SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTS EXAM. Business & Marketing Coursework

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Supply Chain Management
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Question 1
Part A
Cost/benefit impact of logistical failure has a direct relationship with the service importance to the end consumer. The cost/benefit analysis would help in determining the viability of a logistics and a supply chain by evaluation costs and benefits which would give a go ahead in its exploitation (Hugos & Michael, nd). Cost/benefit analysis is the last step in feasibility assessment which provides a risk and benefits estimate useful in the performance and implementation of a logistical supply system.
Part B
Fuel has an impact in the logistics design. Fuel prices affect the way supply chain venders manage their logistics. The effect will highly depend on whether the prices are on the higher or lower side. For example, lower side would indicate fuel prices are low and decreased which is a favorable aspect of logistics as compared to the increased fuel prices. Fuel price increment causes difficulties in transfer of goods from one end to the other and may end up crippling supply chain activities (Koberg, Esteban & Annachiara, 1090). They form part of costs and a cost/benefit analysis would show impossibility in supply chain.
Question 2
The difference to improving customer service will depend on the influence of each means. The use of fast and convenient transportation will ensure reliability to delivering goods, high inventory will reduce frequent transportation and also decrease stock-out challenges while expanded warehouses will help increase storage capacity reducing stock-outs as well. Their differences are interdependent in nature.
Question 3
Part A
A reliability-based trust matches the perception of a supply chain partner and related behavior and also performance. On the contrast, character-based relates to philosophy and culture of the supply chain partner. Character-based trusts are essential in collaboration relationships as they are efficient and also avails high information supply to investors and in a timely manner.
Part B
The three types of collaboration in supply chain will include transaction, information sharing and strategic collaborations. The three can be distinguished on the basis of the work performed at each point. The drive to the differences will result from the various types of information exchanged at each collaboration.
Question 4
Part A
The three objectives associated with the performance measurement system entails; controlling, monitoring and direction of operations’ logistics. Controlling involves checking of errors and placing corrective measures. Monitoring will require the observation and the checking progress of activities while direction will offer direction on the logistics operations.
Part B
SOX are critical on performance measurement as it concerns with the financial situation of the organization. It curbs the possible mismanagement of funds and guards the shareholders from falsified financial reporting. Sarbanes-Oxley requirements help to link the internal financial controls with the supply chains helping impact logistics’ operations. It makes it easy to peg the supply chain to performance measurement system.
Question 5
Balanced score card
It can be described as performance measurement criteria which include factors from the financial perspective, customer’s perspective, innovation and learning perspective and the internal operations. The logistics managers can rely on balanced score card to derive a performance measurement system (Cousins, Paul D., et al, nd). They would look at the factors that pinpoint the drivers to their success. For example, they would use customers perspective to understand how their customers view them.
Question 6
Part A
Challenges related to security
The first challenge is the inventory theft which is facilitated at the distribution centers due to the huge scale of goods going through the points. There is also collusion between the centers and the workers from inside of firms and as such, inventory may not be recorded with precision. This threatens supply chains.
Second challenge is due to smuggling of both legal and the illegal goods. This happens from the international flow of goods in containers. It tends to threaten supply chain and logistics as it is against the logistics and supply chain requirements.
Challenges related to regulatory and compliance
The business trade has been invaded by compliance issues due to registration or on-board of non-qualified vendors. This has a problem of defying the logistics and supply chain procedures.
Second compliance threat comes from failed support of products through GDSN activities. This is part of product standardization which suppliers need to meet as part of regulations.
Part B
Types of functional skills
The first is the cost accounting skills. It has an impact in evaluating costs versus benefits that would result from a supply chain activity. It is what determines the profitability of logistics and supply chai...