SCHM 6213 Global Supply Chain Management

Fall Semester, 2014

Professor Robert C. Lieb214 Hayden Hall
Phone617-373-4813
Emailr.lieb@neu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:30, other times by appointment.

This course analyzes the managerial activities of those involved in supply chain
management (SCM) operations and planning for companies participating in international
commerce. It focuses on contemporary issues that affect the design and operation of
international supply chain systems, and examines the current status and future prospects
of the modes of international transportation. International trade and development issues
are also examined not only from the corporate perspective, but also in terms of
government policy development.

The course utilizes a combination of readings, class discussion, case analysis, and
interaction with logistics professionals to provide students with a foundation for global
supply chain management.

Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are to develop:
1. Familiarity with what is different in the realm of SCM as a company moves into
international operations.
2. Awareness of the impact of the global free-trade movement and its
manifestations.
3. An understanding of strategic management thinking as it applies to companies
with international operations.
4. An appreciation of the ethical considerations that arise as companies gravitate
toward international sourcing and manufacturing.
5. The ability to analyze SCM problems on a functional, business, and company-
wide basis.
6. An understanding of the range of organizational structure options that might be
used by companies to support their international operations.
7. Knowledge of the broad range of business intermediaries that support
international supply chain options.
8. An understanding of the key criteria utilized in multinational site selection, global
scale facility configurations, and international sourcing network development.
9. In-depth knowledge of the transportation options available to support
international operations, and the dynamics driving changes in those transportation
marketplaces.

Required Readings and Cases
A packet of reading materials is available through the University Bookstore. The packet
is listed under Professor Liebs name and course number. There is also a case packet in
the bookstore. In addition, it is suggested that the students routinely read the business
press during the semester so that class discussion can focus on current issues.

Grading
Final grades will be calculated according to the following weights:
Class participation.15%
Presentation...10%
Written case analysis.45%
Final Examination.30%

Grading Criteria
Your grade for class participation will be based upon the quality and the quantity of your
contribution to class discussions. The class participation grade must be earned. While
class attendance is mandatory, it is not sufficient to earn the participation grade. The
criteria used in grading class participation are as follows:

1. Is the participant a good listener?
2. Are the points made relevant to the discussion? Are they linked to the comments
of others?
3. Do the comments add to our understanding of the situation?
4. Do comments show evidence of analysis of the case?
5. Does the participant distinguish among different kinds of data (i.e., facts,
opinions, beliefs, etc.)?
6. Is there willingness to participate?
7. Is there willingness to test new ideas or are all comments safe (e.g., repetition
of case facts without analysis or conclusions)?
8. Is the participant willing to interact with other class members?
9. Do the comments clarify and highlight the important aspects of earlier comments
and lead to a clearer statement of the concepts covered?

In preparing written case analyses, you should focus on the managerial decision to be
made. Choose a course of action, and explain your decision-making process. Be specific.
Do not spend much time summarizing the basic facts of the case. I am looking for your
ideas to improve the situation. The written cases should be no more than three pages in
length, plus exhibits. All written cases are to be typed, and double-spaced using 12 font.
All written cases are due on the day the cases are discussed in class. The papers will be
graded not only on content, but also on structure. The cases are to be completed on an
individual basis.

Throughout the semester, student teams will give five-minute presentations on discussion
topics that will be assigned. The presentations will typically be given at the beginning of
class. The presentations should be based upon at least five recent sources, and Wikipedia
cant be one of them! On the day the presentations are given, the teams should also turn
in a copy of the presentation and a list of sources used in developing the presentation


September 9
th
How does SCM change when a company begins sourcing,
manufacturing, selling and/or distribution in international markets?

Assignments: The State of Logistics Report: predicts bullish freight demand for 2014,
DC Velocity, July 2014; OByrne, 7 ways everyone can cut supply chain costs, Supply
Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2/2011); independent reading on the current status of the
European and Chinese economies.


September 16
th
Basics of importing and exporting and designing a global supply
chain

Assignments: Murphy, Compliance is not just about avoiding risk; it is also about
ROI, GLSCS (September 2009); Murphy, Free trade pacts create challenges,
GLSCS (September 2009); Heaney, How the leaders are tackling global trade
management, SCMR (September-October 2012); Gooley, 7 Steps to speedier border
crossings, DC Velocity (December 2011); The Role of the Global Logistics Manager,
American Shipper (October 2013); Mitch McDonald, A Logistician Turned CEO:
Interview with Lee Scott, DC Velocity (March 2014); Singh, When supply chains
merge: five mistakes to avoid, Supply Chain Quarterly (2009); Cooke, Inside Dells
Global Command Center, DC Velocity (October 2012).

