KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Code/Title: ISD 370: Logistics Management

Programme: Logistics & Supply Chain Management and International Business

Department: Supply Chain and Information Systems

Faculty KNUST School of Business

College College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Programme level: BBA Year 3

Core or elective: Elective/Borrowed

Instructor’s name: Dr. Dorcas Nuertey

E-mail: dnuertey.ksb.knust.edu.gh

Number of class sessions: 12

Duration of each class: 2 hrs

Credit Hours: 3

Academic Year: 2020/2021 Semester 2

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Logistics Management has become a highly important issue in management. It ensures that deliveries
fulfill the promises made to customers by marketing and sales, while balancing the requests from further
stakeholders. Major trends have had large impact on companies: the global market in which many now
operate; ongoing advances in computer and information technology; increasing cost pressure; and a
continuing emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction. In line with this, this course is designed to
introduce students to the general concepts of Logistics Management in a format that is useful for
management decision making. The concepts and principles are examined in light of how they interrelate
and interface with other functions within the firm. It will enhance understanding of the most effective
methods and best practices in the field through concrete field studies and exercises. It will also highlight
the challenges encountered in managing the entire Logistics function that confront organizations, and so
shall seek to demonstrate strategic options in addressing such issues. The course aims to be highly
interactive and so requires the participation of all students. Topics to be covered include: the definition
and development of logistics management, the role of logistics in the economy and organization, key
logistics activities, strategic lead-time management, measuring logistics cost and performance and global
logistics.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, it is expected that student should among other things, be able to:
1. Understand the basic concepts, and principles in Logistics Management
2. Demonstrate how logistics activities can be managed to properly implement the systems approach
to production
3. Demonstrate how Logistics concepts and principles can function effectively and competitively
through the value added exchange of information.
4. Demonstrate how the Logistics function could be used as a marketing weapon that could
effectively be utilized to gain a sustainable competitive advantage
5. Demonstrate how Logistics can function as a weapon to achieve significant cost savings and as an
enormous potential to impact customer satisfaction.

COURSE OUTLINE

MODULE 1 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW

✔ Definition of Logistics Management

✔ Logistics versus Supply Chain Management

✔ The Systems Approach

✔ The Historical Development of Logistics Management

✔ Factors Underlying the Development of Interest in Logistics Management

✔ The Role of Logistics in the Economy & Organisation

MODULE 2 OVERVIEW OF KEY LOGISTICS ACTIVIES

✔ Customer Service

✔ Demand Forecasting

✔ Logistics Communications

✔ Inventory Control

✔ Material Handling

✔ Order Processing

✔ Parts and Service Support, etc.

MODULE 3 PACKAGING IN LOGISTICS

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 ✔ Definition of Packaging

✔ Types of Packaging

✔ Functions of Packaging

✔ Trade-offs

MODULE 4 LOGISTICS CUSTOMER SERVICE

✔ Defining Customer Service

✔ Objectives and scope of customer service

✔ Elements of Customer Service

✔ Establishing a Customer Service Strategy

✔ Impediments to Effective Customer Service Strategy

✔ Improving Customer Service Performance

✔ Developing Customer Service Plan

MODULE 5 LOGISTICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS

✔ Introduction

✔ Benefits of Effective Information use

✔ Order Cycle Management

✔ Overview of LIS Technologies

✔ Information Technology Challenges

MODULE 6 GLOBAL LOGISTICS

✔ Definition of Global Logistics

✔ The Global Supply Chains

✔ Forces toward Globalization

✔ International Market Entry Strategies

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 ✔ Global Transport Options

✔ Strategic Channel Intermediaries

✔ Third Party Logistics (3PL) Organizations

✔ Government Influences (Customs Regulation, Foreign Trade Zones etc.)

✔ Advantages and obstacles to Global SCs

ASSESSMENT/GRADING
The criteria for assessing students may include: assignments, mid-semester examination, seminar/case
presentations, class attendance, students’ participation in class and end of semester examination. Course
grades will be as follows;
● Continuous Assessment 30%
● Final Exam 70%
● Total 100%

COURSE MATERIAL
Teaching notes and important transparencies used during the lectures will be made available to students,
primarily through the class e-mail. It is therefore expected that, students downloaded their class materials
and made them available at each lecture. This is essential to enhance independence and referencing
among students during lectures.

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS

● Lambert, D. M., Stock, J. R., and Ellram, L. M. (1998), Fundamentals of Logistics Management,
Mcgraw-hill Companies inc., New York, USA.
● Christopher, M. (2005), Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Pearson Education Limited,
UK
● Russell, R. S. and Taylor, B. W. (2005), Operations Management, Ed. 4TH, Pearson Education
Inc., New Jersey, USA