Program Overview

Course Overview

The course TPK4160, Supply Chain Management, is a second-degree level course offered at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). It is taught in English and is worth 7.5 credits.

Course Details

• Credits: 7.5
• Level: Second degree level
• Course Start: Autumn 2025
• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of Instruction: English
• Location: Trondheim
• Examination Arrangement: School exam

About the Course

Course Content

The course covers the design, planning, and control of industrial supply chains, including basic theories of supply chain management, strategic fit of product, market, and supply chain, supply chain control models, multi-echelon inventory management, forecasting and aggregate planning, coordination and information sharing, ICT, digitalization, and industry 4.0 for supply chain management, distribution and sourcing, qualitative and quantitative methods for mapping, analysis, and decision support, and the aspect of sustainability.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Profound and specialized knowledge about planning and control of material and information flows in the supply chain of manufacturing and trading enterprises
• Thorough understanding of the supply chain system, its components and processes, and how to design, manage, and improve supply chains
• Understanding and application of relevant methods, models, analytical and simulation-based tools, ICT, and industry 4.0 technologies
• Insight into what constitutes core technologies within the respective processes
• Training in scientific solution of industrial problems and report-writing

Skills

• Ability to apply acquired knowledge for developing holistic solutions within management of industrial supply chains and identify opportunities for innovation
• Ability to transform theories to practical application based on well-founded choices of relevant alternative solutions
• Critically and independently evaluate analytical and simulation-based tools, methods, technical models, and solutions
• Perform and document a scientific study of industrial problems

General Competence (Attitudes)

• Understand the role of logistics in a broader societal perspective
• Cooperate and contribute to multidisciplinary interaction
• Communicate technical logistic problems and solutions

Learning Methods and Activities

The teaching includes ordinary lectures, guest lectures given by industrial managers, industry visits, exercises consisting of case examples, supply chain management games, and an industrial assignment. The main language of instruction is English, but students can choose to submit written assessments in Norwegian.

Compulsory Assignments

• Exercises
• Assignment

Further on Evaluation

Exercises/assignments must be approved before the exam can be taken. Mandatory work from previous semesters can be accepted by the Department by retake of an examination if there haven't been any significant changes later. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

TPK4100 Operation Management

Course Materials

Course materials will be given at the beginning of the semester. The literature and prescribed text are in English.

Subject Areas

• Production and Quality Engineering - Production Management
• Industrial Ecology
• Production Management
• Industrial Economics
• Transportation Engineering
• Engineering Subjects
• Technological subjects

Examination

Examination Arrangement

• Type: School exam
• Grade: Letter grades
• Weighting: 100/100
• Examination Aids: Code D
• Date and Time: 15:00, Autumn 2025
• Duration: 2 hours
• Exam System: Inspera Assessment

Ordinary Examination - Autumn 2025

• Place and Room for School Exam: Sluppenvegen 14, with different rooms assigned for different numbers of candidates.

Re-sit Examination - Summer 2026

• Weighting: 100/100
• Examination Aids: Code D
• Duration: 2 hours
• Exam System: Inspera Assessment
• Place and Room: Not specified yet.