Industrial visits in the Autumn term

As course leader of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management MSc we ensure students have the opportunity to visit industry partners, learning directly from them about their manufacturing, logistics and distribution activities and challenges.

I wanted to share with you two trips which we took last Autumn, one to Shepherd Neame and the other to the Port of Southampton – these visits are an important way of putting into real-world context what students are learning in the classroom.

Flavour profile of Shepherd Neame Oranjeboom beer

Operations Management

As part of the Operations Management module, we visited Britain’s oldest brewery (beer factory) Shepherd Neame. The tour allowed students to understand manufacturing and packaging processes, and gave some insights into the quality control systems.

After the tour we were invited to taste the beers, and to understand the taste combinations that distinguish the different products. Non-alcoholic drinks were also available.

Students at the Port of Southampton

International Logistics

As a part of the International Logistics module we visited the Port of Southampton for a tour which included terminals for containers, cruise ships, roll-on roll-off vehicle exports, fruit, and bulk.

Back in the classroom, the visit helped students to understand the variety of Logistics Service Providers involved in the supply chain and the competitive forces affecting ports.