Product Lifecycle and Supply Chain Management

The process of delivering goods and services better, faster and cheaper sounds simple but can sometimes be unpredictable and lead to shortages or surpluses. Over the past two decades, the supply chain journey has evolved through a number of distinct phases along with a shift in power from suppliers to customers. Over the course of this evolution, supply chain professionals have expanded their perspective and philosophy from an inventory-centric view to an order-centric view to a product-centric view today. As product lifecycles shrink, innovation has risen to the top of the CEO agenda. But product innovation cannot meet the business objectives of lifecycle profitability without supply chain process considerations.

Academic Focus of the Program

The program focuses on educating executives and industry sponsored employees in the disciplines of product lifecycle and supply chain management by combining theory and practice. It emphasizes the need to understand and the importance of renewed focus on product lifecycle from design to disposal and supply chain from end to end. Students are trained to be effective problem solvers to continuously improve the product performance and supply chain efficiency.

The program employs lectures, case studies and site visits in addition using of quantitative and qualitative methods to meet the learning objectives of the program. Students are required to integrate classroom learning with work projects. The program leverages a world-class faculty in the operations management and industry leaders to deliver the program.

Target Audience

A typical student is an expert in one or more functional areas such as engineering, manufacturing, product development, procurement, distribution, warehousing, logistics, information technology and consulting and aspires to become a product manager, operations manager, general manager or business partner and is interested in gaining a cross-functional knowledge and managing projects across multiple functions and extended global enterprises.

Learn More

Meet with the Director Request Information Download Calendar

Testimonials

Future supply chain professionals need to get involved in the product development process to enable both product and process innovation. The product lifecycle perspective becomes more important because it provides a holistic view across disparate enterprise silos to provide a coordinated response to the end-customer. Integration of product lifecycle and supply chain management can provide fresh perspectives and critical insights that are often missed due to the extreme fragmentation of functions within the enterprise and across supply chains.

Divakar Rajamani, PhD Director

For questions related to application, admission, tuition and information sessions please contact the following:

Debbie Flynn Program Manager
Paula Baxter Financial Services Manager (Financial Aid)

The Supply Chain Core classes consist of 5 courses which, upon completion will earn a Certificate in Supply Chain Management. Upon completion of the Supply Chain Core, students may continue on to earn either of the followings:

For complete course descriptions, please visit UT Dallas Catalog.

The Executive Education program at the Naveen Jindal School of Management offers a Master of Science degree in Supply Chain Management which is earned by completing the following business core courses in addition to the supply chain management core requirements.

For course description, please visit UT Dallas catalog.

Product Lifecycle & Supply Chain Management Courses

Business Core Courses

International Study Trip Courses

  • OPRE 6367 Capstone Projects (International Study Trip)
  • OPRE 6368 Industrial Applications in Supply Chains (International Study Trip)

International Study Trip

The courses for this capstone learning opportunity are designed around a study abroad trip to an international location where students attend courses at a local university with local students, dialogue with managers from local companies regarding business practices and are immersed in the culture of the country they are visiting.

During their second year, students take an international study tour along with core business classes. During the two-week trip, participants attend university classes with local students and participate in seminars that explore doing business in other countries. Part of the trip is devoted to visiting local industry to learn firsthand how business operates in the host country. Three free days in the itinerary allow students to experience local culture on their own.

The international study tour is a student-initiated aspect of the program and takes the place of a capstone project. As with other Executive MBA program study tours, this trip provides supply chain management students an international educational, industrial and cultural experience rolled into one. Most costs of the trip are included in program fees.

The Executive Education program at the Naveen Jindal School of Management offers an MBA with a product lifecycle and supply chain management emphasis that can be earned by completing 16 semester credit hours over and above the supply chain core program requirements and business core courses. To earn an MBA, students must waive the master’s of science degree and earn the additional 16 semester credit hours from the courses listed below. If the student does not waive the MS degree, an additional 30 semester credit hours are required for the MBA.

For course description, please visit UT Dallas catalog.

Product Lifecycle & Supply Chain Management Courses

Business Core Courses

International Study Trip Courses

  • OPRE 6367 Capstone Projects (International Study Trip)
  • OPRE 6368 Industrial Applications in Supply Chains (International Study Trip)

International Study Trip

The courses for this capstone learning opportunity are designed around a study abroad trip to an international location where students attend courses at a local university with local students, dialogue with managers from local companies regarding business practices and are immersed in the culture of the country they are visiting.

