Professor Robert C. Lieb214 Hayden Hall Phone617-373-4813 Emailr.lieb@neu.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:30, other times by appointment.
This course analyzes the managerial activities of those involved in supply chain management (SCM) operations and planning for companies participating in international commerce. It focuses on contemporary issues that affect the design and operation of international supply chain systems, and examines the current status and future prospects of the modes of international transportation. International trade and development issues are also examined not only from the corporate perspective, but also in terms of government policy development.
The course utilizes a combination of readings, class discussion, case analysis, and interaction with logistics professionals to provide students with a foundation for global supply chain management.
Course Objectives The objectives of this course are to develop: 1. Familiarity with what is different in the realm of SCM as a company moves into international operations. 2. Awareness of the impact of the global free-trade movement and its manifestations. 3. An understanding of strategic management thinking as it applies to companies with international operations. 4. An appreciation of the ethical considerations that arise as companies gravitate toward international sourcing and manufacturing. 5. The ability to analyze SCM problems on a functional, business, and company- wide basis. 6. An understanding of the range of organizational structure options that might be used by companies to support their international operations. 7. Knowledge of the broad range of business intermediaries that support international supply chain options. 8. An understanding of the key criteria utilized in multinational site selection, global scale facility configurations, and international sourcing network development. 9. In-depth knowledge of the transportation options available to support international operations, and the dynamics driving changes in those transportation marketplaces.
Required Readings and Cases A packet of reading materials is available through the University Bookstore. The packet is listed under Professor Liebs name and course number. There is also a case packet in the bookstore. In addition, it is suggested that the students routinely read the business press during the semester so that class discussion can focus on current issues.
Grading Final grades will be calculated according to the following weights: Class participation.15% Presentation...10% Written case analysis.45% Final Examination.30%
Grading Criteria Your grade for class participation will be based upon the quality and the quantity of your contribution to class discussions. The class participation grade must be earned. While class attendance is mandatory, it is not sufficient to earn the participation grade. The criteria used in grading class participation are as follows:
1. Is the participant a good listener? 2. Are the points made relevant to the discussion? Are they linked to the comments of others? 3. Do the comments add to our understanding of the situation? 4. Do comments show evidence of analysis of the case? 5. Does the participant distinguish among different kinds of data (i.e., facts, opinions, beliefs, etc.)? 6. Is there willingness to participate? 7. Is there willingness to test new ideas or are all comments safe (e.g., repetition of case facts without analysis or conclusions)? 8. Is the participant willing to interact with other class members? 9. Do the comments clarify and highlight the important aspects of earlier comments and lead to a clearer statement of the concepts covered?
In preparing written case analyses, you should focus on the managerial decision to be made. Choose a course of action, and explain your decision-making process. Be specific. Do not spend much time summarizing the basic facts of the case. I am looking for your ideas to improve the situation. The written cases should be no more than three pages in length, plus exhibits. All written cases are to be typed, and double-spaced using 12 font. All written cases are due on the day the cases are discussed in class. The papers will be graded not only on content, but also on structure. The cases are to be completed on an individual basis.
Throughout the semester, student teams will give five-minute presentations on discussion topics that will be assigned. The presentations will typically be given at the beginning of class. The presentations should be based upon at least five recent sources, and Wikipedia cant be one of them! On the day the presentations are given, the teams should also turn in a copy of the presentation and a list of sources used in developing the presentation
September 9 th How does SCM change when a company begins sourcing, manufacturing, selling and/or distribution in international markets?
Assignments: The State of Logistics Report: predicts bullish freight demand for 2014, DC Velocity, July 2014; OByrne, 7 ways everyone can cut supply chain costs, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2/2011); independent reading on the current status of the European and Chinese economies.
September 16 th Basics of importing and exporting and designing a global supply chain
Assignments: Murphy, Compliance is not just about avoiding risk; it is also about ROI, GLSCS (September 2009); Murphy, Free trade pacts create challenges, GLSCS (September 2009); Heaney, How the leaders are tackling global trade management, SCMR (September-October 2012); Gooley, 7 Steps to speedier border crossings, DC Velocity (December 2011); The Role of the Global Logistics Manager, American Shipper (October 2013); Mitch McDonald, A Logistician Turned CEO: Interview with Lee Scott, DC Velocity (March 2014); Singh, When supply chains merge: five mistakes to avoid, Supply Chain Quarterly (2009); Cooke, Inside Dells Global Command Center, DC Velocity (October 2012).
