Creating Resilient Supply Chains and Procurement

Due Date: 09:00 pm 2^rd December

Proportion of total marks: 40%

References style: Harvard referencing style.

Company: Woolworth’s

As an operation management consultant, in a 3000-word (+/-10%) report, you need to analyse the operation function of an organization of your choice and provide recommendations to improve the operation function.
You need to identify an organisation that you are familiar with. This organisation can be an organisation you have worked for, or any other organisation that you are able to collect some information related to its supply chain. The information you collect need to be able to assist you with doing analysis in the areas highlighted in this assessment.

Cover Page

Student Name Student ID
Title of the report

Executive summary

Main problems/issues
Main recommendations
Expected benefits, and potential risks

Table of contents

2. Body of the report (2000 words)

➢ From a customer perspective, provide a prioritisation of competitive dimensions for the products and/or services the organisation delivers (what are customer preferences?)

Identify and prioritise three dimensions (for example, quality, speed of delivery and price).

➢ Evaluate the operation function to see if it is aligned with the prioritisation you identified, or not.

Select and describe three of the processes (or operations or supply chains) within the operation function (These are the processes used to generate a product or deliver a service and this is a more detailed section).
Explain how well the performance of selected processes (or operations or supply chains) is aligned with the identified prioritisation of competitive dimensions or not.
For each process, clearly identify, and explain one mismatch/points of improvement (there is no alignment, or the alignment can be improved).

➢ Analyse and evaluate the three mismatches/points of improvements.

Using one of the following topics for each mismatch/point of improvement, analyse, and evaluate the three mismatches/points of improvements. You need to apply the concepts/tools/theories for this purpose. Avoid using the same topic for more than one mismatch/point of improvement.

Lean Supply Chains
Manufacturing Processes
Sales and Operations Planning

Location, Logistics, and distribution

Material Requirements Planning

Inventory Management
Quality Management and Six Sigma

Forecasting

Note that each of the abovementioned topics include multiple sub-concepts. You do not need to apply all the sub-concepts. One or two concepts per each topic is enough. It is more important to develop solid arguments.

Appendices (if any)

Your appendices may contain, for example, detailed tables of data, details of how you did a calculation etc.

Notes:

– Use 1.5 line spacing with 2.54 cm margins and align your text to the left
– Use Font 12 Calibri and submit the Microsoft Word file.
– 3300 words maximum. Excluding front page, executive summary, table of contents, figures, tables, appendices, in-text citations, and reference list.
– Exceeding the word limit results in 30% of the total mark possible for this assessment being deducted.
– In the absence of an extension, 5% of the total mark possible for a piece of work will be deducted for every day or part day by which the assignment is late.
– Non-submission will result in zero marks and submissions received after 72 hours of the due time will not be marked.
– The submission goes through similarity check software (Turnitin). Please pay attention to university guidelines on Academic Integrity.
– Use appendices only sparsely. Use diagrams, pictures, or graphics if relevant.
– Critical thinking of concepts is required. To provide this, you need to apply the concepts from the topics to the selected processes (or operations or supply chains). Using literature to support your discussions assist as well. Providing comparison and examples are other ways to enhance critical thinking.
– Please include a front page that highlights the title and shows your full name and student identification number.
– Note that the provided word count breakdown above is a general guide. You can make modifications as needed. However, note that you still need to consider the marking criteria.
– Please pay attention to using the concepts in your analysis.
– Avoid colour or coloured font.
– Use page numbering
– Use heading/sub-heading numbering
– Follow the Harvard referencing style.

– You need to include appropriate citations of references (Preferably recent journal articles, business magazines, company reports or case studies. 12 references minimum).
– The report should have a clear structure. You can use the structure suggested above and you can add sub-headings as needed (provided dot points above can assist with this). Or please feel free to bring your own headings and sub-headings to make a better structure. Note that the required contents (as provided above) need to be covered.
– Use single line spacing in the reference list and the list should be ordered alphabetically.
– You can consider a boundary to manage the word count.
– It is preferred that a real organisation is used.
– You can keep the name of the organisation anonymous if needed.
– It is recommended to have both quantitative and qualitative analysis in your work. This could be for the same process or for different processes.
– Please review the Statement of Assessment Methods document as well.

Report marking criteria:

Identification and critical analysis of relevant concepts: 25%
Appropriateness of responses to the questions with clear theory backed arguments: 30%
Integration of literature (minimum 12 peer reviewed articles): 25%
Clarity of expression, grammar, and spelling: 7%
Appropriate and relevant structure: 10%
Conformity to Harvard referencing style: 3%