During their second year, students take an international study tour along with core business classes. Currently, students visit the University of Applied Science in Landshut, Germany, typically in the month of April.

During the two-week trip, participants attend university classes with local students and participate in seminars that explore doing business in Europe. Part of the trip is devoted to visiting local industry to learn firsthand how business operates in the host country. Three free days in the itinerary allow students to experience local culture on their own.

The international study tour is a student-initiated aspect of the program and takes the place of a capstone project. As with other Executive MBA program study tours, this trip provides supply chain management students an international educational, industrial and cultural experience rolled into one. Most costs of the trip are included in program fees.

MBA Core Courses

Program Overview

Download a Program Overview

Applications for the Executive Education Product Lifecycle & Supply Chain Management program are reviewed upon receipt of all required documents, and admission decisions are made as soon as possible. Candidates are notified shortly after the admission decision has been made. Early submission of all application documents is strongly recommended.

Admission Procedure

A current resume must be submitted and reviewed by the program director prior to any of the steps below.The following must be submitted before an applicant’s file will be considered for admission:

  • A pre-application interview with the program director
  • 1-2 page essay explaining why you want to enter the program and what you hope to get out of the program
  • Complete Online Application (DO NOT click on the dark green Apply button at the top of the page)
    Apply Now
  • One official academic transcript from every post-secondary institution the applicant has attended. All transcripts must be sent directly from the institution and directed to the UT Dallas Product Lifecycle & Supply Chain Management Program
  • Company Sponsorship Form
  • Tuition Payment Questionnaire
  • A non-refundable $250 Application Fee

The following documents must be attached and submitted with the online application:

  • Three professional evaluations
  • Company Organizational Chart showing your position
  • Current Job Description

Additional Information

  • Prior to enrollment, Tuberculosis (TB) screening is required for all persons born outside the United States regardless of the status of their application. For additional information visit the Student Health Center site
  • Some knowledge of accounting and calculus is required (tutoring is available)
  • The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is not required. Test results will, however, be considered if forwarded to Supply Chain Management Admissions
  • International students whose native language is not English must have a score of 6.7 on the PTE, 6.5 on the IELTS, 550 on the TOEFL paper test or 80 on the TOEFL Internet-based test. (This may be waived by the program director if English proficiency is demonstrated.)

International Transcript Information

Applicants to a graduate program must have earned at least the equivalent of a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree beyond the 12th grade of secondary or high school (most three-year bachelor’s degrees are not acceptable) from an institution recognized by that country’s Ministry of Education. An overall grade point average of 3.0 (based on 4.0 scale) or better is expected.

Send all transcripts or mark sheets as well as diplomas and/or degree certificates directly to UT Dallas from the issuing institution. UT Dallas evaluates your foreign credentials using its own established policies and standards. UT Dallas will deny you admission or transfer credit if your credentials are deemed unacceptable.

Please submit all documents in their original language along with certified English translations. The academic institution or government agency must perform the translation services.

Forward All Correspondence, Recommendations and Transcripts to:

The University of Texas at Dallas
Attn: Debbie Flynn, Program Manager
Supply Chain Management Admissions
800 W. Campbell Road SM10
Richardson, TX 75080-3021

The table below shows the cost of the Supply Chain Management program and additional expenses of available degree options. These costs are inclusive of most costs except for books, airfare for the international study tour and travel cost of attending campus retreats (for online students). A virtual bookstore is available for online purchase of new and used textbooks. Billing is prorated per semester.

Tuition
Program Tuition
Supply Chain Certificate (15 semester credit hours) $13,500
Business Core/International Trip – both degree options (23 semester credit hours) $24,500
Total cost of MS Degree Option $38,000
Courses for MBA Degree Option (16 semester credit hours) $14,400
Total cost of MBA Degree Option $52,400

Financial Aid

Students who need financial assistance may apply for long-term student loans. More information is available by contacting the Executive Education Financial Services Manager, Paula Baxter or call (972) 883-4114.

Degree-seeking students may borrow through the Federal Student Loan Programs (Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus). More information regarding the Federal Student Loan Programs for graduate students can be found at the Federal Student Loan Programs website and the Graduate and Professional Degree Students brochure.

Students seeking only the Graduate Certificate or ineligible for federal student aid may access private educational loan information via the UT Dallas Financial Aid Office website.