Foundations of Global Logistics

Introduces core concepts, practices, and case-study applications of global distribution and logistics, covering logistics service providers, transportation modes, inventory management, risk management, labor and regulatory considerations, environmental stewardship, and humanitarian logistics. Students apply scenario-based exercises and real-world examples to establish market presence and prepare operational plans that will be developed further in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze historical and contemporary trends in global logistics and their effects on manufacturing location, points of sale, and service delivery, using case studies such as Amazon and Best Buy to support conclusions.
• Apply a decision-making framework to select logistics service providers, transportation modes, and distribution points for international scenarios, justifying selections with consideration of cost, time, compliance, environmental impact, and cultural factors.
• Evaluate supply chain risks—including inventory vulnerabilities, distribution chain threats, labor/legal constraints, and environmental hazards—and produce a written risk management plan with prioritized mitigation and continuity strategies.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and deploy a humanitarian and disaster relief logistics operation by creating a deployment plan that specifies team roles, staging locations, resource flows, coordination protocols, and cultural/linguistic and regulatory compliance measures.