Discussion Topic: The U.S./South Korea free trade agreement. Discussion Topic: What is the World Trade Organization (WTO)? Discussion Topic: What is the C-TPAT Program?
September 23 rd Location and Collaboration
Assignments: Mentzer, 7 Keys to facility location, SCMR (May-June 2008); The tax factor in global site selection, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 1/2010): Cooke, Sharing supply chain gains for mutual gain, DC Velocity (March, 2012); Kosansky and Schaeffer, Should you swap commodities with your competitors? Supply Chain Quarterly (2010).
Discussion Topic: Location incentives being offered by the Mexican government
September 30 th Logistics Outsourcing (third party logistics)
Assignments: Lieb, Lieb and Carlier, North American, European and Asia-Pacific Markets for 3PL Services, CSCMP Annual Meeting Presentation, September 2014 (on Blackboard); Burnson, Optimizing 3PL Relationships, Logistics Management (November 2013).
Written Case Assignment: Laura Ashley and the Federal Express Strategic Alliance questions to be assigned ________________________________________________________________________
October 7 th Global Sourcing and Manufacturing
Assignments: Kulisch, Right Shoring, American Shipper (June, 2012); Siegfried, Reshoring: A Trickle or a Flood, ISM (May 2014); Engel, Alliance Management: Engaging Suppliers in the Right Way SCMR (September/October 2013).
Written Case Assignment: Acerquestions to be assigned
Discussion Topic: Labor issues in manufacturing in Vietnam Discussion Topic: Labor issues in manufacturing in Thailand
October 14 th International ocean transportationindustry structure and players
Assignments: Whos Making Money? American Shipper (July 2014); Dupin, Supersize Me, American Shipper (September 2013); Solomon, Slow Steam Ahead, DC Velocity (April 2012); Solomon, Labor Pains, DC Velocity (February 2013).
Discussion Topic: How important is the Port of Boston? Discussion Topic: What is the current status of ocean freight rates?
October 21 st Ocean transportation (continued)
Discussion Case: UPS in Brazilto be distributed in class the previous week.
October 28 th International air cargo
Assignments: Ross, Air Cargo Hopes for a Takeoff, American Shipper (December 2013); Ross, Transpacific Turbulence, American Shipper (April 2013).
Discussion Topic: The importance and current costs of jet fuel. Discussion Topic: The current status of international air cargo freight rates. Discussion Topic: The Dollar Tree acquisition of Dollar General.
November 4 th Building global relationships with vendors and carriers Guest speaker: Steve White, Senior Logistics Officer, Dollar Tree Stores
Assignments: Review Dollar Tree website and prepare questions for the speaker
November 18 th The dynamics of the global SCM marketplace Guest Speaker: Paul Tagliamonte, Director, Logistics and Distribution, Bose
Assignments: Review Bose website and prepare questions for the speaker; independent reading assignmentfind and be prepared to discuss a recent article (past six months) on supply chain management issues in China or India.
November 25 th Environmental sustainability and managing global SCM risk
Assignments: R. Lieb, and K. Lieb, Environmental sustainability in the third-party logistics industry, IJPDLM (2010); Johnson, The green tiebreaker, American Shipper (April, 2011); Kulisch, Deadly business, American Shipper (August, 2011); Now a Weak Link in Global Supply Chain, Business Week (March 21, 2011); Cooke, Lessons from Japans earthquake, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2/2011); Chinn, Supply chain lessons from Haiti, SCMR (September-October 2010); Supply chain security in a highrisk world, SCMR (January-February, 2011); Wright and Datskovska, New perspectives on global risk, Logistics Management (May, 2012).
Written case assignment: IKEAquestions to be assigned.
Discussion Topic: What is the Smartway Program?
December 2 nd Supply chain management issues in the global marketplace
Assignments: Not Your Fathers Mexico, American Shipper (October 2013); Cooke, So Near and yet so far, DC Velocity (June, 2011); Solomon, Delivering the Olympics, DC Velocity (June 2012); Latin America article; Brazils ports article; Kulisch, Panama Canal: Myths and Misconceptions, American Shipper (May, 2012); Prince, Panama Canal Expansion: Game Changer, or More of the Same, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter1/2012); Kulisch, Clash at the Canal, American Shipper (February 2014); Lynch, The $5.25 Billion Question, DC Velocity (February 2014).
Discussion Topic: The current status of the Panama Canal expansion project.