MBADM 822, Lesson 11: Homework Assignment (Team)

Assignment Overview

As a team, complete the following tasks:

• Review the assigned questions.
• Determine how your team will approach the assignment. Remember that both team members should make equal contributions towards completing the assignment; however, “equal” is defined by each team.
• Develop a response for all of the questions. Note: For problem-based questions, please use Excel as the preferred electronic format for files.
• Submit assignment by the due date. Late submissions are penalized.
• Submission format: Respond to each short, essay-type question with a 1-2 paragraph write-up. Case analysis should be limited to 1-2 pages. Case analysis is worth 20 points, and the remaining 25 points are allocated equally between the essay-type questions if no other point scheme is specified.

This assignment will be graded in three parts. The rubric provided will be used to grade the case analysis portion of the assignment.  There is no rubric for the discussion or the problems, although all discussion posts need to be substantive and the problems should be solved using Excel.  If you have questions or need clarification, please contact me.

Questions

Respond to each of following questions or critical thinking prompts:

1. Discuss the importance of logistics management for effective supply chain management. What factors have contributed to the evolution and growth of logistics management?
2. “If a company’s target market consists of price-conscious consumers, then the firm is more likely to use slower modes of transportation.” Discuss why this is so.
3. You have just taken a job with a diversified manufacturing firm, and as your first assignment, you must make some transportation decisions on behalf of your organization for shipping its various products. Given the following set of products, argue for using air, truck, rail, or water assets to ship the product. Why would one be more appropriate than another method?
   1. Petroleum distillates from Fresno, California, to Chicago, Illinois.
   2. Critical, time-sensitive medical supplies from Tampa, Florida, to Bogota, Columbia.
   3. Automobile parts for secondary markets from Long Beach, California, to Shanghai, China.
   4. Refurbished office equipment from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina.
4. Suppose you were designing packaging for organically grown tea.
   • What are some of the features you would emphasize? Why?
   • How would the various functions of packaging affect how you would package your product?
5. Assume you are the logistics manager for fictional StayFresh Grocery Stores, in Cleveland, Ohio. You are responsible for seven stores in the metropolitan area.
   • How might you employ cross-docking at your biggest regional warehouse to improve the distribution of goods to each of the stores?
   • Identify how cross-docking works and how it could aid in on-time (and fresh) produce deliveries.
6. Analyze Case 11.1 (Custom Chapter 12) How Sustainable Logistics Solutions and Technologies Have Helped Wal-Mart Become More Efficient using the case analysis format provided in the assessment rubric. Include your responses to the case questions in the critical analysis section.