Students will be evaluating how to apply the best practices in the lessons to their selected supply chain. In Part A students focused on defining how their selected supply chain currently performs (be sure to read professor Part A feedback before starting Part B). In Part B studentswill conduct further research (i.e. use lessons, Internet, and library sources) to further examine the supply chain defined in Part A and structure improvement recommendations for the supply chain. If students partnered with another student on Part A, they should continue to work with that student for Part B. As covered in Step 1 (Week 2), students should further extend their team charter plans for Part B needs to best manage themselves. If partnerships are not working, students are expected to complete this part individually (notify the instructor if any partnerships end).

8. Identify 3 major uncertainties or risksimpacting the global supply chain network decisions defined in Part A (i.e. Table 6-3). Students should include specific examples from their research that impacts their supply chain selected.

Then students need to apply the best practices in the Week 2 thru 5 lessons to recommend how this supply chain may offset these 3 major uncertainties or risks identified (students cannot use forecasting and aggregate planning which are focused on in Step 9 & 10). Students need to propose and explain specific supply chain practices that are used to address or buffer from these uncertainties and risks. Include 3 specific projects the supply chain should implement to reduce (or ideally eliminate) these uncertainties or risks.

9. Find financial and/or operating data on a company that is part of this supply chain (see Course Materials Doing Research tutorial on accessing financial SEC filings). Students need to prepare a forecast of a key parameter (i.e. spreadsheets in Week 3 lecture and Homework 2). Select a forecast method (i.e. Chapter 7) and explain why that method was selected. Describe how this forecast may be used to better manage this supply chain.

10. Assess research obtained while completing Step 9. When collecting information to create an example forecast, students had to see some aggregate planning discussion (i.e. Chapter 8). Explain the role of aggregate planning and identify one aggregate planning strategy that is used in the supply chain selected. Be specific demonstrating how this is used to support planning supply and demand in this supply chain.

11. Evaluate one of the geographic locations that this supply chain operates in (see Part A network diagram). Explain how this location fits this supply chain network design. Identify the pros and cons for that phase of the supply chain as to how that location supports (or inhibits) this network decision (i.e. examples are in lecture series, textbook, supplemental materials).

12. Analyze research on transportation (Chapter 14) and sourcing (Chapter 15) decisions found on the supply chain selected.

Pick one mode of transportation that is used in this supply chain. Explain the key role this mode has in supporting the supply chain. Identify one further infrastructure or network design recommendation you would make to this supply chain to improve their transportation needs. Explain key performance measures this would impact (i.e. lead-time, distances between stages, on-time or flexible deliveries, etc.).

Identify one sourcing strategy used in this supply chain. Explain how this strategy influences Total Cost of Ownership (i.e. Table 15-2). Identify one further sourcing recommendation you would make to this supply chain to improve their supplier needs. Explain key performance measures this would impact (i.e. capacity, inventory, price, flexibility, costs, security, visibility, etc.).

13. Evaluate the supply chain for further opportunities to improve performance. Identify 3 specific best practices in supply chain management that could be used to support these improvement opportunities (students cannot use the ideas already presented the prior steps, build additional ideas for this step). Think as though you are the supply chain manager. What else would you recommend to leaders or managers in your selected supply chain?

For example: strategic changes or further goals and objectives; other locations, planning, inventory, transportation, warehousing, sourcing, methods; use oftechnology, e-business, IT/ERP systems; customer demand management, offerings, promotion, pricing, relations; supplier relationships, replenishment, orders, costs; personnel leadership, labor, human rights; and more.

14. Estimate how these various improvement opportunities in Part B may affect the performance of this supply chain.In Part A (Step 5) students were to provide specific performance measures for stages across the supply chain (if did poorly on that step, may need to research to address issues here). Conclude Part B with strong estimates as to the impact your ideas would have on this supply chain (use specific quantifiable numbers, be persuasive as this is how you get others to commit resources to support your ideas).