Capella
MBA6125 Unit 2 Discussion 1 & 2 latest 2016 December
dq 1
Third
Party Logistics
Resources
Briefly describe the basic types of third
party logistics (3PL) organizations.
- Identify
some of the best practices that leading companies using 3PLs have
embraced. - What
value-added considerations would you take into account when considering
the use of a 3PL? - Which
3PL would provide the most suitable service to your organization? - What
3PLs does your organization currently use? (If your organization does not
use the services of a 3PL, consider the operations where a 3PL could be
used.) What other 3PLs could you recommend to your management?
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Evaluate
whether the 3PLs used at your peer’s organization would be suitable in
yours. - Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of 3PLs in his or her organization?
Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
dq 2
Trends
and Security Issues with Logistics
Resources
How can information logistics technology be
used to facilitate real-time decision-making in your organization’s logistics
network?
- Describe
how IT logistics technology is currently used in your organization, and
how its use can it be improved or expanded. - In
what ways has the logistics technology added value to your organization?
Quantify this value in terms of tangible and intangible results. - Identify
some of the best practices that leading companies using logistics
technology have embraced.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of the potential for logistics
technology in his or her organization? Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 3 Discussion 1 & 2 latest 2016 December
dq 1
Forecasting
and the Economic Environment
Resources
Identify changes in forecasting methodologies
and approaches (for practices such as contracting, advanced payments,
outsourcing to fix a price, continuous and fixed budgeting, simulations, or
regression analysis) that have been influenced by current economic conditions.
Has the current economic environment changed
your organization’s forecasting approaches to logistics within the supply
chain?
- If
so: Describe at least one new approach that is a specific result of the changes
in the current economic environment. How is this change unique to these
times? Will these changes help to maintain your organization’s competitive
edge? - If
not: Would you recommend the implementation of new forecasting approaches?
In what ways might a continuation of past techniques and approaches be
dysfunctional? Briefly describe one specific new approach you would
recommend.
Identify some of the best practices that
leading companies are using in the area of logistics forecasting.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of the value of new or potential
forecasting approaches in his or her organization? Explain. - How
would you recommend your peer’s organization change its approach? - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
dq 2
Levels
of Customer Service
Resources
Has the philosophy that there are different levelsof customers had any
material effect on the value of your organization’s customer service?
- Identify
and explain the different levels of customer service in your organization. - How
are these differing levels associated with the cost-benefit financial
approach? - Is
there a financial rationale for designating these differing levels? Can
this be quantified? - Has
any aspect of the different levels approach been negative to the customer,
or to the organization?
Describe some of the best practices that
leading companies using unique approaches to customer service have embraced.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree or disagree with your peer’s assessment of the use and value of
the different levels of customer service? Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 4 Discussion 1 & 2 latest 2016 December
dq 1
Declines
in Inventory Costs and Levels
Resources
According to your reading for this unit in
Chapter 9 of the Coyle text, inventory costs and levels have declined in
relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), in recent years.
Carrying high levels of inventory can be
costly and risky. While products sit on shelves, opportunities and financing
might be missed. Pilferage is a potential risk. Over time, the product could
become obsolete.
Today, organizations are developing techniques
to reduce the levels of inventory they must maintain, and their associated
costs. For example, one evolving trend is to maintain showroom inventory.
Approaches such as in-transit replenishment stock and point-of-sale reordering
also reduce stagnant inventory costs.
How have new approaches influenced inventory
information delivery in your organization?
- Investigate
and identify any significant declines in inventory costs and levels for
your organization over the span of the past 20 years. - How
have costs of carrying high levels of inventory (such as financing,
opportunity, obsolescence, and pilferage) in your organization changed? - Suggest
at least one reason for any apparent decreases in costs or levels of
inventory. - What
benefits can you attribute to these declines?
Discuss some of the best practices that
leading companies, using unique approaches to logistics and inventory
management, have embraced.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Compare
how inventory processes in your peer’s organization have changed with how
your organization’s inventory processes has changed. Identify specific
examples. - Do
you agree or disagree with your peer’s assessment of the changes in his or
her organization due to new inventory approaches? - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Reference
Coyle, J. J., Langley, C. J., Jr., Novack, R.
