Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Logistics and Distribution

• code 11119
• course 4
• term
• type op
• credits 6

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Head instructor

The course is taught by two teachers. The section where the concepts related to logistics are analyzed from the theoretical point of view is taught by Professor Jordi Castells (3 ECTS). At the same time, Professor Frederic Marimon directs complementary activities (3 ECTS). Both sections are equally important; each part contributes 50% of the evaluation of the subject.

• Offer a global and current view of the new trends of the sector, in order to know how to choose the best commercial distribution options in the business environment.

• Develop current concept of logistics.
  

• Simulate queue systems. Decision making based on simulation

• 04 - To understand and know how to use financial terms within a business framework.
• 09 - To identify emerging economies as well as the underdeveloped world, and to analyse applied growth policies.
• 10 - To identify long-term economic growth factors and understand the impact of globalisation.
• 13 - To be familiar with and understand the terms and processes of company management.
• 22 - To be able to identify the nature and behaviour of producers, consumers and investors.
• 24 - To be able to carry out a financial, social and historical analysis of the environment in which a company operates.
• 25 - To understand the commercial function of a company and its objectives.
• 26 - To comprehend and use the basic concepts of marketing and the main sectorial policies and understand the commercial environment in which these companies operate.
• 27 - To be able to read and understand literature on economic and business issues.
• 28 - To be able to work in another language and use terminology and structures related to the economic-business world.
• 32 - To acquire problem solving skills based on quantitative and qualitative information.
• 33 - To be able to search for, interpret and convey information.
• 34 - To develop the ability to predict situations and anticipate events, as well as be able to recognise and interpret an economic situation within a specific context.
• 36 - To interpret quantitative and qualitative data and apply mathematical and statistical tools to business processes.
• 37 - To be able to apply managerial methods, tools and techniques.
• 38 - To be able to connect the main variables (both formal and informal) which influence human behaviour in an organisation.
• 39 - To acquire the ability to solve problems and make decisions based on relevant information, applying the appropriate methods and situating the problem within the organisation as a whole.
• 41 - To be able to descriptively summarise information.
• 46 - To acquire the ability to understand and participate in conferences and lectures in an academic context.
• 48 - To be able to identify the information needs in order to manage the main departments within organisations.
• 50 - To acquire the ability to relate concepts, analyse and synthesise.
• 51 - To develop decision making skills.
• 52 - To develop interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• 53 - To acquire the skills necessary to learn autonomously.
• 54 - To be able to express one’s ideas and formulate arguments in a logical and coherent way, both verbally and in writing.
• 55 - To adopt good time management skills.
• 56 - To be able to create arguments which are conducive to critical and self-critical thinking.
• 57 - To acquire skills which favour reading comprehension.
• 58 - To be able to develop self-assessment exercises.
• 59 - To skilfully use software and ICTs.
• 60 - To acquire knowledge that promotes respect for other cultures and habits.
• 61 - To develop skills for adapting to new situations.
• 62 - To acquire mechanisms that facilitate the adoption of ethical commitments.
• 64 - To be able to plan and organise one's work.
• 65 - To acquire the ability to put knowledge into practice.
• 66 - To be able to retrieve and manage information.
• 67 - To be able to express oneself in other languages.
• 68 - To develop mechanisms that encourage sensitivity towards social welfare issues.

1. Introduction to logistics. Overview of logistics, scope and applications.
• Supply chain.
• Integration of logistics in the functional areas of the company.
• Customer service goal.
• Main logistics activities / strategies: inventory, transportation and location.
• Trends in logistics: personalization, capillarity and immediacy.
• Strategic, tactical and operational decisions.
• Product life cycle.
• Cost of supply: total cost concept.
• Case study session: "Preparing the tender" (Moventia).

2. Customer service.
• Customer service: objective of logistics.
• The product.
• Logistics service.
o Supply for order vs. for storage.
o Sales-service relationship.
o Cost-service relation.
o Service level indicators.
• The request.
• Order cycle time.

3. Key variables of logistics and operations.
• Capacity, production and flows.
• Queue management.
• Bottleneck.
• Keys to managing flows and times.
• Input / output curves.
• Fundamentals and keys of stock management.
• Sessions method of the case.

4. Inventory strategy.
• Forecast of demand.
• Bullwhip effect. Practical simulation session.
• Inventory decisions.
• Purchasing decisions.
• Optimal lot.
• Stock management. Security stock.
• Session method of the case.

5. Transport strategy.
• Fundamentals of transportation.
• Transportation decisions.
• Session method of the case.

6. Location strategy.
• Decisions of location of facilities.
• Session method of the case.

Juego de empresas. (30% de la nota de la asignatura)

Se basa en simular la evolución de varias empresas compitiendo en un mismo mercado a lo largo del tiempo. Cada equipo debe tomar decisiones anuales en las principales áreas funcionales (cada semana simula un año). El simulador tiene en cuenta las decisiones de todos los equipos para repartir la demanda. El sistema ofrece un descriptivo del estado al que llega cada equipo semanalmente.

Cada equipo debe analizar la situación del sector semanalmente, y tomar las decisiones pertinentes en función de la estrategia definida inicialmente y la situación del momento.

Para cursar con provecho la asignatura es necesaria una formación completa en todas las áreas de la empresa, para tomar decisiones basadas en el análisis de la información disponible. También se requiere un grado de madurez suficiente para trabajar en equipo.

Durante el curso se entregarán varios documentos (estrategia inicial, informe de seguimiento a mitad de la simulación, informe final…), que tendrán distinto peso dentro de la evaluación hasta sumar el 30% de la nota global de la asignatura.

Simulador Witness (20% de la nota de la asignatura)

Esta parte consta de una introducción al análisis de procesos y en especial a la gestión de sistemas de colas. Es un repaso rápido, puesto que ya habéis estudiado en profundidad este contenido en la asignatura “Dirección de Operaciones”. A continuación, se muestra un simulador para analizar estos procesos, y finalmente se pide que por equipos de tres o cuatro alumnos se analice una situación real.

Práctica a realizar: Observa alguna situación real donde se formen colas, modélalo con Witness y haz una propuesta para que el sistema sea más eficiente. Compara los resultados de las simulaciones de la situación original y la nueva situación propuesta.

This subject should allow the reflection and internalization of the concepts developed, so that we will combine several pedagogical methods. On the one hand, the development of the subjects indicated in the program by the professors, and on the other hand, by means of contrast and debate in the group of cases and examples.
Students who have taken the subject of "Logistics" in the Masters of Administration of Companies and Production Systems will have some personalized content for the Logistics module: develop a research project in accordance with the guidelines set by the teacher.

Jordi Castells:
• 30% Participation in class (mainly in the sessions of the case method).
• 20% Final exam of the subject.
Frederic Marimon
• 35% Set of companies
• 15% Witness Simulator

• Ballou, Ronald. “Logística: administración de la cadena de suministro”. Prentice Hall (2004).
• Ponce, E. & Prida, B. “La logística de los aprovisionamientos para la integración de la cadena de suministros”. Prentice Hall (2004).
• SAINZ DE VICUÑA, J.M.: "La Distribución Comercial: Opciones Estrategicas", Ed. ESIC, 2001
• Díez de Castro, E. "Distribución Comercial". McGraw-Hill/ Interamericana de España (2004).
• Cachon & Terwiesch (2013). Matching supply with demand. McGraw Hill Internationl Edition.