Study Programmes 2015-2016
LOGI0015-1  
ERP Solutions for Supply Chains
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Master in business engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in business engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Yasemin Arda, Michael Schyns
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The course aims at linking theoretical knowledge that students acquired during their Master studies with practical aspects of international logistics and familiarizing students with the logistics modules of SAP, one of the main ERP management information systems. In the first part of the course, the case of a company that produces two end-products in its manufacturing plant in Europe and sells these products to a non-EU country is treated. The students are wanted to obtain the demand forecasts for the next three years and the bills-of-materials of these two end-products. With the aim of satisfying the obtained demand forecasts, they determine purchasing and transportation plans of raw-materials, production plans, locations of distribution hubs, and transportation plans of end-products. While establishing these plans, the students face a wide range of practical supply chain decision-making problems, in each they are wanted to minimize the operational costs of the company. They determine the selling prices of the end-products taking into account purchasing, production, and transportation costs. In the second part of the course, the students get familiarize with the logistics modules of SAP through hands-on navigation, process cycle, and parameterization exercises. Accordingly, they are wanted to parameterize the ERP system of the manufacturing company studied in the first part of the course.
Learning outcomes of the course :
Intended key learning outcomes:
  • Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the management disciplines with a strong focus on the quantitative aspects.
  • Gain the knowledge and understanding of one of the proposed fields of concentration.
  • Understand, in management situations, the transversal tools of quantitative reasoning, information systems and project management methods.
  • Integrate, autonomously, the researched information, taught tools, knowledge and context in order to build and propose, either individually or as part of a team, some original, creative and viable solutions to a complex management problem, whether real or simulated. Integrate, when necessary, the modelization methods and/or a dimension of technology, innovation or production.
  • Speak 2 foreign languages: C1 in English and B2 in one other language.
  • Be capable of team work.
  • Develop a critical sense (arguing).
  • Develop a transversal and global vision.
  • Devise creative solutions.
  • Be able of a professional written communication.
Specific learning outcomes of the course:
  • Linking theoretical knowledge acquired during Master studies with practical aspects of international logistics.
  • Mastering logistics modules of ERP systems.
  • To understand the difficulties of managing manufacturing and distribution operations in companies: demand forecasting, determining purchasing and transportation plans of raw materials, production planning, packaging, determining locations of distribution hubs, transportation planning of finished products.
  • To familiarize with the available sources of logistics pertinent information in the context of international logistics.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Basic concepts of supply chain management, supply chain network design, production planning, and transportation management
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Computer lab sessions: The course is organized as a series of computer lab sessions that aim to present how to use logistics modules of SAP ERP and to coach students in their group project.
During the first 5 sessions, the students are coached by Prof. Yasemin Arda for the logistical components of the group projet.
During the last 5 sessions, the students are coached by Prof. Michael Schyns for SAP ERP system parametrization and utilization.
Group project: The case is treated in groups of 3 students. The students are evaluated based on their written reports and SAP ERP system parametrization.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Students have access to computers and tools that they need to realize their projects (SAP, Excel, Internet) during all the sessions.
Recommended or required readings :
All the necessary documents can be found on the virtual campus Lol@.
More information about the configuration of the SAP ERP can be found in:
Integrated business process with ERP systems, Magal, Addison Wesley
Assessment methods and criteria :
Group Project:
The students are evaluated based on their written report and SAP system parametrization.
1. Written report (50%): Each student has an opportunity to evaluate the contribution of his/her teammates to the group project during the semester by filling a peer evaluation. Taking these peer evaluations into account as well as the participation in class along the year, professors may decide, by a justifiable opinion, to give different grades to students of a same team. Motivation must take into account criteria such as quality of work different from other team members, a greater or lesser involvement in the mission.
2. SAP system parametrization (50%): The SAP component of the project will be evaluated individually during an examination on computer at the end of the year. The students, individually, must be able to explain any part of the SAP project and must be able to solve new basic problems related to the project.
Each student is wanted to participate in the organized 10 sessions.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The course is given during the second semester.
The course is given in English.
Contacts :
Lecturers:
Y. Arda (Yasemin.Arda@ulg.ac.be)
M. Schyns (M.Schyns@ulg.ac.be)
Items online :
Campus LOl@
LOl@