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Here in the Netherlands, we live in a real cycling country. There are almost 23 million bicycles in this country. This means that every Dutch person owns 1.3 bicycles, which is unique in the world. During the corona years, there has been a disruption in the supply chain of the bicycle industry. Resulting in late and faulty deliveries, increasing costs and a bullwhip effect on inventory.

During this minor, we will look at this supply chain from different actors and perspectives. These include suppliers of (spare)parts, constructors of bicycle frames, manufacturers of assembly parts, wholesalers and e-commerce. We challenge you to make all these actors work together optimally and come up with a winning strategy. Can you use innovative solutions to make this supply chain run smoothly again?

Will you be the one to cross the finish line first?
The start of this race is on 2 September 2024. Make sure you’re in the decisive breakaway!

What is it all about?
In this minor theory and practice come together. As a team of students, you will be matched with a company in the industry for which you come up with innovative ideas to strengthen the company's current supply chain and to be able to meet future challenges. You will work with your fellow students and the company in a learning community in which you are challenged to think outside the box and to be flexible and proactive. You will have to use all your creativity and imagination to find a suitable solution for your client. 

What’s in it for me?
During this minor you will complete an extraordinary educational and practical assignment for an interesting and innovative company. You will learn all about the optimalization and sustainability of the end-to-end supply chain. This knowledge will make you future proof for a job after graduation.

At the end of this minor, you will be able to:  

• Apply knowledge and theories about project-, change and supply chain management.
• Review a supply chain related problem or challenge of a company or organisation within the broader context of that company or organisation (strategic/tactical/operational).  
• Outline the importance/value of finding a solution for a.m. problem/challenge.  
• Establish the detailed objectives and a step-by-step approach for achieving a possible solution.   
• Create the business case that justifies working on this solution (iterative process).  
• Develop a design for the solution by combining different elements of supply chain management into a new pattern/structure.  
• Demonstrate the value of created solution in a suitable context.  
• Validate the value of created solution in the broader context of supply chain thinking within the company/organisation 
• Present/sell the solution to create buy-in, persuading all stakeholders within the organisation.

• 2 to 3 years of foreknowledge of logistics or supply chain management
• Propaedeutic certificate obtained

Supply Chain Management: Processes, Partnerships, Performance’
Douglas M. Lambert
ISBN: 978-0-9759949-9-3

The team coach assesses the team's performance based on the three deliverables. Grades can be: 10 (excellent), 9 or 8 (good), 7 or 6 (sufficient) or 5 or lower (insufficient). To pass the minor, the average must be 5.5 or higher. Each deliverable can be resubmitted within two weeks after feedback in consultation with the team coach. All products to be delivered must be submitted digitally. 

Competencies
Researching, examining and experiencing new technologies and tools to define, design, test and implement solutions to real life problems or challenges that companies in the industry have in optimizing their respective supply chains. 

Interviewing- and presentation/pitching skills will be (further) developed. Real life project management will be trained and applied to deliver good and expected outcomes for all stakeholders involved. Core treats from change management will be practiced ensuring that teams leave sustainable improvements behind.

Topics
The overall goal of this minor is learning how to innovate within existing supply chains. This encompasses the following topics: 

• Strategy & Innovation
• Integrated Technology
• Business Implementation
• Presentation- and Pitching skills
• Online/offline information gathering, sharing and analysis
• Business Intelligence
• Stakeholder-/Risk-/Project-/Program-/Change-/Time Management
• Business Model Canvas
• Consultancy
• Personal- and Professional Development

Structure of the minor
The structure of this minor varies each year. Therefore, we would like to refer to the student manual for a more detailed overview of the structure of this minor.

The following applies to the minor each year:

As a team of students, you will be matched with a company in the industry for which you come up with innovative ideas to strengthen the company's current supply chain and to be able to meet future challenges. What you ultimately deliver as a team is:

• A background report with all research details and a presentation of it.
• Design and demonstration of a possible solution.
• Each student writes - on an individual basis - a paper to be published in a supply chain magazine.

Teaching method(s):
In joint workshops and meetings, themes are discussed that are relevant for all teams, such as Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Strategy & Innovation, Design Science, Integrated Business Technology, Business Implementation and Presentation and Pitching Skills. Furthermore, you are offered guest lectures, Q&A’s and feedback sessions. In addition, you work as a team in your client's organisation to develop a possible solution to the problem or challenge the company is experiencing. In this design-, improvement- or change process, you use the knowledge you have gained in the workshops and meetings, as well as the knowledge from previous academic years 

International context
Supply chains operate mostly worldwide, which is why this minor has an international scope. For practical reasons, the projects that students work on are carried out in the Netherlands, but for internationally operating companies.

Costs
The only extra costs for this minor encompass the travel expenses between BUas or home and the company of your assignment.