A., & Gibson, B. J. (2013). Supply chain
management: A logistics perspective(9th ed.). Mason, OH:
South-Western Cengage Learning.
dq 2
Costs
of Transportation
Resources
Historically, in the United States, the use of
trucking has vastly outweighed the use of other modes of transportation. With
fuel prices on the rise today, and given current economic conditions, it is
likely that there will be both short- and long-term changes ahead.
- What
potential changes do you see in the preferred modes of transportation for
your industry sector? Specify any evolving trends you can see. - Identify
the mode of transportation most used by your organization. Can you discern
any potential areas for improvement? For example, might rail be more
cost-effective than trucking (assuming that customer demand can be
satisfied)? - Identify
any challenges that less-versatile, less-capable companies may face, if
they cannot be flexible in embracing new modes of transportation. - Describe
some of the best practices, in the area of transportation mode
utilization, that leading companies in your industry have embraced.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- How
is your peer’s industry affected differently from yours by transportation
costs? How are the effects similar? - Do
you agree or disagree with your peer’s assessment of the transportation
changes ahead in his or her organization? Try to extend the conversation. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 5 Discussion 1 & 2 latest 2016 December
dq 1
Logistics-supply
Chain Network Design
Resources
Describe how a properly designed logistics-supply
chain network could benefit an organization. How can improved design create
value in customer service, lower costs, and promote timely delivery?
Redesigning the supply chain network can provide a key competitive advantage.
Identify a least one way your organization
could benefit from a supply chain network redesign. Discuss at least one
example of an area of opportunity for improvement. Describe how a redesign
might favor your organization’s competitive advantage, from a strategic position.
Identify some of the best practices that
leading companies using supply chain network redesign have embraced.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of the redesign potential in his or
her organization? Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
dq 2
Supplier
Qualifications and Certifications
Resources
In order to ensure the value and quality of
their products or services, many organizations are promoting the use of formal
qualifications and certifications for their suppliers. New evaluation
approaches, such as those developed by TQM, Six Sigma, and ISO, offer improved
value and quality assurance.
- Identify
the current qualification and certification process in your organization.
What are the criteria used to qualify a supplier? What are the strengths
and weaknesses of the existing process? Are there specific changes that
you could recommend? - Select
one approach (TQM, Six Sigma, or ISO) and describe how it could benefit
your organization and add value to your customer’s experience. - Identify
best practices that leading companies in your industry have embraced in
the area of supplier qualifications and certifications.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of the use of supplier
qualifications and certifications in his or her organization? Explain. - Consider
the approach chosen by your peer to benefit his or her organization. In
your opinion, would a different approach for your peer’s organization be
better? Why or why not? - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 6 Discussion 1 & 2 latest 2016 December
dq 1
Reverse
Logistics
Resources
Consider ways in which reverse logistics has
impacted your life, as a consumer. How has reverse logistics affected you as a
member of your organization or industry? Briefly describe potential areas for
improvement within your organization or industry.
Identify a process within your organization
that frequently lends itself to reverse logistics. Do the costs of continuing
this process exceed the benefits?
Describe some of the opportunities and
challenges you see in this topic, from the logistical standpoints of both
manufacturers and retailers.
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment reverse logistics in his or her
organization? Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
dq 2
Trends
and Transformations
Resources
How can your organization use effective
logistics in supply chain management to maintain a competitive edge and enhance
its financial posture in the future? What might your organization do
differently to increase its market share?
Identify one key factor you would advise your
management to focus on in the organization’s growth strategy. Consider, for
example, how customer service could be improved.
Many growth strategies divide plans into
short-term and long-term segments.
- What
specific tactics would you employ for your key factor during the short
term? Explain. - What
specific tactics would you employ for your key factor during the long
term? Explain.
Briefly describe best practices that you see
leading companies in your industry implementing now. Would these best practices
also benefit your organization?
Response
Guidelines
Respond to the posts of at least two of your
peers. For each response, include the following:
- Do
you agree with your peer’s assessment of the best plans for the future of
his or her organization? Explain. - What
additional comments, suggestions, or experiences can you share with your
peer?
