Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course the student will have acquired: (1) a broad vision of logistics management and its objectives; (2) awareness of the problems related to the configuration of a logistic network and the distribution of goods, together with the quantities that can support decisions in these areas; (3) awareness of the main cost trade-offs in inventory management and of the fundamental models for decisions in this area; (4) knowledge of classical methods of time series demand forecasting; (5) awareness of the role and value of information within the logistics network; (6) the student will learn quantitative and IT tools to support managers in reducing the logistic costs and improving the service level. The focus is on warehouse, inventory and production management.
These tools provide a basis for originality in developing and applying ideas to simplified versions of real cases studied in the course. Moreover, they could be used within a research context, when the student will prepare the master thesis.
Applying knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the ability to use spreadsheets and specialized software to implement and solve complex decision models. The quantitative and IT tools learned in the course will allow the student to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader and multidisciplinary contexts, whenever the ability to make complex decisions is required.
Making judgements: the quantitative and IT tools learned in the course will allow the student to have the ability to formulate judgements on the evaluation of the cost effectiveness of different solutions and on the impact of the solution applied by the manager on the logistics system.
Communication skills: the student will be able to communicate the description of a complex logistic system, the cost effectiveness of different solutions and the impact of the solution applied by the manager on the logistics system, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, clearly and unambiguously. Moreover, the student will be able to produce a technical report on a real case and to communicate its contents using audiovisual supports.
Learning skills: At the end of the course, the student will be able to: (1) identify and frame a management problem in a logistic context, at either strategic, tactical or operational level, according to a scientific / technological approach; (2) identify the quantitative tools suitable for dealing with it; (3) autonomously search for innovative approaches and solutions.