Global Master of Engineering in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GSCM)

2020

• August 6-10: Arrival in Zaragoza, Spain , ZLC Registration
• August 11-14: ZLC Orientation
• August 17-21: ZLC Preparatory Sessions
• August 24: A Term begins

• December 21: A Term ends
• December 22 - January 8: Christmas period

2021

• January 10: ZLOG arrive in Cambridge, United States
• January 11: B Term begins
• January 11-29: SCALE Connect at MIT

• February 1: ZLOG convene in Zaragoza - B Term ends
• February 2: C Term begins

• May 10: Submit Final Thesis
• May 22: Deadline to submit Thesis Executive Summary & Presentation
• May 28: C Term ends
• May 31 (tentative): Thesis Final Presentations

• First week of June: Commencement Ceremony

• Logistics Systems:

This course provides the students with an understanding of how logistics systems behave. Critical factors (costs, variability, labor/space/financial constraints) have a significant impact on the system performance. Commonly used transportation network optimization, routing and scheduling with inventory consideration, capacity management, flow management principles and push/pull systems are discussed. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the necessary tools to improve the system performance (i.e., increasing throughput, improving customer service) in a supply chain setting given the constraints.

• Inventory Systems:

This course provides one of the key building blocks for an in- depth understanding of supply chain management issues. Students learn the key tradeoffs involved in making supply chain decisions using quantitative models and the strategic insights derived from them. Key areas covered include demand forecasting, inventory theory and control, and models of sourcing and procurement.

• Analytical Methods:

The emphasis is on developing the ability to identify and use the appropriate technique for practical application rather than the underlying theory. It will enable the students to think structurally about decision problems and become intelligent users of management science techniques. The course builds from a basis of calculus, probability, & statistics to introduce fundamental modeling frameworks, such as math programming, networks, queuing, and simulation. Spreadsheet based models are used extensively throughout the course to make it more relevant and rewarding for the students.

• Supply Chain Information Systems:

This course offers a practical basis to understand basic architectures and specific requirements of Supply Chain Information Systems (SCIS), enabling students to specify and develop logistics and SCM software on a conceptual level, to evaluate and select systems, and to investigate new concepts and technologies such as XML, BPML, Web services, andWorkflow Management.

• Financial Systems and Supply Chain Management:

This course links supply chain management to the systems and objectives of the corporation. Topics include tools and frameworks for financial and economic analysis, activity based costing, international financial flows, and taxation. Students learn to define their role in an organization, analyze the position of a corporation in the marketplace, leverage financial information for decision making, and value the impact of supply chain effectiveness on financial performance.

• Supply Chain Analytics:

This course reinforces the quantitative skills needed to make good supply chain decisions. Common probability and statistics tools such as the Bayes' theorem, probability distributions, point estimation, statistical intervals, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, linear regression, are linked to the operations and supply chain problems. Students focus on these topics as the first building block for the quantitative models and necessary analysis.

• Spanish Language:

Introduction to the Spanish language. Students who demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, in lieu of attending the lectures, may be assigned advanced projects utilizing Spanish in the area of logistics & supply chain management.

• Thesis Seminar Proposal:

The contents of the thesis seminar course will contain: thesis process - technical writing - presentation skills. This seminar will organize the students into groups working on parallel topics and make sure that each student's project is launched.

• Advanced Topics:

The Advanced Topics Seminar spans several terms, featuring elite professors who offer short, intense seminars on advanced topics. We typically feature professors from MIT and from leading schools in Europe. Some of these seminars may be scheduled as the year progresses.

Leading Global Supply Chains: Reinforces supply chain concepts and develops management and teamwork skills.  MIT students participate with their peers from CTL’s sister centers in Spain, Malaysia, Colombia, Luxembourg and China.  This is a very intense IAP course that includes the following components:

1. 5 lectures by leading MIT researchers each with short homework assignments,
2. 6 lectures by C-level industry executives followed by filmed small team interviews,
3. 6 rounds of the team-based Fresh Connection management simulation game,
4. 6 in-depth leadership workshops,
5. a major team-based APICS-Sponsored Case Competition (paper, presentation, judges),
6. 6 Supply Chain Research workshops each with hands-on team-based assignments ,
7. 1 day-long  tour and one ½ day tour of best-in-class supply chain operations,
8. a major Research Expo (poster session) attended by 200-300 supply chain executives

MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL), hosts 3 weeks on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

• Logistics Facilities & Operations:

This course provides the students with an understanding of how logistics systems behave. Critical factors (costs, variability, labor/space/financial constraints) have a significant impact on the system performance. Commonly used transportation network optimization, routing and scheduling with inventory consideration, capacity management, flow management principles and push/pull systems are discussed. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the necessary tools to improve the system performance (i.e., increasing throughput, improving customer service) in a supply chain setting given the constraints.

