SCM 4350
(200 Points)

Note: Each answer should be on its own page, but should not exceed one page. It should also be typed in a single-space format. Please note that each question will be evaluated based on the breath, level of detail (depth) and quality provided in your answer, not simply on whether the limited answer that you give is right or wrong! The points indicated at the start of each question are the highest score on a scale that starts at zero. Please give me a solid reason to give you more than zero points!

1. (50 Points) In your own words, please provide a write-up of your team’s spend analysis process for the Machined Parts market (Siemens competition). Please articulate your initial strategy for analyzing the spend, any difficulties that confronted you along the way and how you addressed these difficulties. What were the key takeaways from your spend analysis and how did these insights inform your overall sourcing strategy? In retrospect, what would or could you do differently in your spend analysis to improve the result?

2. (50 Points) In your own words, please provide a write-up of your team’s supply market assessment for the Machined Parts market (Siemens competition). Please include the key findings in your macro-economic assessment, your micro-economic assessment, and how these two assessments informed your overall supply market assessment. Be sure to provide your analytical tools and data sources and how these were utilized in your supply market assessment. In the end, who had the leverage in the relationship (Buyers or Suppliers)? Why?

3. (50 Points) In your own words, please provide a write-up of your team’s
sourcing strategy for Machined Parts (Siemens competition). Please
include a quick summary of your background analysis, your supplier
rationalization process, as well as your rationale for selecting your
particular supply management strategy. Please also include any analytical
tools utilized and how these guided your sourcing strategy selection process. What was the projected financial impact of your sourcing strategy?

4. (20 Points) In your own words, please defined the three organizational
strategies found in supply management departments: centralized,
decentralized and center-lead. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of each organizational strategy and which strategy do your
believe has the largest potential advantages for companies today and why?

5. (20 Points) In your own words, please describe the process by which
sourcing professionals build a supplier selection pool and then optimize
(i.e., rationalize) this selection pool for a particular supply contract. What
are the risks of supplier rationalization and why are these risks?

6. (10 Points) In your own words, please describe how companies build a
supplier scorecard and how this is utilized to differentiate the
performance of its supply base?