SCENARIO It is no secret that the manufacturing sector is critically important for both developed and emerging economies. From producing necessities like food for a nation to creating much-needed jobs, the sector is a source of innovation, productivity and global trade. An article within the World Economic Forum site indicated that about 600 million people suffer food poisoning every year, according to the World Health Organisation, and 420,000 die as a result. When an outbreak occurs, investigators can spend days or weeks tracking its source. A good example is the recent recall of lettuce within the US where reports stated that least 40 people in 16 states had reportedly gotten sick due to a strain of E. coli traced back to the lettuce, 28 of those have been hospitalised. Increasingly, technology is playing a more pivotal role in risk detection as opposed to disaster recovery. This is known as traceability, where technologies such as ERP allows manufacturers to meet the consumer demands for food transparency while enhancing the ability to identify, respond to and even prevent food safety issues. Consider the scenario that you are a supply chain manager in a South African company that produces maize. You are required to undertake some research in order to understand the value chain of maize production. This will help enhance the application of project theory to the supply chain of maize. Analyse the following questions and develop your response to each one by clearly showing how you will manage the project using strategic supply chain management principles. Note: students are required to read beyond the scope of the scenario and module guide to answer the questions that follow. Foundations of literature include primary and secondary sources.

QUESTION 1 (25 Marks) After your appointment as a supply chain manager, the minister has called a meeting with you in order to ascertain a sense of what your duties entail as a supply chain manager. This is an opportunity for you to showcase the importance of a supply chain manager. Analyse the below diagram to discuss the role of a supply chain manager in managing the flow of activities. Use the scenario to support your answer.

QUESTION 2 (25 Marks) An organisation's competitive strategy defines, relative to its competitors, the set of customer needs that it seeks to satisfy or meet with its products and services. Discuss the success factors for the project by illustrating the organisation's competitive strategy through its customers' priorities. To persuade the minister that you are capable of carrying out the project.

QUESTION 3 (25 Marks) Suppose you are working as a managing director at a food manufacturing company in Durban, South Africa. You would like to assess how the Company can vary the supply of its various ingredient options in order to meet the anticipated variability. In a detailed essay, investigate the various approaches your small business may utilise to manage supply in order to solve the issue of product unavailability.

QUESTION 4 (25 Marks) As the appointed Supply Chain manager, you have summoned your team to a project meeting to discuss the associated risks and contributing factors for global supply chain flows. Advise your team on the driving forces for globalisation in order to understand the future course of global trade.