Evaluating Logistics of a Small Business: Assignment Brief

Choose an existing small business, or a start?up. Refrain from using companies that you have no association with, and are located on the Internet. You are to ensure that you know the owner(s) or someone in the organization who can answer any questions posed to them.

Your task in this assignment is to evaluate the logistics of the chosen company, applying the knowledge that you have learnt in this subject, whether the company’s logistics is achieving its objectives i.e., being responsive or efficient to its customers’ needs. The process of assessing the company’s logistics must meet the following requirements:

1. Introduction (500 words)

• Explain how the company competes in its industry. You can look at the competition, the players in the industry, and the regulations that govern them, customer expectations in the supply chain, including those of the end consumer, and so on, which would justify the approach the company is taking. The statements that you make must be supported by evidences from credible and independent references.

• You need not attempt to address this section using PESTLE, Porter’s 5

Forces, SWOT, etc. Base your assessment on anecdotal evidences obtained from the owner(s) of the company themselves, or publicly available information.

2. Order Fulfilment (500 words)

• Logistics creates value by delivering orders when and where they are needed. An important issue in order fulfilment then, is to reduce order cycle times.

• In that sense, consider and explain how well the company coordinates all of the activities that comprise the order cycle. This would include the placing of production facilities in the right location, leveraging appropriate process technologies to streamline the order processing, and carrying the right quantity and mix of inventory to rapidly fulfill complete orders.

3. Transportation Management (500 words)

• Transportation cost, availability, and reliability, play a vital role in logistics. Decisions such as modal choice, carrier selection, and transportation routing should, therefore, be considered carefully.

• The modal selection decision is complex, requiring careful costing and trade?off analysis. Explain how the company understands its logistical network, to identify opportunities to leverage logistical expertise, so that it meets its customers’ needs and requirements.

4. Distribution Management (500 words)

• Warehousing performs a vital storage function – decoupling manufacturing from consumption, thereby making the company’s products available when it is needed.

• Assess the distribution network that the company has, to achieve its objective of being responsive or efficient in meeting the needs of its customers. This would require evaluating the number, location, ownership and automation of warehouse operations. This would also include a consideration of the distribution network as demand patterns change.