Supply Chain Associate - Diploma (Apprenticeship)

Introduction to Supply Chain Management  

The objective of this module is to position supply-chain management in the context of its roots in operations management, and its relationship with other functional management within organisations. It will focus on models that analyse, measure and improve Supply Chain processes within organisations and based on the standards of the SCOR DS model - Synchronise, Supply, Regenerate and Demand. 

Principles of Inventory Management  

The aim and objective of this module is to provide learners with an understanding of the key principles underlying Inventory Management within the EU and globally. It will also provide learners with an understanding of the Objectives of Inventory Management, Managing Inventory Classes and Levels, Decoupling/Buffering Inventories, Inventory Cost and Inventory Replenishment. 

Principles of Operational Planning  

This module will provide learners with an understanding of the key principles underlying Operations Planning within the EU and globally. The purpose is to also provide learners with an understanding of the Planning and Control Environment, Business Planning, Forecasting, Demand Management, Evaluating Forecast Performance and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). 

Principles of Manufacturing Management  

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the key principles underlying Manufacturing Management within the EU and globally. The purpose is to also provide students with an understanding of Manufacturing Strategy and Management, Product Structure (Bills of Material and Process Routing), Material Requirements Planning, Capacity Requirements Planning and Production Activity Control. 

Principles of Managing Operations  

The module will provide students with an understanding of the key principles underlying Managing Operations within the EU and globally. It will provide learners with an understanding of the meaning of Operations Management, why it is important, what Operations Managers do, the main processes and operations involved, products and services, Organisational Design and Change Management. 

Principles of Distributions and Logistics  

The aim and objective of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the key principles underlying Distribution and Logistics Management within the EU and globally. Students will be provided with an understanding of the Distribution Function, Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP), Distribution Channel Dependencies, Warehouse Management, Materials Handling and Third-Party Logistics (3PL). 

Case Study  

The Case Study module is designed to integrate learning across a range of subjects within the programme. To develop analytical skills in identifying the key management problems depicted within the case study. Apply knowledge and techniques gained across programme modules by solving the key management problem(s) identified. 

Teamwork, Change and Cultural Diversity  

The purpose of this module is for students to develop their professional and personal experiences within their organisations by focusing on their understanding of the key areas of Teamwork, Change and Cultural Diversity.  
As part of the module students engage in a workplace change initiative. 

Reflective Learning Portfolio (Supply Chain Management) 

This module aims to enable students to reflect on their experience within their organisations and associated learning in the context of theories and practical applications studied across the modules. The module seeks to empower and challenge students to engage in self evaluation and reflection by prioritising their learning and development needs. 

Company Project 1 

Based on Project Management principles, students are provided with the opportunity to generate ideas and solve problems within their own organisations. They will construct a project plan outlining a schedule for task completion for each stage of the project lifecycle. Students be required to effectively communicate and present their results and findings in a presentation and in written form.

Apprenticeship Personal and Professional Development Portfolio 1 

This is a Community of Practice module where apprentices collaborate and foster knowledge and the improvement of their professional practice. Over the duration of the programme apprentices will engage in a community of practice, in-company mentoring, sector and industry masterclasses, summer school and the creation of a portfolio to investigate emerging trends and identify current and future challenges for their occupation and themselves as professionals.  

Summer School  

A series of activities as part of Community of Practice  

Year 2

Introduction to Models and Frameworks for Supply Chain Management  

The module will introduce students to a wide range of frameworks to inform systematic thinking on the alignment, design, implementation and operation of supply chains to promote their agility, adaptability and growth. It introduces basic concepts in managing the complete flow of materials in a procurement and generic supply chain from suppliers to customers covering supply chain process, demand forecasting and future trends of supply chains. 

Forecasting and Scheduling 

This module introduces and defines Inventory Management -the types and classifications of inventory, Inventory policies and planning. The module is designed to give an understanding of the importance of Forecasting and Scheduling in the operation of the supply chain and obtaining of a competitive advantage 

Supply and Demand Planning  

This module explores the principles of demand management, sales and operations planning, master scheduling, and distribution planning, enabling students to identify conditions that require action. It provides an understanding of the links between these supply chain disciplines and the link between supply chain structures and logistical capabilities in a firm - or the entire supply chain. It deals with the integration of information and material flows across multiple organizations in the supply chain. 

Case Study 2 

This module supports students, working as part of team, to analyse a case study against established management theory and practice in order to develop effective and innovative solutions to the key issues contained within it. At the end of the module students will be required to communicate their learnings and work in a presentation and in written form. 

Professional Purchasing 

The aim and objective of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the key principles underlying procurement and professional purchasing and the role that procurement plays in an organisation. It aims to provide an understanding of the Requisition to Pay process for low value purchases, and the legislative basis and key principles of public procurement as well as associated costing requirements and techniques. 

Supply Chain Operations Management 

The module deals with the continual improvement of processes and products. Lean is a concept that aims to eliminate all waste in manufacturing, including the elimination of errors in the manufacturing process. Students will investigate continuous improvement techniques for improving products and processes and how lean production systems and other quality systems embrace continuous improvement. 

Strategic Management 

Introducing business strategy in terms of Strategic Planning and development of a competitive strategy, students learn about strategic management tools and techniques to assist in assessment of the internal business and external business environments. Regarding competitive strategy, the student is introduced to product differentiation and cost differentiation strategy types. Also covered is change management, consequences of risk of failure, risk assessment and mitigation, and recovery from failure.

Transport and Logistics  

This module aims to provide practical information for application in industry as well as to develop the understanding of participants of how transport and logistics is part of the wider supply chain and to provide them with the knowledgebase to develop the two concepts together to continue to drive growth and efficiency. 

Skills Portfolio (Supply Chan Operations) 

The central objective of this module is to promote both the understanding and development of a range of skills appropriate to the performance of supply chain management related roles in contemporary organisations. It aims to inform and facilitate the development of specific skills, which will be utilised in the workplace, through the application of theory encountered throughout the programme. 

Company Project 2 

This project module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to generate ideas and solve problems in an organisational setting. Based on their own organisations students will be able to research, analyse, implement and document all stages of a company based project resulting in a substantial overall project. They will be required to present and communicate their project as a presentation and in written form.   

Apprenticeship Personal and Professional Development Portfolio 2  

This is a Community of Practice module where apprentices collaborate and foster knowledge and the improvement of their professional practice. Over the duration of the programme apprentices will engage in a community of practice, in-company mentoring, sector and industry masterclasses, summer school and the creation of a portfolio to investigate emerging trends and identify current and future challenges for their occupation and themselves as professionals.