BUSINESS LOGISTICS SYSTEMS - TLOG 5633

Fall Semester, 2001

Dr. Stephen M. Rutner
University of Arkansas

Table of Contents

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

TLOG5633 Business Logistics Systems - Case approach to physical distribution problems of wholesale, retail, manufacturing establishments.”

COURSE OBJECTIVES

In the high cost and competitive environment of the twenty first century, a new managerial focus will emerge: Supply Chain Management.  It is characterized by a recognition that the typical distribution channel contains redundant and unnecessary functions and inventories.  To eliminate these nonvalue adding activities and assets, manufacturers must take a channel wide perspective (i.e., they need to manage inventory flows from source (vendor) to wholesalers, retailers and consumers/end users, regardless of ownership).  Only then can costs be contained and customer service is enhanced.  This course focuses on integrating the output of a firm’s logistics effort (customer service) with other components of the marketing mix, so that customer satisfaction can be maximized and differential, competitive advantage achieved at all levels in the supply chain.

Through better-managed logistics activities (transportation, warehousing, inventory management) the marketing effort of firms can be improved by providing consistent and dependable customer service levels.  Logistics costs can exceed the cost of manufacturing, and consume as much as 50% of overall marketing costs.  Logistics related assets often represent as much as 50% of a company’s total assets.  Consequently, better management of logistics offers every member of the supply chain significant opportunities for improving corporate profitability and return on assets.

Managing logistics activities requires a “total systems” approach by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.  This course includes an in-depth analysis of all of the activities involved in physically moving raw materials, in process inventories and finished goods inventories from point of origin to point of use or consumption.

Areas covered include: the integrated logistics concept, supply chain management, customer service, order management and the “perfect order” concept, transportation, forecasting, “Just-in-time” inventory management, managing manufacturers and supply chain inventories, assessing (auditing) logistics operations, third party logistics/outsourcing, measuring logistics performance, integration theory, and network planning and design methodologies & techniques.

Goals:

The objectives of this course are:

PREREQUISITES

Admission to either the MBA or Master of Transportation and Logistics Management Program and/or Professor’s Permission.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Text: “Selected Materials for Supply Chain Management,” by various authors (Lambert, Stock, Bowersox, Closs, Pelton, Sterling, etc.), custom published by McGraw-Hill, ISBN# 0-07-228248-7.

Also, the PowerPoint slides used in the class are required and available on my web site (www.rutner.com).  You need to download each weeks’ slides before class to assist in taking notes.  One of my goals here is to save you money by not requiring you to purchase a notes packet. 

OFFICE HOURS

Professor: Stephen M. Rutner, Ph.D.
Office: WCOB 347
Phone: 501-575-7334
Fax:      
E-Mail: srutner@walton.uark.edu
Web Page: www.rutner.com


Office Hours:            M            4-6 p.m. and  TR            1-2 and 3:30-5 p.m.

Class Schedule:      TR           2:00 – 3:20 p.m.

STRUCTURE OF COURSE

This course meets once a week throughout the semester.  The principal types of classroom activities include the following:

Cases:

There will be four cases due throughout the semester.  These cases will challenge the class members to apply the materials learned throughout the semester and will be the backbone of the course evaluation.  Students will work in groups of three members per team.  Each team will turn in one case evaluation on the assigned date.  Furthermore, a class period will be devoted to discussing the groups’ decisions.  Each case will account for 1/6 of the final grade.

Individual Projects

Every student will now complete at ONE 15-20 minute presentation during the semester.  Each presentation will have the same weight as a case and count for 1/6 of your final grade.  If a student chooses to make an additional presentation (and there is an available subject and time), it can increase any other score one letter grade (i.e., a B on an exam may be changed to an A).

Class Participation

Class participation will count the final 1/6 of your grade!!  This is a key part of the class, and you need to participate to have a successful learning experience.

GRADING POLICIES

With SIX (6) scores from cases, presentations and class participation, a total of 600 points is possible.  Your final grades will be based on the traditional 90% is an A, 80% equates to a B, etc.

