Logistics and Supply Chain Management Techniques in Practice

The assignment is a great opportunity for you to investigate how Logistics and supply management techniques such are used in practice, especially in a worldwide multi-billion companies, also its  wider applications in other operations management and non industries tools, such as, public sector, economy, transportation, distribution, climate change and IT.

Assignment brief

Students should read through and study the provided case study below, and work through some suggested headings related to supply chain management, logistics, and operations within that organisation. Students are expected to widen their literature reading in other areas of investigation to support the overall case.

Based on the areas of investigation above, students should write a report to discuss the efficiency of operations in the chosen organisation, and make recommendations for future improvement. Were appropriate, students should also discuss the productivity concept within your report conclusions.

Depending on the research materials you can find, you may also discuss other issues if they are relevant. The minimum standard of the report should contain the following structure: Executive summary, content page, Introduction, Discussion, Investigation, Proposed solutions in each chosen area with recommendations, and a final conclusion.

There are two approaches you may consider using – 1) either discuss the company as a whole, or 2) identify a specific group within that company. Where appropriate, explore how their current supply chain operations function, and how they can be made more efficient by using modern technology.

Operations Strategy: You should discuss if the chosen organisation have a clear operations strategy. How does the operations strategy support or complement the business strategy? How has the operations strategy developed and changed in recent years? If the organisation doesn’t have an operations strategy can you help them broadly define an operations strategy or give them guidance on what they should do to develop one?

Supply Chain: Where appropriate, outline the supply chain of the organisation, including purchasing, physical distribution management and materials management. How can IT be used to improve their supply chain management? Outline how the supply chain might be improved.

Competition and Benchmarking: How competitive the company is at present? Who are their competitors? Are they in a good position to remain their competitiveness amongst their competitors? Are they ready for changes? Do they benchmark themselves against their competitors, in what way?

The steps taken to ensure no repetition of this quality crisis by assuring the viewer that all Mattel products will be tested. The following message was posted on the company website:

“We Take Our Promises Seriously. As promised, in recent weeks, we have been busy testing and retesting toys before they leave factories. Our recent voluntary recalls are part of our ongoing promise to ensure the safety of your children. We have strengthened our testing worldwide with a mandatory …

Stage safety check of paint used on our toys.

1. All paint must be tested before it is used on our toys. No exceptions.
2. We have significantly increased testing and unannounced inspections at every stage of production.
3. We are testing every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance before they reach you.

We encourage you to keep coming back to our website where you can learn about additional affected toys, what we are doing, and to find answers to your questions.

At Mattel, the safety of your children is our utmost priority. That is our promise.”

These questions are relate to the case study and should be answered in the context of the information provided.

(a) Explain a systematic process that Mattel could apply to analyse its supply chain management environment by using the SCOR model.

(b) Discuss, with examples, FIVE of the major factors that Mattel should consider when analysing its strategic supply chain action plan.

Evaluate the drivers for change for globalisation in Mattel’s supply chains. It should include creating its new strategic operations plan, such as new processes, mapping system, Inventory management etc.

(a) Based on the case study, Mattel has adopted an approach in managing its supply chain strategy by focusing on lean production and supply, producing large quantities at low labour cost, changing their locations which incur long lead times but can deliver at lower cost. Discuss your understanding of the logistics management impacts into this adopted strategy.

(b) Explain FOUR benefits and FOUR problems for Mattel of adopting “lean production and supply” as an approach to managing its supply chains.

Discuss the potential benefits and problems with the use of outsourcing mapping system, as a part of a supply chain management strategy used by Mattel.