Planing and Design for supply chains

(1) Explain how the performance specifications for a product manufactured by a Tier-1 automotive supplier to the United States automakers could affect its supply chain related decisions.

(2) How is forecasting important to Ms. Becky Simpson, a supply chain manager for Costco store? What key suggestions would you make to Ms. Simpson to assure that her forecasting is more impactful from the viewpoints of costs and customer service?

(3) Explain the role of inventory in a retail establishment. Such an establishment has a large number of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) that it sells, but is limited in terms of space to display them to customers for sale. Describe and explain a framework you would use to ensure the best use of space for the benefit of the organization.

(4) What is the difference between a buy-back contract and a revenue-sharing contract? In what ways can these types of contracts be beneficial for supply chains?

(5) In what ways can Fishers Supply Chain Grid be useful to a supply chain manager? What limitations would you consider the framework to have in terms of its applicability?

(6) Using suitable company examples, explain how unwillingness to share information or unwillingness to share risks can jeopardize collaboration among partners in a supply chain.

(7) By using suitable examples, clearly explain the role that trust plays in effective collaboration among supply chain partners.

(8) What do you understand by the Bullwhip Effect in supply chains? What negative impacts does it have on supply chains? What practical steps can you as a supply chain manager take to minimize the negative impacts of the Bullwhip Effect?

(9) What do you understand by the term Mass customization? What are some key characteristics of mass customization? Is mass customization limited to manufacturing

industries? Explain.

(10) Using suitable examples, explain the concept of postponement. Clearly describe how postponement benefits the supply chain?