• System Dynamics:

Uses a mixture of simulation models, role-playing games, and case studies to develop principles for successful management of complex strategies in a dynamic world. Case studies of successful strategy design using system dynamics. Considers strategic issues such as business cycles, market growth and stagnation, the diffusion of new technologies, the misuse of forecasts, and the rationality of managerial decision making.

• Energy and Sustainable Supply Chains

The pursuit of reliable energy resources has shaped the history of the world in the past hundred years. The technological advancement of this period is also largely indebted to the technological needs of generating power from nuclear, fossil (oil, coal, natural gas), and renewable (wind, solar, hydropower) sources. Nevertheless, managing the chain of supply is critical regardless of the energy source as a level of service below perfection is unacceptable by the end customers. In any discussion about energy supply chains, the issue of sustainability cannot be left out. Building on our first four sessions and after introducing the framework to analyze supply chain sustainability, this topic will be showcased by interesting examples from the food (tea, soybean, seafood, chocolate) and apparel industries. These two industries, as well as NGOs and public sector, are among the major users of the supply chain sustainability expertise.

• Electives

Electives are only offered in the spring. Below is a list of electives that were offered over the past five years:

1. Supply Chain Design, Planning and Organization
2. Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Supply Chain Management
3. Collaborative Logistics and Supply Chain Management
4. Risk Management
5. Revenue Management
6. Advanced Planning & Execution Systems
7. Procurement and Supply Chain Coordination
8. Service Operations Logistics
9. Reverse Logistics
10. Project Management
11. Mass Customization
12. Retail Supply Chain Management
13. Humanitarian and Public Health Supply Chains
14. Freight Transportation
15. Manufacturing Logistics

 

• Supply Chain Strategy:

In this course students learn how supply chain strategies must be designed to fit with the particular requirements of various competitive environments, as well as a company's competitive strategy. It also investigates barriers to integrating supply chains, including behavioral issues (e.g., misaligned incentives and change management) and operational execution problems. The course gives special emphasis to the tools students will need to participate effectively in decisions about operations in a global economy.

• Advanced Topics:

The Advanced Topics Seminar spans several terms, featuring elite professors who offer short, intense seminars on advanced topics. We typically feature professors from MIT and from leading schools in Europe. Some of these seminars may be scheduled as the year progresses.

The Research module involves independent research to cement what students have learnt in various courses and field work during the program. Every student must complete a Masters thesis to demonstrate the ability to study a complex topic in a practical yet scholarly rigorous manner. To ensure that the research effort is meaningful and unique, students are encouraged to select topics according to their interest that are relevant to the industry – keeping in line with the overall philosophy of MISI to undertake applied research. The corporate sponsored theses are done either in pairs or individually in attempting to answer research questions raised by the sponsoring companies. Every effort is made by the MSCM program to turn this academic requirement into an opportunity for students to conceive and execute independent research on a topic of their choice. The SCALE graduates often reflect on their thesis as one of the most challenging and rewarding components of this Masters program.

Experiential learning developing a master thesis project with companies such as:

Research Fest
At the MISI Research Fest graduating MISI students present their research theses to an audience of thesis sponsors and invited guests from industry and academia.  This presentation is part of the formal competition f or the "best Thesis award" that is judged by a panel of senior supply chain leaders in industry and distinguished academicians. Each presentation will be followed by a Q&A session from the jury and the audience. Graduating students will also have their thesis posters on show at the event. The MISI Research Fest is usually held on the Monday preceding the commencement ceremony at MISI.

Students can, if they wish, attend the commencement ceremony both at MISI (Malaysia) and ZLC (Spain).

ZLC Past commencement addresses have been given by:

• Dirk Holbach, Corporate Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain Laundry & Home Care, Henkel
• Ivanka Janssen, VP Supply Chain Europe, Eastern Europe & Sub Saharan Africa, PepsiCo
• David Sheldon, Head of Global Supply Chain Development & Digital Supply Chain, Nestlé
• Berta Escudero, Executive Director, Cortefiel
• John Allan, CEO of Exel Logistics
• Marie-Christine Lombard, Head of TNT Express
• Hans-Joachim Körber, Chairman and CEO, Metro Group
• Subra Suresh, Dean, MIT School of Engineering
• Yosef Sheffi, Director, Engineering Systems Division, MIT
• Ezequiel Szafir, Group General Manager, Grupo Cortefiel
• Robert Blackburn, Senior Vice President and head of Global Supply Chain, BASF
• Dr. V. Sumantran, Executive Vice-Chairman, Hinduja Automotive, UK and Vice-Chairman, Ashok Leyland
• Martin Wegner, Vice-President of Research and Development, Deutsche Post DHL Solutions and Innovation
• David LaPré, Head of Pharma Global Technical Operations, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
• Ralph Keck, Director - P&G Product Supply - Global Logistics, P&G