Exam 14: Supply Chain Management

Which supply chain management strategy is most appropriate when demand is unpredictable but supply lead times are short?

Management practices that reflect a highly coordinated effort between supply chain partners are said to be "integrated."

Describe contract logistics.How does contract logistics affect the efficient deployment of supply chain management?

Whirlpool and Lowe's Every week,Whirlpool and Lowe's have an on-line conference call to discuss what appliances are selling in the stores,and what capacity Whirlpool has to make product.Often,the discussion revolves around a particular model that is selling at a higher than expected rate in Lowe's.This often results in Whirlpool quickly flexing its supply chain to make more of the high-selling product and delivering it to Lowe's customers.However,sometimes the answer is that Whirlpool and/or its suppliers do not have the capacity to make more of the product in question.It then becomes a question of demand shaping for Lowe's.What promotions,in-store displays,sales incentives,etc.can Lowe's implement to shift demand from the capacity-constrained model to one that the supply chain has more capacity to deliver? In this way,Lowe's,Whirlpool,and their suppliers manage supply and also demand. -Refer to Whirlpool and Lowe's.Does high role specificity exist in this relationship?

What is an inventory control system? Discuss the objective of inventory management and describe materials requirement planning (MRP)and distribution resource planning (DRP).

A materials-handling system does all of the following EXCEPT:

The demand management process seeks to align supply and demand throughout the supply chain by anticipating customer requirements at each level of creating demand-related plans of action prior to actual customer purchasing behavior.

Through the use of automatic shipping notices,Ace Hardware is effective at removing unnecessary costs from its supply chain.According to a vice-president of inventory for the retailer,"Information gathering that used to take three or four phone calls now is available immediately." This is an example of the use of _____ integration.

It is illegal for companies to knowingly provide better service to their most profitable customers.

A recent Aetna health plan customer satisfaction survey measured consumer satisfaction in seven areas: overall satisfaction,willingness to recommend a plan,on-line tools,customer service,complaint resolution,plan communication and enrollment process.These seven areas represent _____ that can be used to assess performance again and again.

Which of the following provides the technological link connecting all of the logistics components of the supply chain?

Which business process ensures that firms in the supply chain have the resources they need?

The goal of most sourcing and procurement activities is to:

Peachtree Windows does not make a window until an order is received.It can promise delivery in five working days because of the excellent relationships it has established with its suppliers.The partnering relationship that Peachtree Windows has established with its suppliers indicates the use of:

Fishy Business DNA testing has revealed that sushi bar customers are not always getting what they pay for.Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History tested fish from 31 sushi bars and found that the tuna coveted by many diners is often a cheaper substitute,a banned fish,or an endangered species.This could be the result of an honest mistake in the supply chain,or it could be a deliberate attempt to deceive buyers.However,researchers have uncovered a DNA 'barcode' that can accurately identify the type of fish.While still a ways off,the scientist who developed the tuna DNA barcode envisions a small device that can provide instantaneous species identification,which will result in restaurants ultimately providing what their customers are demanding and paying for. -Refer to Fishy Business.If all the firms involved with getting the fish from the ocean onto consumers' plates work together to perform tasks as a single unified system,which of the following are they using?

Water transportation is by far the most expensive mode of transportation,but it is also the most reliable.

Vertical structure refers to the number of tiers in the supply chain.

The ABC Approach is a measurement system used to evaluate overall supply chain performance.

Cross-docking allows for companies to load and off-load products with minimal warehousing-often in the same day.

Which supply chain strategy embraces the removal of waste from the supply chain system in whatever form it may be found?