The Programme comprises of four key ‘courses’ as follows:-

• Purchasing & Resourcing Management
• Logistics, Materials & Supply Chain Management (& Transport)
• Supply Chain Strategy & Organisation
• Advanced Management & Administration Theory & Practice

Summary of the contents of the core Subjects:

PURCHASING & RESOURCING MANAGEMENT

• Defining and setting purchasing objectives and resourcing strategy.
• Purchasing policy formulation and its implementation, evaluation and control; the strategic options.
• Logistics and purchasing; just-in-time manufacture and buying processes; distribution channels.
• Purchasing organisations: centralisation and decentralisation of the function.
• The place of purchasing in the management hierarchy.
• Job structures, job analysis and and job specifications for purchasing staff and the department.
• Administration and co-ordination of the purchasing and resourcing role, purchasing performance.
• The concept and role of total quality management, planning, creating and supporting partnerships.
• Purchasing procedures, documentation, records, control systems. 
• Information technology and its effects on purchasing and supply, database facilities, using statistics.
• Master production schedules, their uses and control.
• Supplier appraisal, the aims, how appraisal and investigations are undertaken, deciding on suitable suppliers.
• Human resource management in the supply chain: planning, recruitment, training and development, supervision, control.
• Management styles and leadership, motivation, employee relations, discipline, task/relationship.
• Sourcing; matching supply with demand and production needs, materials requirement planning.
• Specifying and assuring quality of supplies; quality control and standards; controlling prices, costs and quality.
• New and potential suppliers, the stages in negotiations, bargaining, win-win outcomes.
• Tendering, forecasting, costing in resourcing, the processes and techniques.
• Buying power and relationships with long-term suppliers.
• Purchasing research, ethical considerations.   

LOGISTICS, MATERIALS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (WITH TRANSPORT)

• The background to logistics and supply chains; trade, the movement of people and products, the development of infrastructure.
• The functions of logistics and supply chains; supply partners and networks; value and value chains.
• Logistics strategy, supply and demand, corporate and business strategy; customer service strategy; supply chain strategy; push and pull strategies.
• Cost factors affecting supply chains, risk factors, economies of scale, the business life cycle.
• Marketing and logistics; the 4Ps for marketing logistics; market driven supply chains, market segmentation.
• Order cycle time and stages, measuring customer service; stockouts, back orders, cancelled orders.
• Industrial and consumer products, the product life cycle; logistics strategies for each stage.
• Product characteristics: dimensions, weight, volume, values, associated risks; weight-bulk ratio, value-weight ratio, substitutability, risk characteristics.
• Product packing and packaging materials. Product pricing, policies, strategies, discounts.
• Procurement objectives, supplies and suppliers, sourcing decisions, supplier appraisal; economic order quantity, partnership sourcing, documents used in procurement and purchasing.
• Incoming consignments, documentation, receiving procedures, quality inspections.
• Storage and control of stock/inventory; the Pareto Principle, classifications of stock/inventory items.
• Warehouses: function, design, equipment, manual and mechanised materials handling.
• Stock/inventory control, identification; prevention of fire, loss, theft, pilfering, fraud, damage.
• Order processing, order preparation, order picking and marshalling, packing and despatching items.
• Transportation: road, rail, water, air, pipelines; freight forwarders, unit loads, palletisation, containerisation, bulk freight and groupage, freight handling, intermodal transportation.
• Operations management in supply chains, product design; production planning, methods and control; quality control.
• Efficiency in logistics and supply chains, reducing waste; just-in-time, kanban, agile supply chains.
• Facility location: distribution centres, factories and plant, warehouses.
• Reverse logistics: sales returns, defective products, product liability laws, product recall, insurance.
• LSC project management, co-ordinating activities, team-work; types of projects, project objectives, focus, scope, specifications, quality and cost relationships.
• Emergency planning and disaster/emergency management; communication, assessment, rapid action.

SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY & ORGANIZATION

• Forecasting supply chain requirements, methods and techniques of forecasting.
• Problems and uncertainties of predicting supply needs, collaborative forecasting.
• Ensuring flexibility and quick response in supply chain management. 
• Variations in demand, controlling lead times, dealing with prices and costs.
• Monitoring, noting and assessing trends.
• Inventory control and policy decisions, deciding upon inventory location points.
• Managing the flows of goods and services.
• Inventory appraisal and monitoring, categories and types of inventory.
• The objectives of holding inventory, pull and push inventory systems.
• Materials Resource Planning (MRP).
• Pipeline inventories, aggregate control of inventories, supply-driven inventory control, virtual inventories. 
• Purchasing and supply scheduling, the decisions involved, storage and handling systems, costs. 
• Mathematical models relating to purchasing, supply and scheduling.
• Facility and site selection - the factors involved.
• Planning, design and operational needs of sites and warehouses.
• Materials handling systems, planning and designing them.
• Location strategy and decisions, single and multiple facilities location.
• Factories, dynamic warehouse location, design and control of channels.
• Network planning and product flows: data sources and checklists.
• Logistics research, tools for analysis in network planning.
• Facility costs and their capacity; the configuration of networks.
• Benchmarking and quality, monitoring efficiency.
• Supply chain organisation and control: the differing choices.
• Orientation and positioning of the supply chain.
• Inter-functional and inter-organisational management, and integrated planning.
• The control process; managing, developing and understanding the control framework.
• Data measurement and analysis relating to the supply chain. 

