Business and Supply Chain Management
Business and supply chain management addresses one of the most operationally critical aspects of commercial life: how goods, services and information move from producers to consumers through a complex network of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The COVID pandemic and the disruptions of Brexit brought to public attention what supply chain professionals have always known, as Portsmouth's own description observes: ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time, at the right cost and increasingly in ways that are safe for the environment, is vital to how the economy and daily life function.
At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year programme combines the foundational disciplines of business management with a specific focus on supply chain operations, logistics and procurement. You will study strategic management, operations management, procurement and supplier relationships, logistics and distribution, inventory management, demand planning, supply chain sustainability and the technology systems that underpin modern supply chain visibility. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placements, providing structured routes to develop professional experience and international perspective, which is directly relevant in a field where supply chains are by definition international.
Supply chain management develops both operational and commercial capabilities: the ability to understand how physical and information flows create or destroy value, to analyse the risks and efficiencies within complex multi-party systems and to negotiate and manage relationships across organisational boundaries.
Graduates go on to careers in procurement, logistics, supply chain operations, inventory management, demand planning, supply chain sustainability, operations consulting and distribution management across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, defence and many other sectors. Further study in supply chain management, operations research or logistics is also a common route for those seeking senior roles.