DCI currently uses a warehouse management system (WMS) and a transportation management system (TMS) in its distribution center in Mississauga. With distribution out of only one location, the WMS and TMS proved effective. With volumes potentially increasing by 200% in the next 3 years, the company has considered investing in technology AND looking at developing a collaborative relationship with three carefully selected road transportation providers in Canada that may be used for option # 2 and final delivery for both options 1 and 2 (Rail will be used for Option # 1 from Vancouver to Mississauga). The company is considering three providers to minimize the risk of service failures and will have contingency plans in place outside of the three chosen providers. You have been tasked with researching the benefits of Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs) and researching the benefits of the increased volumes for transportation providers to help with the rate negotiations.

Both options for DCI will require an analysis of the supply of transportation and the different factors affecting transportation pricing that need to be considered. Option # 1 involves increasing volumes from China to Vancouver via ocean and then from Vancouver to Mississauga via rail. Option# 1 also involves road transportation from the rail terminal to the distribution center in Mississauga and to Montreal. Option # 2 involves the new and existing volumes coming from your chosen country to either the Port of Halifax or the Port of Montreal and then road transportation from the chosen port to Mississauga or Montreal. You have been asked to discuss how the supply of transportation for both options will affect the firms decision. Also, you will be required to discuss the internal and external factors that affect transportation pricing, specific to the two options, and how those factors may influence the decision.

When exploring a different part of the world to source from, it is essential that location determinants and government influence are included in the analysis. In addition, supply chains effects on the environment are a topic that is much more prevalent in todays world. The environment may not be the number one factor that influences supply chain decisions, but it is something that needs to be taken into consideration. As the final step in this case study, you will be required to analyze both options based on location determinants discussed in the course. Government initiatives to promote trade are also significant factors in the decision-making process for supply chain projects. For this third and final part of the case study, you will be required to answer the following questions, provide a brief summary of the previous 2 assignments, and then make a recommendation on which option DCI should choose. Be sure to provide a convincing recommendation using support from all three parts of the case study.

Specifically, you have been asked to: Question 1 Discuss the location determinants that will help determine DCIs best option for the new and existing volumes. Be sure to discuss determinants for both options. Question 2 Discuss the current and proposed government initiatives that your chosen country, China and Canada have in place to promote trade and supply chain efficiencies. Question 3 Describe the environmental effects of both options and what environmental initiatives the different modes used have implemented to reduce carbon emissions and energy usage.

Please ANSWER MENTIONED BELOW FORMAT

Executive Summary Put your executive summary here. An executive summary includes a brief description of the major findings of your report including the any key recommendations that you have been asked to investigate. This portion of your report should be completed after the final body of the report has been completed. The executive summary is intended to have your actual findings or recommendations stated clearly for the reader on all of the challenges you have been asked to consider. For example, if you have been asked to investigate and recommend a solution, you should clearly state your recommended solution along with one or two of the major supportive points. This portion of your report should be one to two pages maximum. The executive summary is to be written in full paragraph form.

Introduction Briefly state the objective of the report, which includes the problem statement(s). It is not necessary to reiterate all of the case details in your introduction. Assume the reader has some familiarity with the organization itself.

[Topic 1] Define the challenge Consider the options Evaluate the options

[Topic 2] Define the challenge Consider the options Evaluate the options

[Topic 3] Define the challenge Consider the options Evaluate the options

Conclusion Briefly summarize your key points to bring the report to a cohesive finish.

Recommendation Briefly summarize your key points from this assignment and the previous two assignments to bring this final report to a cohesive finish and then provide a recommendation between Option # 1 and Option # 2. Be sure to support your recommendation with key points from all three assignments.

References The reference section is used to provide a citation (or credit) to the sources that you have used in your discussion or developing your opinions within the report. It is necessary to include citations for work or ideas from any external source. Failure to properly acknowledge sources of information is considered plagiarism. This section should use a standard form of citation such as APA or MLA, and is simply a list of the sources of any information that you use.

Appendices The appendices section is used to keep any reference material for your report. For example, this may include data tables that demonstrate how a monetary value was arrived at. This type of information is best placed in the appendix section of the report and simply reference the reader to a specific appendix (i.e. see Appendix A Transportation Costs). In most circumstances, technical data should not be included in the body of your report and placed in the appendix using a reference to guide the reader to the particular appendix. You should label each appendix with a title of the information it contains and include this in the Table of Contents.

Your response should be approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words total (including your executive summary) and contain a brief introduction, your analysis and recommendation, and finally a conclusion. You can use the Word template provided to get started. Please submit your assignment in Word (.doc or .docx) format. For this third and final case study assignment submission, you will be required to answer the above questions, provide a brief summary of the previous 2 assignments, and then make a recommendation on which option DCI should choose. Be sure to provide a convincing recommendation using support from all three parts of the case study.

Option #1: Increase the import volumes with the existing suppliers in China, ship the product intermodally from China to Vancouver and then by rail to a distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, where the product will be unloaded, stored, and distributed to Ontario, Quebec, and the northeastern US. As mentioned above, you can choose whether to service the new markets from the existing Mississauga location or open a new warehouse in Montreal to serve the new markets. The suppliers in China can meet the additional volumes.

Option #2: As the Director of Operations, your task is to choose another country to import the new and existing products from. You will conduct some initial research on that country to ensure that it is a suitable region to source from. Once youve chosen a country, you will complete a qualitative analysis, which will then be used by the finance department to complete a quantitative analysis on both options. As mentioned above, you can choose whether to service the new markets from the existing Mississauga location or open a new warehouse in Montreal to serve the new markets.