ADVANCED MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION THEORY & PRACTICE

• The evolution of management theory, principles of management.
• The classical and early theorists; Fayol, Weber, Taylor, Mayo: scientific management, authority, discipline, modern developments.
• Organisational theory: objectives, categories, ownership, environmental factors and interaction.
• Open and closed systems theory.
• Coordination, cooperation, structure, control.
• Communication and communication theories and channels.
• Organisational structures, planning, growth and development, organisation charts.
• Systems and system diagrams. 
• Duties and responsibilities of executives, delegation, responsibility.
• Mission, vision, values, MBWA.
• Motivational theory: human relations, social psychology; self-realisation, motivation-hygiene, expectancy theory. 
• The theories of Argyis, Maslow, McGregor, Likert, Herzberg, Vroom, Handy; intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
• Leadership theory: traits, style, contingency; theorists. 
• Building and developing workgroups, group behaviour, norms, cohesiveness.
• Managing change, creating and managing culture.
• Moss Kanter, learning organisations and entrepreneurship.
• Strategic management; the theories of Fayol, Chandler, Andrews, Ansoff, BCG, Porter, SWOT.
• Environmental and competitive barriers to entry, industrial competitiveness.
• Corporate objectives, policies, business ethics, social responsibilities.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEE FOR THIS HONOURS GROUP DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

 Your CIC Fee includes:-

• Your enrolment/registration with Cambridge International College, and your own high-quality, professionally produced and illustrated comprehensive International CIC Core Study Publications for each of the four (4) ‘courses’ of study.
• CIC’s detailed, professional ‘Study & Training Guide’ with full instructions on how to study to achieve success and gain top results.  The Guide includes detailed advice on how to answer Tests and Examinations.
• Training Tests, Questions and Exercises (which can be used as ‘Past Papers/Questions’), and Recommended Answers for most of them.
• An Examination set for each of the 4 core courses; each Examination is sat under Invigilation/Supervision in your own area - full details, guidance and explanation of how your Examinations will be arranged and how Invigilation is conducted will be provided when you register.  Note, CIC arranges Examinations in over a hundred countries worldwide for thousands of Members every year; it is a flexible, straightforward process and will be arranged when YOU are ready to write your Examination. 
• A prestigious Cambridge International College Diploma on successful completion of Study & Training and on passing the Examination for EACH of the 4 core courses, PLUS the International Honours Group Diploma when all 4 courses have been completed - this is a total of 5 awards - 4 individual Diplomas plus the Honours Diploma.
• Your personal page on CIC’s Member Services website with access to results, despatch details, advice and guidance, and more: www.cambridgeinternationalcollege.co.uk
• Regular information and news including: Newsletters with details of special offers and new Programs and much more; and Competition Forms; by email and post.
• Everything needed for your Study & Training success is included in the CIC Fee.

Additionally:

• Further Study and Training Advice, and Assistance is available before, during and after CIC Study & Training; Members may ask CIC’s team of experienced Consultants for advice on further study and Programmes to improve career prospects and advancement.
• CIC’s experienced and helpful staff can assist with numerous special requests, such as reference/recommendation letters and transcripts, and more, by post and email.

• Purchasing & Resourcing Management Diploma 12 months (flexible)
• Materials & Logistics Administration (BLA) Baccalaureate 2 years (flexible)
• Materials & Logistics Administration EBA: Executive Business Administration 3 years (flexible)
• Logistics, Materials & Supply Chain Management (including Transport) Diploma 12 months (flexible)

This Programme provides the knowledge and expertise to become a valued and top-class person in the procurement/supply/logistics field - in many individual areas, or as a manager or executive overseeing all aspects of the role in an organization.  There is a huge range of jobs and career paths potentially available in this field, which are both enjoyable and rewarding.  Furthermore, covering strategic aspects and leadership matters, this programme provides opportunities for career advancement to senior and higher managerial positions and for promotion.

There is a wide range of options for further study - see the "Related Courses" section for suggestions - which include other Honours Diplomas, ABA & Baccalaureate Programmes, and the 'Double Award' EBA & BBA Bachelor degree Programme, both in this field and in subjects which require many similar skills and knowledge, such as project or business management.  You are welcome to ask the College for advice, and of course you can see details of these Programmes on this website.