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 1 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
Bank
Process Simulation
Resources
Refer to your reading for this unit in the
Hartvigsen text (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2) for a conceptual explanation of
process simulation and SimQuick.
Use the SimQuick Excel file to complete Exercise 1 (u01a1): ‘A Bank’found
on pg 33 of the SimQuick 3/e booklet. The Excel file is needed to run the Unit-1: u01a1 Bank Process Simulation. Run
100 simulations and report the results for; 1 & 2 Tellers as illustrated on
pg 32. Complete only “part-a” for this activity and summarize your
findings, along with a recommendation, in a short explanation of the
“overall mean cycle times” by teller.
For the Unit-4:
u04a1 Reorder Point Simulation, complete the Exercise
14, found on the top of page 63 of the SimQuick 3/e. Run 100 Simulations for
each Order Size, and report and interpret your findings, paying particular
attention to Ordering & Holding Costs.
Submityour simulation results in the assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 2 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
Strategic
Profit Model Case Study
Resources
Refer to your reading for this unit in the
Coyle text for this assignment. Read “Paper2Go.com,” on page 176. In
a 1–3 page paper, answer the two case questions. Search the Internet for
background information on Paper2Go.com to support your responses. You are
encouraged to refer to the organization’s own Web site. Cite the resources you
use in APA format.
Submityour
case question responses in the assignment area.
Project
Proposal
Resources
For the first assignment in the project,
identify your chosen organization and select a process to address. Since you
will only have six weeks to work on this project, be careful to select an issue
of appropriate scope.
You are probably already aware of processes in
your chosen organization that require attention. You may even have ideas for
potential improvements. If you are not familiar with any logistic process
issues, you may want to begin by researching recent feedback from both
satisfied and dissatisfied customers. You will likely uncover a number of
potential processes that require attention. You might consider:
- Talking
with managers and staff in your customer relations or customer service
department. - Reviewing
customer surveys. - Interviewing
a few key people involved in customer-facing processes.
Elements
of the Proposal Submission
For the LIP project proposal, identify and
describe a logistics process that could be improved in your chosen
organization.
1. Provide
a short summary of the organization, with information such as:
o The
organization name.
o Number
of years in business.
o A brief
synopsis of the range of products and services it provides.
Please
be as thorough in your description as possible. Note:If
confidentiality is a concern, disguise the organization name and data.
2. Use the
Candidate Identification Worksheet (see resources) to identify at least three
logistics processes you might address for your project. Complete the worksheet
and select an appropriate candidate from that list. Include a copy of your
worksheet in the proposal submission.
3. Write a
brief description of the logistical process you would like to improve. Describe
the change you would like to make.
Your proposal should be approximately 1–3
pages long (excluding the Candidate Identification Worksheet) and should be
formatted according to APA (6th Edition) style.
Be certain to read the entire project
description and the grading criteria to understand what you are expected to do.
If you have any questions, take advantage of your avenues of communication
(including the course discussions and instructor feedback) to obtain
clarification.
Submityour proposal and worksheet for instructor approval in the
assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 3 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
“Tires
for You” Case Study
Resources
Refer to your reading for this unit in the
Coyle text for this assignment. Read the “Tires for You, Inc. (TFY) Case
Study,” on page 251. In a 2–4 page paper, answer the four forecasting
activity case questions.
As you answer the questions, relate the TFY
story to any similar experiences you have had in an organization. (You may
choose any organization about which you have sufficient knowledge to compare,
including the organization with which you are currently employed, a former
employer, or the organization you have chosen to study for your project.)
Submityour case question responses in the assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 4 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
Reorder
Point Simulation
Resources
Refer to your reading for this unit in the
Hartvigsen text (Chapter 3) for a conceptual explanation of process simulation
and SimQuick.
Use the SimQuick Excel file to complete Exercise 14 (u04a1): ‘An Electronics Superstore –
Inventorying Problem’found at the top of pg 63 of the SimQuick 3/e
booklet.
For the Unit-4:
Exercise 14, complete Exercise 14 and run 100 Simulations for each Order
Size (see table on top of pg 63), and report and interpret your findings,
paying particular attention to Ordering & Holding Costs.
