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Manufactured products often travel across multiple countries and multiple states, using multiple modes of transportation, and channels of distribution before reaching final customers. Along the way, these products are processed at a variety of inventory transfer points, and reconfigured and combined with other products with the goal of arriving intact without damage in the right quantity, at the right place and right time. This course provides the knowledge, skills, and tools for understanding these core elements of logistics and transportation systems. Students will gain an understanding of the dynamics of key logistics and transportation decisions, including the design of distribution networks, choice of transportation modes and routes, location and configuration of distribution centers, and management of last mile logistics. Students will explore how these decisions are made by leading companies and what influence these decisions have on the performance dimensions of flexibility, speed, reliability, accessibility, and cost. Operations research techniques will be used to analyze, compare, and optimize these decisions. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to best practices and gain an appreciation for the challenges that typical companies face in managing their logistics and transportation network, including how to innovate in light of competitive pressures and external shocks.

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