Supply Chain Management

SCM 4362 | PLAN

Demand and Supply Integration

Strategic Planning

Course Overview

SCM 4362 focuses on the strategic alignment of demand and supply across the global supply chain. Students explore how organizations use integrated planning systems, forecasting models, and enterprise technologies to balance customer demand with operational capacity. The course emphasizes the role of strategic planning in achieving supply chain agility, responsiveness, and resilience — key capabilities in today’s dynamic business environment.

Course Purpose

Effective demand and supply integration is essential for managing the flow of materials, services, information, and capital across complex global networks. This course equips students with the tools and frameworks to design and manage planning systems that support enterprise-wide decision-making. Students will explore how manufacturing planning and control (MPC) systems, forecasting, and sales and operations planning (S&OP) contribute to competitive advantage and customer satisfaction.

The course also prepares students for the Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential, with content aligned to industry-recognized standards in production and inventory control.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the strategic role of demand and supply integration in global supply chains
• Analyze the components of manufacturing planning and control systems
• Apply forecasting models to predict demand and support planning decisions
• Design and evaluate sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes
• Develop master production schedules and materials requirements plans
• Assess capacity planning strategies and their impact on service and cost
• Evaluate inventory control methods and order point systems
• Use enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools to support integrated decision-making
• Interpret planning data and communicate insights to stakeholders
• Understand how planning systems contribute to supply chain agility and resilience

Topics Covered

• Strategic Planning in Supply Chains
• Manufacturing Planning and Control (MPC) Framework
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
• Demand Management and Forecasting Techniques
• Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)
• Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
• Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Capacity Planning and Management
• Production Activity Control
• Inventory Control and Order Point Systems
• Planning System Integration and Performance Metrics

Experiential Learning & Course Pedagogy

SCM 4362 integrates case studies, applied exercises, and software-based simulations to reinforce planning concepts and decision-making skills. Students will:

• Work with real-world planning scenarios and datasets
• Use forecasting and planning tools to solve demand-supply challenges
• Explore ERP system functionality and planning modules
• Analyze case studies that highlight the strategic implications of planning decisions
• Prepare for CPIM certification through targeted content and practice

Course Format & Assessment

Students are provided with course notes, textbook resources, and lectures. Grades are typically based on:

• Quizzes that progressively cover course material
• Three major exams assessing conceptual understanding and applied skills