D079 - Task 2 Final PDF

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D079 - Task 2 Final...

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Task 2A: Logistics and Operations Management (to be submitted with Task 2B) Course Code: D079 A. Discuss options and considerations for transporting your product to the retail facilities by doing the following: 1. (A1) Discuss two options for packaging your product and why you chose them

With mandolins being fragile in nature, one packaging option would be primary packaging. Primary packaging is good for packaging individual items to protect the item. This could be used in a retail scenario or for online orders. Another packaging option would be tertiary packaging. This packaging is designed specifically for shipping large quantities, by placing the items on a pallet and wrapping them with a shipping plastic to protect and contain the items. This would be ideal if shipping large quantities of the mandolins to a retail location. 2. (A2) Discuss two possible risks to consider when storing your product and how you will mitigate those risks.

One possible risk could be the accidental damage during handling, transporting or storing of the mandolins. Ensuring that the mandolins are appropriately packaged can help to protect the items, as well as mitigate the potential risk of accidental damage. Another risk to consider would be the possibility of disasters, such as a flood or fire. Ensuring safety protocols are in place and staff adhered to them, in addition to safeguards like fire safety systems being installed in the warehouse, can assist in mitigating the risk of a disaster like a fire. 3. (A3) Describe two options for transporting your product from the manufacturer to retail facilities in both the US and Europe.

Transporting by Truck: This would likely be the best option when shipping to retailers in the US. Items would be packaged in tertiary packaging and loaded into trucks and transported anywhere that there are roads. Transporting by Air: This would likely be the best option when shipping to retailers in Europe. Items would be packaged and loaded onto airplanes and transported to their closed final destination. Ultimately truck transportation may be necessary to get it from the air transport to the final retail location. a. (A3A) Discuss an advantage and a disadvantage for each of your chosen modes of transportation.

Truck Transport: This option is the most cost effective option and efficient option for the US retailers. Truck transportation would also likely need be used to get the items from the airports to the retailer’s location in Europe. Trucks are convenient in the US, as they can go anywhere where there is a road, and are not as limited as planes, trains or ships. Only second to air transportation, trucks are fast in relation to other modes of transportation. Air Transport: Based on the scenario and due to the inadequate quality of materials, which have delayed the manufacturing process, I would suggest that using air transportation to 1

Europe would be the most effective way for the company to deliver the items to the retailers in timely manner and hoping to meet the request for the holiday season. While this is a much more time efficient way of getting the products to the retailer, it is also much more expensive than the alternative of shipping the items via cargo ship. b. (A3B) Discuss a cost and time consideration for each of your chosen modes of transportation.

Air and truck transportation are two of the more expensive modes of transportation. With the consideration of the delay in manufacturing these modes should prove to be a good option for the manufacturer. The hope would be that the higher cost of the shipping will be worth the additional expense, in order to improve customers satisfaction by delivering on the promise to provide the products prior to the holiday season. 4. (A4) Discuss two benefits of using a transportation management system for your product. When transportation goods, tracking products can be done with transportation management systems and can provide major benefits. Track-and-trace technology allows us the ability to know where our products are at any given time, using an electronic record. Being able to trace the shipment of the product, helps us to anticipate delays in shipment that could be caused by mistakes, weather events, or even potential accidents. Reverse logistics also allows us to trace items from the consumer, back to the manufacturer to determine where damage may have occurred and give insight as to where the issue could have been avoided. B. Discuss how you would address a barrier or bottleneck in transporting your product to the retail facilities by doing the following: 1. (B1) Describe how a barrier or bottleneck from the scenario can affect transporting your product. The primary barrier or bottleneck for the manufacturer in the scenario was the inadequate quality materials that were provided by their supplier. This resulted in a delay in manufacturing times and ultimately delaying in the delivery of the product to the retailer and a timely manner. 2. (B2) Choose either the Lewin or ADKAR change management model and discuss how you would apply each step of your chosen model to address the bottleneck or barrier. In order to address the bottleneck due to the inadequate quality materials, we can use the Lewin change management model. To apply this model we would want to unfreeze our thoughts or process of using the current supplier for our hardwoods and seek out other opportunities and connections with alternate suppliers. Once a new supplier has been identified, that would be able to provide the quality hardwood materials, we would establish a supply change with them. If materials are significantly different, then it may be necessary for a change management plan to be implemented to ensure that all staff understand the reason and necessity for the change. Once this has been completed, we would then need to refreeze and allow the changes to set and become the new process. 3. (B3) Discuss how you will address an ethical consideration for the barrier or bottleneck. The bottle neck caused retailers to be upset about not receiving their full

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orders and they have expressed their concern of the company’s ability to recover from the issue to deliver the mandolins in time for the holiday season. To address this issue, it would be crucial to communicate with the retailers and provide the appropriate explanation of inadequate materials and expectation of when they can expect to receive their orders. You should reassure the retailers that you are committed to providing them with a quality product and your commitment to doing this a quickly as possible, while apologizing for any delays. Ultimately this will show the retailer that you are committed and transparent when conducting business with them. By being transparent and honest with the retailer and giving the appropriate expectations for delivery, this can begin to build back the trust and communication with the retailer.

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