Operations Management of the Forest Supply Chain
Course evaluation
Additional course evaluations for BM0002
Academic year 2024/2025
Operations Management of the Forest Supply Chain (BM0002-40132)
2025-03-25 - 2025-06-08
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
BM0002 Operations Management of the Forest Supply Chain, 15.0 Credits
Styrning av skogliga värdekedjorSubjects
Bioeconomy managementEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management and LCA | 11.0 | 0005 |
| Project work | 4.0 | 0006 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge corresponding to 120 credits including 30 credits in economic subjects of which 15 credits business administration and English 6.Objectives
The course will enable the student to plan strategically and operate the production and supply chains of forest- and other bio-based products to ensure customer value, profitability, and sustainability.
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- Apply key concepts in Operations Management and explain how they relate to sustainability and business strategy.
- Apply appropriate Operation Management approaches to manage material supply, product flow, production planning, inventories, circular flows, and quality work.
- Map and apply performance measures to monitor and suggest improvements of the operations.
- Evaluate and apply approaches for life cycle assessment of forest- and bio-industry processes.
- Evaluate and prescribe ways for better coordination of operations through information technology, operations, and planning,
- Indicate and evaluate specific aspects of bio-based production and value chains.
- Communicate, both orally, in writing and digitally about bio-based supply chain related issues.
Content
The course begins with a section on Production Economics including process analysis, product calculations, forecasts, material planning and quality control. It subsequently considers Supply Chains, their objectives, structure and components including the relationship with the business strategy. Furthermore, the course involves the design, planning, and coordination of production- flows and inventories in the supply network focusing on customer satisfaction, coordination and information management. Methods of environmental management and life-cycle assessment in production and flow chains are reviewed. Practice oriented, specific features for production planning and flow management in the forest industry and other biobased industries are considered.
The course includes lectures, guest lectures/study visits, seminars and exercises where the student analyse and assess real cases, as well as tasks to communicate their conclusions both orally and in writing.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Approved examination
Passed assignments
Completed mandatory elements
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
In order to assimilate the course in a good way, basic information about forest value chains (industrial processes and products) is recommended, as well as basic knowledge in statistics and easy optimization.SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. Many of our courses address knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for education. Students are welcome to suggest measures in the course design and implementation that lead to environmental improvements. For more information, see SLU’s website, [www.slu.se](
Responsible department
Department of Forest Economics
Further information
Litterature list
Berk, J., & DeMarzo, P. (2024). Corporate Finance. Pearson.
Cashore, B., Auld, G., & Newsom, D. (2004). Governing through markets: Forest certification and the emergence of non-state authority. Yale University Press.
Chopra, S. (2019). Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation, Global Edition. Pearson. Main coursebook. Acquisition is advised.
**Drury, C. (2023).**Management and Cost Accounting, 11 th edition. Chapters 2, 3, and 6,** **
European Commission (EC). (2020). A New Circular Economy Action Plan: For a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe (Parts 1 and 2).
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy–A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757-768.
Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2016). Quality Management for Organizational Excellence: Introduction to Total Quality. Pearson.
Heizer, J., Render, B., & Munson, C. (2024). Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management. Pearson.
Holweg, M., Maylor, H., & Schönsleben, P. (2023). How AI Fits into Lean Six Sigma. Harvard Business Review.
Kossila, L. (2022). Circular Logistics in the Nordics. Studentlitteratur.
Krajewski, L. J., & Malhotra, M. K. (2022). Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains. Pearson.
Matthews, H. S., Hendrickson, C. T., & Matthews, D. H. (2014). Life Cycle Assessment: Quantitative Approaches for Decisions That Matter. Open Access Textbook.
Matilainen, A., Andersson, E., Lähdesmäki, M., Lidestav, G., & Kurki, S. (2023). Services for What and for Whom? A Literature Review of Private Forest Owners’ Decision-Making in Relation to Forest-Based Services. Small-scale Forestry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-023-09541-3
Matzler, K., Bailom, F., Hinterhuber, H. H., Renzl, B., & Pichler, J. (2004). The asymmetric relationship between attribute-level performance and overall customer satisfaction: A reconsideration of the importance–performance analysis. Industrial Marketing Management, 33(4), 271-277.
Piercy, N., & Rich, N. (2015). The relationship between lean operations and sustainable operations. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 35(2), 282-315.
Rizos, V., Tuokko, K., & Behrens, A. (2017). The Circular Economy: A Review of Definitions, Processes, and Impacts. CEPS Research Report. (Reference literature)
Schulte, M., Jonsson, R., Hammar, T., Stendahl, J., & Hansson, P. A. (2022). Nordic forest management towards climate change mitigation: Time dynamic temperature change impacts of wood product systems including substitution effects. European Journal of Forest Research, 141(5), 845-863.
Toppinen, A., Mikkilä, M., Tuppura, A., & de Vries, G. (2019). Sustainability as a Driver in Forestry‐Related Services. In Services in Family Forestry (pp. 289-306).
Weetman, C. (2016). A Circular Economy Handbook for Business and Supply Chains: Repair, Remake, Redesign, Rethink. Kogan Page Publishers.
# Links
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/concept
https://www.eea.europa.eu/policy-documents/com-2015-0614-final
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en#documents
https://www.nist.gov/circular-economy
https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/circular-economy-modeling-analysis.html
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/the-macroeconomics-of-the-circular-economy-transition_af983f9a-en
https://buildingcircularity.org/
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/disasters/circular-economy-toolkit-small-businesses
https://www.sitra.fi/en/topics/a-circular-economy/