MSc in Management of Production, Logistics and Procurement - Track in Management and Optimization of Supply Chains and Transport (MOST) IMT Atlantique

The MPLP program proposed by the IMT Graduate School of Engineering in Nantes aims to give a competitive edge to students and young professionals interested in industrial engineering and engineering management with a high emphasis on quantitative methods for decision making in the field of supply chain and transport management and optimization.

• A two year Master of Science English taught program fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education and consistent with the European LMD educational system.
• Possibility to join the program at year 1 or year 2 depending on background and experience.
• Master’s degree program offered by IMT Atlantique - Nantes campus – Department of Industrial Engineering, Automatic Control, and Computer Science.
• Important notice: All information is indicative and subject to change without notice.

Context and objectives of the MPLP Master’s Program

Supply Chain Management is concerned with the global management of physical, information flows for the elaboration of products, going from raw materials and suppliers through the production and distribution system down to the final consumers and transport activities play a key role in the organization of the system. The design, planning, and optimization of global supply chains and their components (procurement, production, distribution, and transport) have become a key factor of performance competitiveness for companies of all sectors in the increasingly competitive global economy. The program covers the logistics activities of companies in the productive sectors as well as in the service activities.

The performance of supply chains is a key factor in the competitiveness of firms in the industrial or service sectors in a competitive environment. It’s development relies on permanent search and adoption of innovations in many disciplines relative to engineering or management. Managers or supply chains or executives holding positions on related areas are permanently challenged with the development of innovative projects and the search for progress. New challenges have been introduced by the globalization of the economy and the new context of sustainable development. Be convinced of the challenge of becoming a manager of a supply chain or related areas by consulting recent surveys and studies such as:

• 8th Annual Global Survey of Supply Chain Progress -2010-
• GCI_Capgemini Future Supply Chain 2016 Report
• GCI_Capgemini Future Supply Chain 2016 Appendix

The MPLP Master's program aims to give a competitive edge to students and young professionals interested in industrial engineering and engineering management with a high emphasis on quantitative methods for decision making in the field of supply chain and transport management and optimization, by providing:

• the high-level technical and management skills necessary for the management of supply chains and logistics and transport systems for the production or service sectors;
• an advanced training in Operations Research and Decision making techniques applied to supply chain management;
• in-depth knowledge of industrial systems operations management, production, transport and logistics in all sectors of economic activity;
• the ability to manage complex innovative projects in an international environment;
• the opportunity to put into practice the theoretical concepts in a real industrial environment or conduct a research project aimed at developing innovations in the area;
• the chance to learn the French language and acquire the French culture;
• the opportunity to enter a high-level carrier in industry or to continue for the preparation of a doctoral thesis.

As global competition becomes stronger and the demands of all sectors of the market continue to grow in terms of technology as well as price and service, companies need managers, industrial engineers, and professionals who can operate effectively across the Management/Technology interface that characterizes supply chains.

The Supply Chain Manager must, therefore, be competent in all the technical, economic and human aspects of a complex process. In particular, he must be responsible for the design and optimization of a product or a complex system throughout its lifecycle. The concepts of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management taught within the program are essential for the design and development of global supply chains as well as logistics, production transport and service systems for all sectors of the economy.

Participants must hold an initial background in engineering or science. Graduates in economics or management or other fields may also be admitted provided the hold a strong background in quantitative methods. No prior “major” area of specialization is required. Participants holding a first industrial experience are particularly welcome.

Course Structure

The MPLP master’s program extends over two years and comprises 4 academic semesters having a specific focus

• Year 1: 2 academic semesters (M1 S1 and M1 S2)
  • M1 S1 focus: Fundamentals of Supply Chain (SC) Management & Optimization
  • M1 S2 focus: Industrial Engineering & Management Methods and Techniques
• Year 2: 1 academic semester (M2 S1) 1 semester (M2 S2) devoted to the preparation of a Master’s thesis, or “End of Studies Project”
  • M2 S1 focus: Advanced Optimization & Applications
  • M2 S2 focus: Master Thesis
    The master’s thesis can be prepared in the form of an industrial internship within a company or within a research laboratory.

Each academic semester comprises several modules corresponding to the following training areas:

• Scientific and Technical Modules (ST)
• Management Modules (SSG)
• Scientific and technical Project Courses (PR)
• Training for the Corporate World Courses (FEM)
• Individual/Society Project Courses (CEP)
• Foreign Language Courses (LV): the study of the French language or another foreign language depending on the student’s mother tongue.

Each Module may comprise one or several Courses and leads to the obtention of ECTS credits. Each semester corresponds to the obtention of 30 ECTS and the full Master’s program to the obtention of 120 ECTS. See the school’s general rules and regulations for validating the credits and obtaining the master’s degree diploma.

Learn more about IMT Atlantique international and national rankings

The program aims to give a competitive edge to industrial system engineers in the field of production and logistics systems by providing:

• High-level technical and management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of industrial systems operations management, production, and logistics in all sectors of economic activity.
• An opportunity to put into practice the theoretical concepts in a real industrial environment.

Target jobs

• Director of logistics
• Supply chain manager