Supply Chain Fundamentals – Foundation is an entry-level course that explains how products, materials, information, money, and services move from suppliers to customers.

The course introduces the structure and purpose of modern supply chains, including sourcing, procurement, production, inventory, warehousing, transportation, distribution, customer service, returns, and performance management. Learners will understand how these activities connect and how decisions in one part of the supply chain can affect cost, service, quality, cash flow, sustainability, and business continuity.

The course is designed for beginners, SME employees, entrepreneurs, logistics professionals, procurement staff, warehouse teams, transport operators, and anyone who needs a practical understanding of supply chain management.

Using examples from Portugal, the European Union, and international trade, learners will examine how companies plan demand, select suppliers, manage inventory, coordinate logistics, monitor performance, and respond to disruptions.

The course also introduces digital supply chain tools, including enterprise resource planning systems, transportation management systems, warehouse management systems, barcode and RFID technologies, tracking systems, dashboards, and data exchange. It explains these technologies at an awareness level and does not require technical experience.

Supply chain resilience is a central theme. European businesses are increasingly focusing on supplier diversification, preparedness, early-warning systems, and longer-term resilience strategies as geopolitical risks, tariffs, regulatory requirements, and market uncertainty affect international trade.

Sustainability is also included as a fundamental supply chain responsibility. Learners are introduced to resource efficiency, sustainable procurement, transportation efficiency, packaging, reverse logistics, recycling, repair, and circular supply chains. The European transition toward a circular economy emphasizes keeping products and materials in use for longer, reducing waste, and improving resource efficiency.

This is an educational foundation course. Completion does not constitute professional certification, legal advice, customs certification, procurement accreditation, or compliance with any regulation or standard.

Course metadata

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should be able to:

• Define a supply chain and explain how it differs from logistics.
• Identify the main participants and activities in a supply chain.
• Describe the flow of products, information, money, and services.
• Explain the relationship between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers, retailers, and customers.
• Describe the basic procurement and supplier-selection process.
• Explain demand, supply, capacity, inventory, and replenishment concepts.
• Identify the main warehouse and transportation activities.
• Recognize common supply chain performance indicators.
• Explain the relationship between cost, speed, quality, inventory, and customer service.
• Identify common supply chain risks and disruption points.
• Describe basic approaches to supplier diversification and resilience.
• Explain how digital systems improve supply chain visibility and coordination.
• Recognize the role of sustainable procurement, efficient transportation, and reverse logistics.
• Create a basic supply chain map and identify improvement opportunities.

Lessons