Logistics and Distribution (OPRE 6370 Sec-501)

Fall 2008

Course Outline:

Business logistics is an important area of management that has been

observed to absorb more than 30 percent of the sales dollar for some firms.
The mission of logistics is to provide goods and services to customers
according to their needs and requirements in the most efficient manner
possible.

The overall objective of this course is to develop a familiarity with logistics

concepts and operations. We will discuss the following topics:

• Logistics Strategy and Planning

• Customer Service Goals
• Transportation Decisions
• Inventory Management
• Location Decisions
• Logistics Organization and Control
• Implementing Change

We will examine the models and techniques used for managing these
activities and discuss practical applications. We will also talk about how to
implement these applications successfully and achieve significant process
improvement and benefits

Textbook1 : Ballou, Ronald H., Business Logistics Management,

5th edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003.

Textbook2: Sabri, Ehap H. et al., Purchase Order Management Best

Practices: Process, Technology, and Change Management, 1st edition, J Ross
Publishing, FL, 2006

Class Timing: Fridays from 7.00 P.M. to 9.45 P.M

Examinations: We will have a midterm examination and a final
presentation/Project

Class participation: I will assign some papers (including questions) to read

one week ahead in order to be discussed in the class

Project (Team of 3 People) : These will cover specific topics in logistics

management. The class will be divided into teams. Each team will present
once in the last week.
• Each team will select one of the industries: Automotive, Aerospace, Chemicals,
Energy, Consumer goods, High Technology, Metals, Pharmaceutical, Retail,
Textile & Apparel, and Telecommunication
• Select one topic related to the logistics management and what we are discussing
in the course
• Locate case studies/white papers referring to the selected industry and topic (Use
at least 10 sources (Bibliography must contain at least 4 academic paper sources)
• The team will identify a company/sponsor that is willing to sponsor the team, and
allow them to investigate their AS-IS process and identify the pain points, by
conducting several interviews and capturing related documents.
• This project “ Value Assessment” should consist of the following:

1. Define the AS IS process and the pain points for that process
2. Identify the performance metrics/measures (KPI) for the under-study
process
3. Highlight the root causes for the bad performance measures or pain points
4. Design To-Be process that can eliminate the pain points and improve the
performance metrics
5. Mention the solution capabilities/features that are required in the new
solution (solution is a combination of best practice to-be process and up-
to-date software that supports the process) to eliminate the pain points.
You can use the lecture notes as one of your references
6. Define the potential value (opportunity) from implementing To-Be process
and new solution
• Develop a presentation based on your findings
• Submit a word document (20 pages max) and mention all the references

The credit distribution is as follows:

Midterm: 40% (October 19th, 2007 – to be finalized)
Class participation/Assignments: 20%
Project/Presentation: 40% (November 30th , 2007 – to be finalized)
Grading will be relative (i.e., not fixed).
Instructor: Prof. Ehap Sabri
Telephone: 214-213-3324 (Cell)
Email: sabridallas@yahoo.com
Ehap.sabri@utdallas.edu

Office number: TBD

Office hours: Friday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Teaching Assistant :
Name: TBD
Email: TBD
Office hours: TBD
Office number: TBD
Phone number: TBD