ECON-240: Supply Chain & Logistics

Learn how to design and manage global supply chains in this online course. Explore forecasting, logistics, inventory management, lean operations, and quality systems while applying tools to build efficient and resilient value chains.

Course Description

The Supply Chain & Logistics course introduces students to the principles of operations management and the strategies that drive efficient, resilient, and competitive value chains. Using Operations and Supply Chain Management, 3rd Edition by David A. Collier and James Evans, the course explores how organizations design, manage, and improve the flow of goods, services, and information across global and local networks.

Students will study core topics including forecasting, capacity management, inventory control, logistics, quality assurance, and lean operations. The course also emphasizes the role of technology, analytics, and project management in enhancing supply chain performance, while addressing challenges such as resilience, sustainability, and global disruptions. Practical tools such as statistical process control, break-even analysis, and simulation are applied to real-world scenarios to strengthen decision-making skills.

Designed for students in business, economics, and management, this course blends theory with applied models and case studies to build practical expertise. By the end of the course, learners will be able to analyze supply chain structures, evaluate operational strategies, and implement improvements that enhance efficiency and support organizational goals. This knowledge prepares students for careers in logistics, operations management, and consulting.

Textbook: Operations and Supply Chain Management (3rd Edition) by David A. Collier, James Evans

Course Objectives

Explain the role of operations management in creating value and competitive advantage.

Apply forecasting, capacity management, and scheduling techniques to improve supply chain efficiency.

Analyze supply chain design, logistics, and inventory management strategies.

Evaluate quality management systems, including statistical process control (SPC) and lean operations.

Assess how technology, analytics, and project management influence supply chain performance.

Develop strategies to build resilience and continuity in global supply chains.

Starting is Easy

Want to learn more about earning your accredited high school diploma? Just enter your name and email below, and we’ll send you a series of helpful emails to guide you through the process.

Course Contents

Part 1. Basic Concepts of OM and Value Chains

Operations Management and Value Chains

Analytics and Performance Measurement in Operations and Value Chains

Operations Strategy

Technology and Operations Management

Part 2. Designing Operations and Supply Chains

Goods and Service Design

Supply Chain Design

Process Selection, Design, and Improvement

Facility and Work Design

Part 3. Managing Operations and Supply Chains

Forecasting and Demand Planning

Capacity Management

Process Analysis and Resource Utilization

Managing Inventories in Supply Chains

Supply Chain Management and Logistics

Resource Management

Operations Scheduling and Sequencing

Quality Management

Quality Control and SPC

Lean Operating Systems

Project Management

Building Resilience and Continuity in Operations and Supply Chains

Supplements (Applied Tools and Models)

Probability and Statistics

Decision Analysis

Break-Even Analysis

Linear Optimization

The Transportation and Assignment Problems

Queuing Models

Simulation

Appendices and Case

Areas for the Cumulative Standard Normal Distribution

Factors for x̄ and R-Control Charts

Integrative Case: Diamond Global Supply Chain—Hudson Jewelers

Palisade DecisionTools Suite Tip Sheet

Single Course or Program Option

This course may be purchased individually or as part of the certificate programs listed below.

Applied Economics

Recommended Prerequisites

Accreditation You Can Trust

Washington Technical Institute is fully accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)—a regional accrediting agency recognized for setting high standards in education. This accreditation affirms that our programs, operations, and outcomes meet rigorous academic and institutional benchmarks. MSA-CESS accreditation is a mark of quality that ensures our students receive an education that is both credible and respected. It also means WTI is committed to continuous improvement, student success, and accountability at every level.