Your recommendation must be based on
“minimizing Ordering & Handling Costs”. Justify your
recommendation.
Submityour simulation results in the assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 4 Assignment 2 latest 2016 December
Project
Update
Resources
The second component of your course project is
an update of your progress on the LIP project. Remember that you are expected
to develop your project independently throughout the course, using the project
description as a guide. At this time, you should be developing an analysis of
the logistics process you identified for your project. Based on the information
you have gathered, use measurements tools and techniques to demonstrate the
existing process and describe the improved process you will propose.
You are not expected to have your LIP project
entirely completed for this update assignment, but you are asked to submit
preliminary work corresponding to each of the following elements of the final
project submission:
- A problem statement– Describe the
issue your plan would address. Include some background on the problem. How
long has the issue been occurring? How is it important to the
organization? Provide relevant historical data. - Data and measurements– Use some of
the following measurement tools and techniques to present the data you
have gathered thus far: - A fishbone diagram– Use a
fishbone diagram to examine the causes of the issue. - A flowchart, table, or another
chart– You are
highly encouraged to include a before-and-after flowchart or another
visual representation of the existing and proposed logistics process. - Note:You will be
required to submit at least three measurement tools for the final project
submission and to incorporate your findings from the tools into your
plan. One of the measurement tools must be a fishbone diagram. - Causes and effects discussion– Use the data
you have collected and your measurements to describe what caused the existing
situation and how the issue affects the process and the organization. - A cost-benefits summary– If possible,
base your cost-benefits summary on actual information. If not, base it on
your anticipated information. - A conclusionaddressing the
following: - Implications– Consider what
could happen if the issue continues as it is—and what could happen if it
is improved. What are some potential general business results? What
impact might there be on business relationships? What specific results
are you anticipating, at this stage of the investigation? - Desired outcome– How will
resolving this issue change the process? What competitive advantage(s)
will this change yield? How will it impact stakeholders? What financial
benefits do you anticipate?
Include at least one supporting reference to
materials outside the course—ideally more than one. Use APA style and
formatting for your references. Your paper should be approximately 2–3 typed,
double-spaced pages in length, in addition to your data measurement tools and any
additional attachments. Refer to the LIP Update scoring guide to learn how you
will be assessed on this assignment.
You will continue to expand on this work for
the final submission. Again, it is not necessary for these elements to be
entirely completed at this time; the purpose of this update is to demonstrate
your progress and to enable your instructor to provide constructive feedback.
The closer your project is to completion now, the higher the quality of
feedback you will receive. You will incorporate that feedback in your final
submission.
Submityour LIP Project Update in the assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 5 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
Fireside
Tire Organization Case Study
Resources
Refer to your reading for this unit in the
Coyle text for this assignment. Read the “Fireside Tire Organization (FTC)
Case Study,” on pages 547–548 in your text. In a 2–4 page paper, answer
the three case questions.
As you answer the questions, relate the FTC
story to any similar experiences you have had in an organization. (You may
choose any organization about which you have sufficient knowledge to compare,
including the organization with which you are currently employed, a former
employer, or the organization you have chosen to study for your project.)
Submityour case question responses in the assignment area.
Capella
MBA6125 Unit 6 Assignment 1 latest 2016 December
Logistics
Improvement Plan
Resources
For this final assignment, submit:
1. Your
final logistics improvement plan.
2. An
executive summary of your plan.
The final plan should include all of the
research and groundwork you have completed thus far. However, it should be more
than a compilation of the individual project components—it should constitute a
comprehensive plan. It should incorporate feedback you have received on
individual project components. It should also present the tools, techniques,
and methodologies covered throughout the course.
Submit an executive summary of your LIP as a
separate, stand-alone document. The executive summary should be addressed to a
management team of principal stakeholders. Provide a brief synopsis of the plan
you propose, justified by the data you have collected and processed.
Refer to the Logistics Improvement Plan
project description for complete instructions on submitting the final project.
Be certain to read the entire project description and the grading criteria to
understand what you are expected to submit. If you have any questions, take
advantage of your avenues of communication (including the course discussions
and instructor feedback) to obtain clarification.
Submityour final Logistics Improvement Plan project in the assignment
area.
