Get started on your journey to becoming a supply chain specialist with this foundational course. You’ll explore what supply chains are, how they operate, and the essential role of a supply chain specialist in today’s global economy. Through real-world case studies, particularly from the aerospace industry, you’ll understand the core workflows, planning strategies, and leadership principles that drive resilient, efficient supply chains. You’ll also gain insight into logistics and distribution systems, stakeholder management, global market dynamics, and risk mitigation techniques vital for modern operations.
Understanding Global Supply Chains
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Understanding Global Supply Chains
This course is part of Airbus Supply Chain Specialist Professional Certificate
Instructor: Airbus Beyond
Included with 
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level
Recommended experience
2 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Describe the core functions and goals of global supply chains
Recognize key planning and network design strategies
Understand leadership and change management in supply chain contexts
Optimize logistics and distribution networks and identify and mitigate operational, legal, and geopolitical risks
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Shareable certificate
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Recently updated!
October 2025
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Airbus Supply Chain Specialist Professional Certificate
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate from Airbus Beyond
There are 5 modules in this course
Get started on your journey to becoming a supply chain specialist! In this first module, you will become familiar with the Coursera platform, what this specialisation covers and how to achieve your certificate. When you've learned your way around Coursera, you'll get introduced to the concept of supply chain and what a supply chain specialist does. After the bases are covered, you'll dive into the fundamentals of supply chain, such as the main workflows and frameworks to ensure efficiency. Furthermore, you'll learn the importance of regulations and their impact on supply chains. Additionally, you will be introduced to the aerospace industry, which will be used as a case study throughout the course.
What's included
12 videos19 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt4 plugins
Planning is the basis of a resilient global supply chain strategy. But strong planning also requires strong leadership. In this module, you’ll learn how to develop strategic supply chain plans, how to manage internal and external stakeholders, the fundamentals of leadership and change management, and how to design supply chain networks. Furthermore, you’ll learn how to spot global market trends affecting supply chain decisions.
What's included
14 videos20 readings6 assignments2 plugins
Distribution and transportation is the beating heart of supply chains - it’s what makes them move. In this lesson, you will examine how logistics and distribution processes work in global supply chains, and why they are essential for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You will learn how to design and optimise distribution networks to ensure that products are delivered on time and in the most efficient manner possible.
What's included
7 videos11 readings4 assignments2 plugins
Modern supply chains are constantly facing countless risks. In this lesson, you will learn how to identify, assess and mitigate risks within the supply chain. You will explore different types of risks, including operational, financial, regulatory, and geopolitical risks, and understand the importance of legal compliance. You will also examine how to assess the potential impact of these risks on supply chain performance.
What's included
6 videos12 readings4 assignments2 plugins
Welcome to the final project of the course "Understanding Global Supply Chains"! This hands-on project will be graded and necessary for you to receive your certificate. It will require around 60 minutes to complete, so make sure to set aside enough time to focus on it!
What's included
1 assignment
Earn a career certificate
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Instructor
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Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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