Online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Concentration in Analytics

The online MS in Supply Chain Management concentration in Analytics will prepare you to apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytical methods to supply networks using R programming language and other specialized programming languages. Focused on the needs of supply chain decision-makers who must navigate the ever-changing and increasingly complex networks of facilities, partners, suppliers, and other domestic and international stakeholders, the MSSCM Analytics concentration will prepare you to utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations, while applying systematic process-oriented approaches to evaluate supply chain performance using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.

By applying analytics to operations such sourcing, manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation, supply chain managers can improve efficiency in their organizations. The ability to analyze data also provides a clearer understanding of risk, increased accuracy in planning, enhanced end-to-end visibility, and a means of achieving a leaner supply chain. The Supply Chain Management Analytics concentration will examine decisions concerning the determination of supply chain strategies, analysis and mitigation of supply chain risks, management of performance, quality control, inventory and capacity management, and all other operations-related analyses will be stressed. Analytical techniques include statistical analysis, probabilistic decision-tree analysis, control charting, process capability analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation and optimization techniques.

Those with supply chain-related analytics experience are well-positioned to fill a significant skills gap—a 2017 Teradata survey showed that 48 percent of enterprises faced a shortage of big data analytics talent. Meanwhile, a report by Grand View Research projects that the global supply chain analytics market—valued at $4.55 billion in 2020—will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 17.3 percent through 2028. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of operations research analysts will grow 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, with an annual median wage of $86,200 in 2020.

Students who complete the Supply Chain Management master’s degree concentration in Analytics will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to use interlinked data inputs, analytics, and systems to support decision-making in a supply chain that is geographically dispersed and culturally diverse.
  • Utilize financial statements, create performance metrics, develop inspection systems, and evaluate performance in manufacturing, service, and business processes using statistical calculations and displays.
  • Apply descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytical methods to supply networks, including optimization, simulation, forecasting, risk analysis, queuing models, using R programming language and other specialized programming languages.
  • Utilize mathematical modeling and optimization theory by choosing the appropriate quantitative tools to support supply chain operations.
  • Apply a systematic process-oriented approach to evaluating supply chain quality using statistical modeling with Six Sigma principles and techniques.

Awards & Accreditations


AACSB AccreditationAccredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

 

Council for Six Sigma Certification

Supply Chain Management program courses Operations Management: Business Process Fundamentals (MET AD 605) and Quality Management (MET AD 734) may qualify you for Green Belt Training accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification—an Official Industry Standard of Six Sigma Accreditation for Six Sigma training providers worldwide.

Why Choose BU’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management?

  • The Supply Chain Management program offers the flexibility of online or on-campus study formats, ensuring that students can earn their degree the way that suits them the best.
  • U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs - Grad Business 2024In 2024, Metropolitan College’s online master’s degrees in management were ranked #6 among the Best Online Master's in Business Programs (Excluding MBA) by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Boston University is an accredited member of AACSB International―The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  • Successfully complete Quality Management (MET AD 734) and you may qualify to earn a Six Sigma Green Belt accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification. By also completing Business Process Fundamentals (MET AD 605) you are eligible to earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. A Six Sigma certificate can help you increase productivity and decrease costs, enhancing your ability to deliver top-quality products and services to consumers in a limited amount of time. Eligibility is determined by satisfactory performance on final examinations in each course.
  • Capstone projects allow you to tackle a real-world project from a company and benefit from practical experience and opportunities to network, with the potential for internships and jobs. Each project is executed by a diverse team of students under the guidance of a BU professor in liaison with the client firm. Clients that have partnered with us as part of capstone projects include the City of Boston, Construction Specialties, Henkel Corporation, LEGO, Loctite, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Raytheon Technologies, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, SharkNinja, and Waters Corporation, among others. View completed projects as well as capstone projects in progress.
  • Collaborate with professors and industrial practitioners in BU MET’s Decision Sciences Research Laboratory, while applying your analytical skills to solve current problems facing industrial organizations.
  • Learn from expert faculty from MET’s Department of Administrative Sciences, and benefit from a unique combination of dynamic academic curricula, the latest educational technologies, and direct professional contact with industry leaders in the supply chain management area.
  • Focus on design, optimization, and operation of a global supply chain process, while gaining expertise in efficient production, global supply chain coordination, risk mitigation, strategic logistics management, and import-export operations.
  • Benefit from advanced pedagogy and the latest digital-learning concepts introduced in the online environment, such as video conferencing, live lectures and seminars, proctored assessments, access to proprietary software applications within virtual labs and cloud servers/technologies, creative learning, teamwork, and competitive games offered with the help of advanced business simulations.

Meet Dr. Vladimir Zlatev, one of the faculty members you’ll work with in the Administrative Sciences department.

Career Outlook

Operations Research Analysts

23% increase in jobs through 2032

$85,720 median annual pay in 2022

Market Research Analysts

13% increase in jobs through 2032

$68,230 median annual pay in 2022

Management Analysts

10% increase in jobs through 2032

$95,290 median annual pay in 2022

Sales Managers

4% increase in jobs through 2032

$130,600 median annual pay in 2022

Logisticians

18% increase in jobs through 2032

$77,520 median annual pay in 2022

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (visited September 06, 2023).

Industry Trends

The supply chain analytics market size crossed USD $6 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to exhibit a 15% CAGR from 2023 to 2032.

—Global Market Insights Report, 2023

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Money Matters

Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) offers competitive tuition rates that meet the needs of part-time students seeking an affordable education. These rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education. To learn more about current tuition rates, visit the MET website.

Financial Assistance

Comprehensive financial assistance services are available at MET, including scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans. There is no cost to apply for financial assistance, and you may qualify for a student loan regardless of your income. Learn more.


Curriculum

Students must complete the degree core courses, Analytics concentration requirements, as well as an elective and a capstone project. Students who take MET AD 734 and meet certain performance standards will earn Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Students who take both MET AD 605 and MET AD 734 and meet certain performance standards will earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Faculty

Canan Gunes Corlu

Canan Gunes Corlu

Associate Professor, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Supply Chain Management
PhD, MS, Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University; BS, Koc University

John Maleyeff

John Maleyeff

Associate Professor of the Practice, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Enterprise Risk Management
PhD, MS, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
BA, East Stroudsburg State College

David Ritt

David Ritt

Lecturer, Administrative Sciences
MS, Boston University; BA, University of Chicago

Vladimir Zlatev

Vladimir Zlatev

Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Digital Learning, Administrative Sciences; Coordinator, Applied Business Analytics
PhD, MS, BS, Dresden University of Technology

Getting Started

To learn more or to contact a graduate admissions advisor before you get started, request information using the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Someone will be in touch to answer any questions you may have about the program and detail the next steps in earning your degree. You can also start your application or register for a course at Metropolitan College.