The professor reserves the right to ADD a mid-term and/or final that will count between 100-200 points each.  This will be driven by a number of factors.  IT IS VERY LIKELY ONE WILL BE GIVEN DURING THE SEMESTER!!!

As with any graduate class, I expect the students to do an excellent job.  Grading of assignments, cases, etc. will be based on my expectation of your high levels of excellence.

POLICIES

EXAMINATION MAKEUP POLICY

General course policy is that no makeup examinations will be given unless a student can prove in writing that circumstances of an extraordinary nature necessitated an absence from a particular examination. Since examination dates have been announced well in advance, employment interviews or plant visits will not be a valid excuse for missing a regularly-scheduled examination. All of the exam dates for this course have been announced as of the first day of class. Students should view these dates as firm, and schedule other commitments around the exam dates.

Providing that a valid excuse has been approved by the instructor, anyone missing one of the first three regularly-scheduled exams will be permitted to take a special makeup exam during the last week of class. This makeup exam will consist of fifty (50) questions, and will be comprehensive over the material from the first three exams. This exam will be given on near the end of the quarter based on the student’s and professor’s schedules.

Any student missing more than one examination, for whatever reason, will not be offered any opportunity to take the comprehensive makeup, and will not receive a passing grade for the course. Any student in this situation is encouraged to re-take the entire course at a time when circumstances may permit attendance at all of the regularly-scheduled examinations.

The offering of any makeup examination is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. Each situation will be dealt with as fairly and objectively as possible.


ATTENDANCE POLICY

Although prompt, regular attendance will prove to be helpful to students in this course, there is no easy way to require and monitor attendance on a daily basis. Thus, this important aspect of the course is left up to each individual student.

Arriving late and/or leaving class early, however, is extremely disruptive and annoying to the instructor and to other students taking the course. For this reason, anyone attending class should plan to stay until all material has been covered, and the instructor has dismissed the class. Otherwise, it would be better not to show up at all, and thus avoid inconveniencing others.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

If inclement weather (e.g., snowstorm, hurricane, etc.) makes it difficult or impossible for a significant number of students to be in class on an exam day, the examination will be postponed until the next regularly-scheduled class period. While this policy probably will be an inconvenience to those who are able to get to class, it will assure all students that everyone takes the same exam under identical circumstances. The idea of giving a make-up exam to large numbers of students simply is not feasible in a class as large as Logistics 3232. Thus, everyone will need to be as flexible as possible if an exam date needs to change due to inclement weather.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The policy of the College of Business Administration is that any academic dishonesty shall result in a grade of "F" for the course.  This policy will be enforced strictly in this course.  Please note that a group project does not allow a person to use another’s work.  Please refer to Catalog of Study – Academic Regulation (Academic Honesty) for a discussion of academic dishonesty.

ADDITIONAL COURSES OFFERED IN LOGISTICS

TLOG3443 Principles of Transportation

TLOG3613 Business Logistics

TLOG3623 Purchasing and Inventory Systems

TLOG410V Special Topics in Logistics

TLOG4633 Transportation Carrier Management

TLOG4643 International Transportation and Logistics

TLOG4653 Transportation and Logistics Strategy

TLOG466V Independent Study in Transportation and Logistics

TLOG560V Special Topics in Logistics

TLOG5633 Business Logistics Systems

TLOG5643 Strategic Issues in Transportation Management

TLOG5653 Global Logistics Strategy

TLOG5663 Supply Chain Management

TLOG5673 Transportation & Logistics Modeling

HOW TO SUCCEED

The key to success in the class consists of a number of simple steps.

1. Attend all classes

2. Participate in class

3. Keep up with the material throughout the term

4. Don’t snivel!

BUSINESS LOGISTICS SYSTEMS - T LOGT 5633
Course Outline – Fall Semester, 2001 

Spare #1 – Jobs in Logistics

Spare #2 – What are current “Perfect Order” levels?

Spare #3 – IS/IT’s Impact on SCM