Choose a company either you are currently working for or you are familiar with. The company must engage in the business activities of distributing products and/or services in a supply chain network. Conduct research on the activities of supply chain management of the company and answer the following questions based on your findings.
a) Explain the role of the supply chain functions in supporting the overall competitive strategy of this particular company. You should briefly describe the company and include a sketch that shows the value chain of the company.
b) Relate any three (3) issues or challenges that this company faces in achieving the strategic fit between its competitive strategy and its supply chain strategy.
c) Show how e-business can affect this company’s distribution network in terms of customer service and cost. You should focus on two (2) aspects of customer service and two (2) elements of cost that you consider are important to this company.
Question 2
Go-Direct is a newly established trading company in Malaysia. It operates on the business model of sourcing personal computers from the contract manufacturers and delivering directly to the customers. You are hired as a consultant to design a transport network that allows its supply chain to achieve the desired degree of responsiveness at a low cost.
a) What is the role of transport in Go-Direct’s supply chain? Identify the four parties that can influence the effectiveness of transport in Go-Direct’s supply chain.
b) Apply your knowledge of effective design options for a transport network to determine the suitability of “Direct Shipment Network” and “Direct Shipments with Milk Runs” as transport network options for Go-Direct.
The contract manufacturers are experiencing high variability in demand for the personal computers in a very competitive market.
c)Analyse how contract manufacturers can manage their supply to respond to the variability in its supply chain. You should suggest four (4) approaches that the contract manufacturers can take and support your answer with good reasons.

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