Discussion Topic: The U.S./South Korea free trade agreement.
Discussion Topic: What is the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Discussion Topic: What is the C-TPAT Program?


September 23
rd
Location and Collaboration

Assignments: Mentzer, 7 Keys to facility location, SCMR (May-June 2008); The tax
factor in global site selection, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 1/2010): Cooke,
Sharing supply chain gains for mutual gain, DC Velocity (March, 2012); Kosansky and
Schaeffer, Should you swap commodities with your competitors? Supply Chain
Quarterly (2010).

Discussion Topic: Location incentives being offered by the Mexican government


September 30
th
Logistics Outsourcing (third party logistics)

Assignments: Lieb, Lieb and Carlier, North American, European and Asia-Pacific
Markets for 3PL Services, CSCMP Annual Meeting Presentation, September 2014 (on
Blackboard); Burnson, Optimizing 3PL Relationships, Logistics Management
(November 2013).

Written Case Assignment: Laura Ashley and the Federal Express Strategic Alliance
questions to be assigned
________________________________________________________________________

October 7
th
Global Sourcing and Manufacturing

Assignments: Kulisch, Right Shoring, American Shipper (June, 2012); Siegfried,
Reshoring: A Trickle or a Flood, ISM (May 2014); Engel, Alliance Management:
Engaging Suppliers in the Right Way SCMR (September/October 2013).

Written Case Assignment: Acerquestions to be assigned

Discussion Topic: Labor issues in manufacturing in Vietnam
Discussion Topic: Labor issues in manufacturing in Thailand


October 14
th
International ocean transportationindustry structure and players

Assignments: Whos Making Money? American Shipper (July 2014); Dupin,
Supersize Me, American Shipper (September 2013); Solomon, Slow Steam Ahead,
DC Velocity (April 2012); Solomon, Labor Pains, DC Velocity (February 2013).

Discussion Topic: How important is the Port of Boston?
Discussion Topic: What is the current status of ocean freight rates?


October 21
st
Ocean transportation (continued)

Discussion Case: UPS in Brazilto be distributed in class the previous week.


October 28
th
International air cargo

Assignments: Ross, Air Cargo Hopes for a Takeoff, American Shipper (December
2013); Ross, Transpacific Turbulence, American Shipper (April 2013).

Discussion Topic: The importance and current costs of jet fuel.
Discussion Topic: The current status of international air cargo freight rates.
Discussion Topic: The Dollar Tree acquisition of Dollar General.


November 4
th
Building global relationships with vendors and carriers
Guest speaker: Steve White, Senior Logistics Officer, Dollar Tree Stores

Assignments: Review Dollar Tree website and prepare questions for the speaker


November 18
th
The dynamics of the global SCM marketplace
Guest Speaker: Paul Tagliamonte, Director, Logistics and Distribution, Bose

Assignments: Review Bose website and prepare questions for the speaker; independent
reading assignmentfind and be prepared to discuss a recent article (past six months) on
supply chain management issues in China or India.


November 25
th
Environmental sustainability and managing global SCM risk

Assignments: R. Lieb, and K. Lieb, Environmental sustainability in the third-party
logistics industry, IJPDLM (2010); Johnson, The green tiebreaker, American Shipper
(April, 2011); Kulisch, Deadly business, American Shipper (August, 2011); Now a
Weak Link in Global Supply Chain, Business Week (March 21, 2011); Cooke, Lessons
from Japans earthquake, Supply Chain Quarterly (Quarter 2/2011); Chinn, Supply
chain lessons from Haiti, SCMR (September-October 2010); Supply chain security in a
highrisk world, SCMR (January-February, 2011); Wright and Datskovska, New
perspectives on global risk, Logistics Management (May, 2012).

Written case assignment: IKEAquestions to be assigned.

Discussion Topic: What is the Smartway Program?


December 2
nd
Supply chain management issues in the global marketplace

Assignments: Not Your Fathers Mexico, American Shipper (October 2013); Cooke,
So Near and yet so far, DC Velocity (June, 2011); Solomon, Delivering the
Olympics, DC Velocity (June 2012); Latin America article; Brazils ports article;
Kulisch, Panama Canal: Myths and Misconceptions, American Shipper (May, 2012);
Prince, Panama Canal Expansion: Game Changer, or More of the Same, Supply Chain
Quarterly (Quarter1/2012); Kulisch, Clash at the Canal, American Shipper (February
2014); Lynch, The $5.25 Billion Question, DC Velocity (February 2014).

Discussion Topic: The current status of the Panama Canal expansion project.


December 9
th
Final Examination

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