Introduction to Supply Chain Principles

Service Description

Credential Outcome: Participants who successfully complete this course earn the Introduction to Supply Chain Principles Digital Badge from Tadaca Educational Solutions. This stackable, industry-relevant badge signals readiness for entry-level supply chain roles and serves as a foundation for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways in logistics, operations, and manufacturing. Course Overview The supply chain is a critical driver of business performance. Organizations that effectively plan, source, make, deliver, and manage returns gain a powerful competitive advantage in cost, speed, reliability, and customer satisfaction. This two-day, intensive training introduces participants to the core principles, language, and models of modern supply chain management. Using real-world scenarios and workforce-focused activities, learners explore how products and services move from suppliers to customers and how each step in the flow can be measured, improved, and aligned with business strategy. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of supply chain structures, key stakeholders, performance drivers, and metrics, preparing them to contribute meaningfully in entry-level roles and to continue along a supply chain career pathway. Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Define supply chain management and logistics and explain their importance to business success. Differentiate between vertical integration and virtual integration models and discuss when each is used. Describe the stages in the basic supply chain flow (plan, source, make, deliver, return). Identify key participants in the supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customers. Recognize major supply chain drivers (e.g., facilities, inventory, transportation, information, sourcing, pricing) and identify basic strategies to optimize them. Align supply chain strategy with business strategy, considering cost, service, and responsiveness. Determine which metrics to track (e.g., lead time, fill rate, on-time delivery, inventory turns) and understand how to benchmark performance. Troubleshoot basic supply chain problems, such as delays, bottlenecks, and inventory imbalances. Identify ways to advance supply chain performance, including: Partnering with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) Insourcing or outsourcing processes Developing sustainable and eco-friendly supply chain strategies and more!