SUPPLY CHAIN & INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
How Does Sustainability Relate to the Supply Chain Curriculum?
The Purpose of the "Courses" Page
The "Courses" page is meant to show you connections between sustainability and core courses in a particular business major. In some cases, these connections may not yet be a part of the course. We are working on that! If you are a student, you can ask for these connections to be a part of the course. If you are a faculty member, you can integrate them in as you see fit.
Course descriptions are adapted from the Penn State University Bulletin. This is not a comprehensive list of courses in the major. Learn more about this major at Penn State Smeal Undergraduate Education.
SCM 301: Supply Chain Management
SCM 301 is an introductory course that provides an overview of key logistics and supply chain management processes, concepts, and methodologies.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How can we incorporate environmental and social considerations into SCOR: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, Return processes?
- How can we link operational performance with environmental and social impact?
SCM 404: Demand Fulfillment
SCM 404 introduces how customer demand is managed through topics that focus on the demand fulfillment process, which encompasses flows of goods, information, and funds from the moment a business receives an order from a customer until all requirements for the order are satisfied in full.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How can SC managers minimize overall negative environmental impacts with forecasting, IM, transportation, & distribution network design?
- How to efficiently manage inventory / material flows with respect to both costs and emissions?
- How to consider sustainability when optimizing transportation methods?
SCM 405: Manufacturing and Service Strategies
SCM 405 examines manufacturing and services strategies, with special emphasis given to quality management concepts, methods, and issues.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How can we integrate green manufacturing into best practices to reduce costs?
- How can we minimize waste and maximize efficiency?
SCM 406: Strategic Procurement
SCM 406 provides an in-depth analysis of the procurement process and supplier management, with strong emphasis placed on managing a supplier base for both products and services.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How can sustainability considerations be
appropriately incorporated into supplier selection decisions? - How does lack of environmental/social impacts throughout the supply chain increase supply risk?
- How can sustainability help to promote strategic supplier relationships?
- Why are social and human rights / labor issues important to purchasing decisions?
SCM 421: Supply Chain Analytics
SCM 421 provides a spreadsheet-based, example-driven approach to learn about important supply chain models, problems, and solution methodologies.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How can sustainability considerations be incorporated into analytical models of supply chain operations and risk?
- How can decision support tools integrate multiple dimensions of sustainability?
SCM 450W: Strategic Design & Management of Supply Chains
SCM 450W is the prescribed capstone course that builds upon the fundamental supply chain knowledge, skills, and abilities developed in foundation and intermediate courses. It is about the strategic design and effective operation of supply chains.
Sustainability questions to consider:
- How does supply chain sustainability mitigate risk?
- How can sustainability drive supply chain innovations?
Learn More About Coursework Related to Sustainability
If reading about how sustainability connects to your courses sparks your interest, check out other sustainability courses and programs at Smeal and Penn State.
Learn how this major leads to sustainability-focused careers.
ADVANCE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF SUPPLY CHAIN & INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Learn what sustainable supply chain is all about and its importance
Learn the important things to know in this field
Learn how sustainability fits into your courses
Learn how sustainability relates to your career