1. Outline the various potential stages of this supply chain. This description should cover key details regarding how these various stages operate (focus writing on details not included on the graphical diagram or network diagram for your supply chain in Step 4). The lecture in Week 1 describes these details in the audio portion for that example which need to be considered similarly for your selected supply chain.
2. Identify potential geographic locations of these stages in this supply chain (this may be drawn on the graphical diagram or network diagram in Step 4). This should focus on the major locations for each stage of the supply chain. The lecture in Week 1 and 2 provides examples of this portion of the project.
3. Design a graphical diagram(s) or network(s) on how the material, information, and funds flow in your selected supply chain. Students should focus on the main flow as illustrated in the Week 1 lecture. For help on using drawing tools for visual organizers, there are several Microsoft Office programs available (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, etc.). Please see link to tutorials in the Course Materials if unsure on the computer skills needed to create your own visual organizer or go to a computer lab or learning center for help.
4. Explain the key customer needs from this supply chain. Customer expectations should be translated into key performance metrics for your selected supply chain. This should include research beyond your personal opinion as a customer. Students should provide at least three specific performance measures for stages across their selected supply chain (this becomes baseline measures to estimate the impact of improvements you will need to develop in Part B).
5. Determine which stage of the life cycle this selected supply chain is in, for example whether the product or service is new, innovative/growing, maturing, or declining in its life cycle. Explain your reasoning for this life cycle decision as this should influence supply chain strategies and decisions in the next part of this project.
6. Prioritize at least three current key decisions or characteristics concluded on the selected supply chain that are impacting the overall performance of this supply chain. Students should consider from their research major characteristics or decisions that may be impacting strategic, planning, operating, marketing, financing, performance to draw these conclusions (see lecture in Week 1 for a mind map of options to relate to your project and research). These supply chain decisions or characteristics should focus on major issues today that are shaping the ability of this product or service selected to compete in the global marketplace.