Cambridge
Academy
In London

Introduction

Modern supply chains must deliver cost efficiency, speed, resilience, and sustainability—while navigating volatility, disruptions, and rising customer expectations. This advanced program equips supply chain leaders with strategic tools to optimize end-to-end networks, strengthen planning and execution, manage supplier ecosystems, and build resilient, data-driven supply chain operating models.

Course Objectives

• Design end-to-end supply chain strategies aligned to business goals and service levels

• Improve demand planning, inventory strategy, and supply planning performance

• Strengthen supplier strategy, sourcing, and third-party risk management

• Optimize logistics, distribution networks, and cost-to-serve

• Build supply chain resilience, continuity, and disruption response capabilities

• Use performance dashboards and governance routines to drive continuous improvement

Target Audience

• Supply chain managers, directors, and senior planners

• Procurement, sourcing, and supplier management leaders

• Logistics, warehousing, and distribution managers

• Operations and manufacturing leaders responsible for planning and fulfillment

• Professionals leading supply chain transformation, analytics, or performance management

Course Outlines

Day 1: End-to-End Supply Chain Strategy & Network Design

• Supply chain strategy: aligning cost, service, risk, and growth priorities

• End-to-end value stream: plan–source–make–deliver–return overview

• Network design fundamentals: footprint, capacity, and flow optimization concepts

• Cost-to-serve and service segmentation: tailoring supply chain by customer/segment

• Activity: Build a supply chain strategy map (priorities, capabilities, KPIs, risks)

Day 2: Demand Planning, S&OP and Supply Planning Excellence

• Demand planning methods: forecasting drivers, bias, and accuracy improvement

• S&OP/IBP operating rhythm: governance, decision rights, and cross-functional alignment

• Supply planning: constraints, capacity planning, and allocation rules

• Inventory strategy: safety stock concepts, reorder policies, and service trade-offs

• Workshop: Design an S&OP cadence + demand/supply planning dashboard

Day 3: Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management & Risk

• Supplier segmentation: strategic, preferred, transactional and governance implications

• Sourcing strategy: category planning, TCO concepts, and negotiation levers

• Supplier performance management: SLAs, scorecards, QBRs, and corrective actions

• Third-party risk: financial, operational, ESG, and continuity considerations

• Practical activity: Build a supplier scorecard + risk assessment and mitigation plan

Day 4: Logistics, Distribution & Execution Optimization

• Logistics strategy: transportation modes, routing, and delivery performance levers

• Warehousing operations: layout, labor planning, productivity, and accuracy controls

• Order fulfillment excellence: OTIF, lead times, exception management, and returns

• Continuous improvement tools: Lean basics for logistics and fulfillment

• Case study: Reducing logistics cost while improving service levels (trade-off analysis)

Day 5: Resilience, Sustainability & Performance Governance

• Building resilient supply chains: redundancy, buffers, dual sourcing, and contingency plans

• Disruption management: monitoring signals, playbooks, and rapid response governance

• Sustainability and ESG in supply chain: traceability, emissions concepts, supplier standards

• Performance governance: KPIs, dashboards, reviews, and accountability routines