Supply Chain Management

Learn how to manage complex global supply chains and keep goods moving swiftly around the world.

Why study Supply Chain Management?

Supply Chain Management is essential if you plan to be a logistics manager, operations manager or e-commerce manager. You'll learn how to create a smooth supply chain and handle the entire distribution process, from the factory production line to the customer.

Gain the skills to make companies more efficient, competitive and responsive to customers' needs. Learn how to take raw goods and turn them into products that reach customers.

Find out what goes into meeting customer needs throughout production, distribution and the delivery of products. You'll understand the design and operation of international supply chains, transportation and logistics networks, and how to build partnerships to work towards a common goal.

This subject will give you the business and communication skills needed to manage complex information systems and organisational relationships.

The University of Waikato is a great place to study supply chains, because almost a third of the country’s freight travels into, out of, and through the Waikato region, supporting our economic growth and productivity.

Career Opportunities

E-commerce manager
International trade advisor
Logistics architect
Logistics / Supply chain manager
Operations manager
Procurement manager
Supply chain systems manager
Warehouse manager

Waikato Management School

Hamilton

Study Supply Chain Management in these qualifications

Qualifications offered

Supply Chain Management can normally be taken as either a Major subject (8-9 papers) or Minor subject (4 papers) for any undergraduate degree offered at the University of Waikato, including our Bachelor of Business. Otherwise, you can take just one or two papers in this subject as electives.

If you'd like to gain advanced expertise through postgraduate research, look at our Master of Business (180 points) in Supply Chain Management. We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma (120 points) in Supply Chain Management.

If you have never studied this subject before, starting from 2025 we offer a new 12-month Master of Management (180 points) specialising in Supply Chain Management.

For a quicker option, there is also the choice of a Postgraduate Certificate in Management (60 points) specialising in Supply Chain Management, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (120 points) specialising in Supply Chain Management.

You can also take Supply Chain Management for a Graduate Certificate (60 points) or Graduate Diploma (120 points).

Course content

As a Supply Chain Management student, you'll be encouraged to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations. For example, you could use a computer simulation program to coordinate the flow of materials along a supply chain, and forecast customer demand to ensure that products arrive in time.

You'll have the opportunity to apply what you've learnt to the workplace and gain technical skills. For example, you might work in teams to produce a set of recommendations for a real company to adopt new business technologies.

Students will gain hands-on experience using SAP, the world's leading enterprise resource planning application. And use Microsoft Project to practice running projects from start to finish, by putting the right resources and budget in place.

Learn from the best

You'll study at our internationally recognised Waikato Management School, which is in the top 1% of business schools globally thanks to our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.