Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management (MSc)

Aims

• During the course you will be taking 180 credits in all. The eight taught modules during semester one and two total 120 credits and consists of both compulsory and optional taught units which can be viewed in the list below.
• By agreement with the Course Director, one elective unit may be taken from another Masters course - note that all elective units are subject to availability, timetabling constraints and what you have studied previously.
• Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation, worth 60 credits.  Certain units must be chosen in order to become a member of CIPS, and the dissertation must be on a procurement and supply-related theme. 

Examples of recent dissertation project topics include:

• The future green supply chain in the retail industry: a shared value strategic perspective
• Evaluation of cost performance in inventory management in reverse logistics
• Using e-procurement to improve supply chain management practices

Special features
CIPS accreditation

• The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
• On completion of the MSc Operations, Project and Supply Chain Management course, students with three years' work experience in a relevant field of supply chain management can apply to become full members of CIPS.
• As the course is accredited to CIPS, students with the required work experience will not need to take any further examinations to become full members of CIPS (as long as they have completed the required modules and the dissertation should focus on a procurement and supply related theme as part of the MSc).
• Students without the required work experience (for example, recent graduates) can take the required modules and dissertation element of the MSc programme and on completion of three years relevant work experience can apply for full membership of CIPS. 
• We are unable to answer individual enquiries about CIPS membership and you should apply directly to CIPS.

Coursework and assessment

• Assessment across the course units varies, and includes a combination of examinations, course work and group project assessment and presentations, in-class tests and assignments. A dissertation is also undertaken and normally ranges between 12,000 and 25,000 words.
• Put your organisational skills to the test and learn to help businesses manage the production and delivery of products and services in an increasingly globalised marketplace. Operations management is all about how to organise the production and delivery of products and services.
• Gain the knowledge and skills to ensure that processes run smoothly, particularly in the face of opportunities and challenges arising from the increasingly global reach of business 
• Cover the service, manufacturing, public and private sectors, showing how operations management, project management and supply chain management work
• Opportunity to concentrate on particular aspects of operations management, supply chain management, project management and process improvement
• Prepare for a career as a professional operations, project or supply chain manager
• Strong foundation for progression to a PhD or an academic career within the field
• Opportunity to concentrate on particular aspects of operations management, supply chain management, project management and process improvement, helping towards membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Career opportunities

• The course provides general training for those who wish to take up specialist positions in operations management. For example, one graduate works in the quality team on a variety of projects in business operations around customer satisfaction, and another graduate set up a new company, Xpediency, based in Shanghai, working with UK companies helping them to develop and take advantage of Chinese manufacturing excellence.  Graduates can also pursue a research and/or an academic career.

Course unit list

• The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Title Code Credit rating Mandatory/optional

• Global Operations Management BMAN70081 15 Mandatory
• Strategic Supply Chain Management BMAN70111 15 Mandatory
• Professional skills: Research and Evaluation Methods BMAN70120 15 Mandatory
• Strategic Project Organising BMAN70391 15 Mandatory
• Business to Business Marketing BMAN70152 15 Optional
• Business Improvement Tools Techniques and Systems BMAN70202 15 Optional
• Global Supply Chain Management: Theories and Practice BMAN70292 15 Optional
• Megaproject Leadership and Strategy BMAN72262 15 Optional
• Operational Excellence: The Lean Production System BMAN73472 15    Optional
• Supply Chain Logistics Management BMAN73672 15 Optional
• Sustainable Supply Chain Management BMAN73692 15 Optional
• Marketing Analytics BMAN74042 15 Optional
• Essential Risk Management for Business MCEL63402 15 Optional