Supply chain courses can help you learn how goods and information move through planning, sourcing, production, and distribution stages. You can build skills in forecasting, inventory management, supplier coordination, and evaluating operational performance. Many courses introduce tools such as spreadsheets, analytics platforms, and workflow systems that support organizing and improving supply chain activities.
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Sourcing, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Demand Planning, Procurement, Supplier Relationship Management, Manufacturing Operations, Forecasting, Supply Chain Planning, Lean Methodologies, Process Improvement, Supplier Management, Production Management, Operations Management, Customer Demand Planning, Inventory Management, Warehousing, Supply Chain, Warehouse Management, Logistics
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Unilever
Skills you'll gain: Data Governance, Descriptive Analytics, Data Storytelling, Supply Chain, Data Presentation, Supply Chain Management, Demand Planning, Data Literacy, Presentations, Supply Chain Systems, Supply Chain Planning, Process Improvement, Data Management, Process Improvement and Optimization, Data Lakes, Supply Management, Predictive Analytics, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Problem Solving
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Inventory Management, Warehousing, Warehouse Management, Logistics Management, Inventory and Warehousing, Inventory Management System, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics, Inventory Control, Warehouse Operations, Logistics, Transportation Operations, Transportation Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain, Order Delivery, Customer Service, Operating Cost
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Planning, Process Improvement, Process Improvement and Optimization, Supply Management, Performance Improvement, Customer Demand Planning, Logistics Management, Resource Planning, Production Planning, Sustainable Business, Logistics, Analytics, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Data Analysis, Risk Management, Data Visualization, Problem Solving
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Airbus Beyond
Skills you'll gain: Procurement, Order Management, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain, Order Delivery, Inventory Control, Production Planning, Contract Management, Supply Management, Sustainability Reporting, Supplier Performance Management, Sustainable Systems, Sustainability Standards, Vendor Contracts, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Logistics, Risk Management, Negotiation, Billing & Invoicing
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Competitive Intelligence, Demand Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Competitive Analysis, Customer Demand Planning, Data Storytelling, Procurement, Supplier Relationship Management, Supplier Risk Management, Supplier Management, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Regression Analysis, Supplier Performance Management, Supply Chain Systems, Inventory Control, Market Opportunities, Supply Chain Management, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Logistics, Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Systems, Supply Management, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Logistics, Manufacturing Operations, Strategic Sourcing, Operations Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Operations, Warehouse Management, Forecasting, Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Product Flow Diagram, Business Operations, Materials Management, Warehouse Operations
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, Lean Methodologies, Process Improvement, Production Management, Operations Management, Operations, Process Improvement and Optimization, Production Process, Six Sigma Methodology, Operational Efficiency, Quality Improvement, Process Optimization, Supply Chain, Kanban Principles, Inventory Control, Inventory and Warehousing, Inventory Management, Inventory Management System
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of California, Irvine
Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Customer Demand Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain, Capacity Planning, Materials Management, Forecasting, Material Requirements Planning, Performance Measurement, Microsoft Excel, Communication Planning, Excel Formulas, Performance Metric, Capacity Management, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Methods, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Data Analysis, Meeting Facilitation
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Prompt Patterns, ChatGPT, Generative AI, Model Evaluation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Demand Planning, Forecasting, Customer Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Sales Management, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Supply Chain Management, Planning, Trend Analysis, Decision Making, Performance Measurement, Microsoft Excel
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Skills you'll gain: Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Supply Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Supplier Performance Management, Negotiation, Supplier Quality Management, Vendor Management, Purchasing, Contract Negotiation, Request For Quotation (RFQ), Vendor Relationship Management, Price Negotiation, Procurement, Case Studies, Stakeholder Management, Contract Management, Market Analysis, Supplier Risk Management, Request for Proposal
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Supply chain is the process of planning, sourcing, making, moving, and delivering products or services to customers. It connects areas like logistics, procurement, inventory, operations, analytics, and customer demand so organizations can manage resources more effectively. Courses such as Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Logistics, and Supply Chain Planning introduce these core concepts and show how they apply across industries. On Coursera, you can explore supply chain courses that build both operational knowledge and practical analytical skills.‎
Supply chain skills are used in roles such as logistics coordinator, supply chain analyst, procurement specialist, demand planner, operations analyst, inventory planner, and supply chain manager. These jobs often involve coordinating suppliers, tracking shipments, analyzing demand, improving processes, or using data to support planning decisions. Courses like Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst, Supply Chain Analytics, and Airbus Supply Chain Specialist reflect how supply chain learning can connect to analytics, industry operations, and specialist roles. Coursera courses can help you identify which area of supply chain fits your goals.‎
Before learning supply chain, it helps to understand basic business operations, spreadsheets, data interpretation, and problem-solving. You do not need advanced technical knowledge to begin, but comfort with numbers, processes, and cause-and-effect thinking can make concepts like inventory, forecasting, and logistics easier to follow. If you plan to study analytics-focused topics, basic statistics or data analysis skills can also be useful. Beginner-friendly courses such as Supply Chain Management or Supply Chain Logistics can help you build a foundation step by step.‎
Skills that complement supply chain include data analytics, project management, operations management, procurement, logistics, forecasting, communication, and process improvement. Many supply chain decisions rely on interpreting data, coordinating across teams, and balancing cost, speed, quality, and reliability. Courses such as Supply Chain Management and Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, and Supply Chain Excellence can help you connect supply chain concepts with performance measurement and data-driven decision-making. Combining these skills can support a broader and more flexible learning path on Coursera.‎
A good way to start learning supply chain is to begin with an overview course, then move into a focused area such as logistics, planning, analytics, or operations. For example, Supply Chain Management can introduce the overall field, while Supply Chain Logistics and Supply Chain Planning can help you study specific functions in more detail. If you are interested in data-focused work, courses like Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst or Supply Chain Analytics may be a helpful next step. Coursera lets you compare options based on your background and learning goals.‎
Yes. You can start learning supply chain on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in supply chain, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎
Some strong beginner options include Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Logistics from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, as well as Supply Chain Planning from the University of California, Irvine. These courses can help new learners understand how goods, information, and decisions move across a supply chain. If you already have some business or data experience, Supply Chain Analytics or Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst may be useful for building more analytical skills. On Coursera, reviewing course descriptions and prerequisites can help you choose a starting point that matches your experience.‎
Supply chain courses typically cover topics such as logistics, inventory management, sourcing, demand planning, operations, supplier relationships, transportation, analytics, and process improvement. More specialized courses may focus on data analysis, performance metrics, planning systems, or industry-specific supply chain roles. For example, Rutgers offers courses in management, logistics, analytics, and excellence, while Unilever and Airbus Beyond provide role-oriented supply chain learning. Coursera’s course selection can help you move from broad foundations into focused skills that support your next learning step.‎