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International Business Administration

Sustainable Operations (R-Module)

Exam number: 6723

Semester: from 2nd semester

Duration of the module: One semester

Form of the module (i.e. obligatory, elective etc.): Elective

Frequency of module offer: Summer semester 2015

Prerequisites: Previous participation in the "Operations Research" module is an advantage. Maximum 15 participants.

Applicability of module for other study programmes:
Obligatory or elective in other study programmes. For further information check regulations of the study programme.

Person responsible for module: Prof. Dr. Irena Okhrin

Name of the professor: Prof. Dr. Irena Okhrin

Language of teaching: English

ECTS-Credits (based on the workload): 6

Workload and its composition (self-study, contact time):
Contact time (Lecture, tutorial etc.): 15 h; self-study: 165 h

Contact hours (per week in semester): 1

Methods and duration of examination:
Successful preparation of a seminar paper of 20-25 pages

Emphasis of the grade for the final grade: Please check regulations of the study programme

Aim of the module (expected learning outcomes and competencies to be acquired):
The students will learn about the increasing shortage of resources and economical and social pressure to eliminate waste. Concepts and models that efficiently integrate reverse flows and remanufacturing option into internal business processes will be considered.

Contents of the module:
Sustainable operations and closed-loop supply chain management are important concepts to realize a sustainable economy. In closed-loop systems the returned products are collected from customers and integrated back into the existing production network of a manufacturer. These returned products can either be disposed of or be remanufactured to be sold as new ones again; hence satisfying the market demands by either newly produced or recovered items. Besides environmental reasons, a multiple utilisation of products and components could be rational from the economic and social point of view.

Possible topics:

  1. Integrated production and recycling planning
  2. Outsourcing reverse logistics and remanufacturing
  3. Reverse logistics network design
  4. Managing product returns: The role of forecasting
  5. Lot sizing decisions in product recovery management
  6. Sustainability in the supply chain
  7. The role of supplier relationship management for sustainable operations
  8. Sustainable purchasing and procurement
  9. Repair and replacement closed-loop supply chains (electronic equipment, spare parts, etc.)
  10. Collection and vehicle routing issues in reverse logistics
  11. Coordination in closed-loop supply chains
  12. Managing consumer goods reverse logistics
  13. Inventory management in reverse logistics
  14. Secondary markets and final disposal of returned products and materials
  15. Advanced systems and technology for managing closed loop supply chains and reverse logistics processes
  16. Sustainable manufacturing: The lean and green business model
  17. Sustainable product design
  18. Waste management

You may propose your own topic that has to be related to one on the following areas:
- sustainable operations
- closed loop supply chain
- remanufacturing
- reverse logistics
- green manufacturing

Teaching and learning methods:
Seminar

Literature (compulsory reading, recommended literature):
Depends on the topic

Further information:
Registration in Moodle Viadrina required.