Hua Yang – MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2011/12)
What did you most like about your degree program?
The MSc in Logistics & Supply Chain Management at the University of Sheffield has provided me
with cutting edge academic knowledge, business skills and techniques about the logistics aspects
of businesses. With globalisation and increased customer orientation, logistics performance of a
business becomes of crucial importance to effectively manage resources, control costs, and
enhance profits. The whole course has placed a lot of emphasis on the use of Decision Support
Tools for solving real-world problems in a supply chain context and on the possibility of adopting
“Green” solutions, since the sustainability side is becoming an emerging issue for current
businesses. Also, I liked the interaction with the business world. We had industrial visits, guest
lectures and, for our final dissertation, we were asked to solve real problems in real-world
organisations. For instance, I had to provide a leading distributor in the construction materials
sector with a redesign of their distribution network.
What do you most like about studying at Sheffield?
The good studying and living environment make Sheffield a perfect place to study. Sheffield
University has powerful libraries and studying facilities. The Information Commons (IC) is open 24
hours/7 days and contains a lot of silent computer studying areas and books, which can make
study become easier and convenient. Also, all the staff in Sheffield are very helpful whenever I
encountered any problem.
What initially sparked your interest in the subject you are studying?
Based on the academic background I had for my bachelor degree, I fully appreciated the
importance of supply chain management for a business not only for improving profitability, but
also for sustainability purposes. Also, I noticed a serious gap between the great progress of
Chinese e-business sector and the lack of logistics system management in my country. This sheds
light on the need for logistics expertise in China. Therefore, I choose the MSc in Logistics & Supply
Chain Management to explore this field of study in depth.
What made you choose to study at Sheffield?
The nice study and living environment rank first among many reasons. The good reputation and
high ranking of the University of Sheffield was a good indicator of the excellence of teaching and
learning aspects. The Management School has recently achieved the Triple Crown Accreditation.
This is a prestigious status that just 0.4% of the Business Schools across the world have. Therefore,
the University of Sheffield “brand” is very powerful: this can greatly support my future career. In
addition, the living cost in Sheffield is one of the lowest amongst all big cities in the UK.
What were you doing before you came to Sheffield?
I was doing my bachelor degree majoring in International Business Management at another
institution in the UK.
What do you hope to do straight after graduating?
I’ve got a job from Mercedes Benz in China, and my role is to work as a trainee in the
procurement department, which can make me know how a big real supply chain operates. My
work is about developing and maintaining relationships with suppliers, also focusing on supplier
selection aspects. I will have a lot of scope for trying to utilise the knowledge and techniques I
learnt from my degree in the real life business.
What are your career aims for the future?
My short term career goal is to get empirical experiences about how to manage supply chains.
In the future, I would like to run a logistics business by incorporating my working experience and
the state-of-the-art knowledge that I learnt from this course in Sheffield.