This course offers a comprehensive foundation in international supply chains, logistics, transportation, and service operations. In the first two modules, you will learn the fundamentals of supply chains and explore a range of international supply chain strategies. The course then introduces the internationally recognized Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, which provides a framework for in-depth discussions on planning, sourcing, production, and distribution within global supply chains. In the third module, you will examine international logistics, focusing on the coordination and movement of materials across the globe. This includes a thorough exploration of the various modes of international transportation that make globalization possible. The final module investigates the rapid growth of service networks in international trade, providing insight into how these networks drive and support the modern global economy. By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and perspective necessary to understand and contribute to the evolving field of international supply chains and operations. The course is ideal for anyone interested or involved in international business, especially those in supply chains, logistics, or transportation. It’s also valuable for individuals seeking employment abroad, as it covers the key forces shaping global business. Prerequisites are minimal—just an interest in international operations supply chain management. Basic business knowledge is helpful, but important topics are reviewed to ensure all participants can succeed.

In this module, you will explore global supply chains (GSCs) and global sourcing. International supply chains involve moving goods, services, information, and resources across the globe, allowing you to participate in and benefit from global business operations. In many ways, supply chains are the practical foundation of international trade and globalization. First, you will define global supply chains, analyze real-world examples, and learn key strategies for managing GSCs. You will then be introduced to the widely used Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, which will provide a framework for organizing the remainder of this module and the following module.

In this module, you will continue to use the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model to analyze how to design international supply chains. You’ll consider what and how to SOURCE materials and labor, determine the best way to MAKE products to meet your customers’ needs, devise strategies to DELIVER products to your end-use customers, and ultimately, learn how to handle defective RETURNS that can occur anywhere in your supply chain network.

In this module, you will explore two subsets of international supply chain management—global logistics and global transportation. As you study logistics management, you’ll come to understand the entire process of moving goods from point A to point B. This includes working with your suppliers and vendors on schedules, creating import and export documentation, securing transportation services, and arranging for delivery to foreign destinations. Then turning to transportation management, you’ll learn to evaluate the means and methods of transportation, as well as how to transfer shipments from one mode of transportation to the next. When you master both logistics and transportation management, you’ll enable the fast and efficient flow of goods and materials around the globe.

In this final module of the course, you’ll explore international “intangible” services. Recent years have seen international services trade increasingly grow in importance relative to international “tangible” goods trade. You’ll begin with defining the difference between goods trade and services trade, and then track the remarkable growth of global services trade compared to goods trade. Next, you’ll review the four types of service trade recognized by the international General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and discover a rapidly growing fifth category of “embedded services.” Finally, you’ll wrap up by examining several real-world global service networks, giving you clear examples of the rich diversity found in international service networks.

International Supply Chains & Logistics Assessment course exam