical methods to a variety of business problems
• Build a cross-sectional regression model using R and interpret the output, including the use of regression diagnostics
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of particular statistical approaches and the practical implications of statistical analysis

Forecasting and Predictive Analytics

In this module, you will be introduced to the topic of forecasting in business organisations, exploring issues concerned with forecasting model building in regression and its extensions. You will also examine forecasting as it applies to operations and how forecasting can best be improved in an organisational context.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Build and assess causal and time series models, evaluating their accuracy and robustness, and apply them to real-world problem domains
• Prepare methodologically sound, clear, and concisely presented reports communicating forecasting results to clients

Strategic Supply Chain Management

In this module, you will develop an integrative view of supply chains, building on core operations management concepts. The module provides an overarching framework within which related areas including logistics, procurement, and operational excellence can be better understood.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Analyse strategic operations and supply chain problem situations and develop balanced arguments concerning their solution, taking account of the organisational and inter-organisational realities of supply chain management
• Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply key theoretical concepts and frameworks relevant to supply chain management

Operations and Supply Chain Excellence

In this module, you will develop an understanding of both intra and inter-organisational approaches to operations improvement and excellence. You will explore the improvement tools and techniques that firms implement in their internal operations, as well as the supply processes and capabilities required to improve operations and achieve excellence in coordination with supply chain partners. These themes are examined across both manufacturing and service industries and in private and public sector settings.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Apply appropriate improvement tools and techniques to operations management and supply chain problems
• Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of various improvement approaches
• Analyse key supply chain processes and capabilities required to improve performance and innovate in coordination with supply chain partners

Transportation and Logistics Modelling

In this module, you will develop the ability to understand and apply mathematical models in making strategic, tactical, and operational logistics decisions. You will be introduced to emerging logistical concepts and explore the associated mathematical modelling approaches required to address them.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Recognise basic logistics models when encountering real problems or reading an algebraic formulation
• Write algebraic formulations for problems related to those studied in the module
• Use professional software to solve and interpret moderately sized instances of problems with reasonably straightforward algebraic formulations
• Implement basic heuristics to find near-optimal solutions for problems where algebraic formulations are inherently complex, such as the vehicle routing problem

Logistics Management

In this module, you will be introduced to the key concepts, approaches, and challenges in logistics management, examining the strategic and value-adding role of logistics within organisations and supply chains. You will develop in-depth insights into contemporary issues surrounding the logistics function, enhancing your decision-making capabilities when confronted with tactical and strategic dilemmas across industries and contexts.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the strategic role of logistics in enabling high performance within organisations and supply chains
• Demonstrate an understanding of key logistics concepts in the design and management of goods and service supply chains
• Identify and anticipate logistics issues that may occur in the processing and distribution of goods and services across different business environments
• Evaluate the logistical performance of organisations at different stages of the value chain, both qualitatively and quantitatively

Global Sourcing

In this module, you will be introduced to the key principles, theories, practices, and tools of strategic sourcing. You will also explore the main approaches and tactics used in commercial negotiations, developing your negotiation skills in the context of procurement and supply management.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Appreciate the strategic role of the Procurement and Supply Management function and its contribution to increasing organisational performance
• Apply key sourcing and supply management concepts, models, and theoretical frameworks in context
• Analyse and critically evaluate sourcing decisions with awareness of the strategic context within which such decisions are taken
• Analyse buyer-supplier negotiation scenarios by applying the main principles and tactics of negotiation

Dissertation (Industry)

At the end of the taught modules, you will complete either an applied project, working on a real problem with an organisation from the public or private sector, or a supervised research project, allowing you to investigate a specific topic in depth and engage with the emerging state of the art in your chosen area.

Dissertation (Research)

At the end of the taught modules, you will complete either an applied project, working on a real problem with an organisation from the public or private sector, or a supervised research project, allowing you to investigate a specific topic in depth and engage with the emerging state of the art in your chosen area.

Programme structure: We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Teaching encompasses a combination of small group lectures and group-based tutorials. While lectures serve mainly to convey and discuss module contents, tutorials are designed specifically to enhance students’ ability to apply the knowledge gained. Students are encouraged throughout to undertake independent study to supplement what is being taught/learned and to broaden their personal knowledge.

At the current state, all modules are delivered in a block teaching, allowing students to concentrate on each subject. All teaching is conducted in English.

After finishing your programme, you will receive your degree certificate from the Lancaster University, UK.

There is a large demand for graduates in logistics and supply chain management. Graduates from this course can expect to work as:

• Business Consultant/Analyst
• Logistics Engineer/Manager
• Customer Service/Key Account Manager
• Purchasing/Procurement Manager
• International Logistics Manager
• Inventory Manager
• Supply-Chain Manager/Analyst
• …

Leipzig’s industry has five main clusters – one of which is Logistics. According to the City of Leipzig’s Office of Economic Development, between 2015 and 2025, the number of jobs created in this sector rose by 20.5%; an upward trend that is still ongoing as employment grew from 33,213 to 40,020 socially insured workers.

Leipzig Region is a logistics hub with a 24/7 airport and Europe’s DHL hub (second-largest hub globally). Together with Lufthansa, DHL runs the joint cargo airline AeroLogic from Leipzig. Currently there are approximately 130 companies in the region employing around 36,000 people and generating around 2.7bn sales a year. Apart from DHL, logistics companies employing large numbers are DB Schenker, Lufthansa Cargo, Amazon Air, Future Electronics, Kühne & Nagel, World Courier, Sachsenland, TAS, Helo, to name just a few. They are bundled and connected in Lancaster University Leipzig’s partner Netzwerk Logistik Mitteldeutschland.

In addition to the companies working in logistics, Leipzig and Saxony also host the car industry (with BMW and Porsche in Leipzig, VW in Dresden, Audi in Zwickau), and numerous supply companies heavily relying on supply chains and global exchange.