This assignment represents 60% of the module.
A word processed report of 3,000 words should be provided. All numerical and graphical analyses should be included in this document and submitted .The files with the model solutions (e.g. in ARENA, Excel, Paragon etc.) must be submitted following the indicated link: Assignments/Summative Assessment/The models file.
The front page of your report should include the following: student name and number, module code, assignment name, tutor name, total word count for the main text (this excludes the word count for the figures, tables, front page, references, table of contents and appendices). Incorporate a table of contents after the front page.
At the end of your report, incorporate a list of references using the APA6 referencing style and appendices.
Requirements:
You are required to research and develop your own case study material for this assignment following the supply chain structure provided in Figure 1 below. The case study can be focused on any manufacturing company as a focal factory. Where a full case study or parts of the case study are being compiled from published secondary material, you are required to reference this appropriately using the APA6 referencing style.
Figure 1. A supply chain system
A. Describe the case study you aim to develop. You can change characteristics of the model provided in Figure 1 to fit with your desired case study. However, your modified model should include suppliers, manufacturer (s) and retailers. Any further modifications of the model are possible. The developed model could incorporate any number of suppliers, more than one manufacturer with assembly and pre-assembly operations, retailers, distributors and final customers.
Highlight the critical issues within this case study (for example, high inventory level, low customer service level, high transport cost, inappropriate use of performance measures, and so on).
Identify the key performance measures that will be considered for the analysis (for example, total distance travelled, number of products delivered, delivery on time in full, and so on).
Provide reference to the data set to be used in this analysis. (35 marks)
B. Select two operational techniques to solve/analyse some of the issues identified in part A. The selection of the techniques must make use of two of the following: discrete event simulation for complex supply chain systems using ARENA, Vehicle Routing Problem (using Excel or Paragon) and/or the ERP approach using SAP.
Describe the theoretical aspects of the selected operational techniques in the context of your case study. Detail how and why your selected technique is best suited to the identified issue.
Describe the approach required to apply the selected techniques that will potentially provide an improvement to the issues identified. (35 marks)
C. Critically analyse the proposed models and results. Present your conclusions and give recommendations for the future.
(30 marks)
D. Reflecting on your experience of doing this assignment, provide a selfevaluation on how preparing for this assignment helped you in your understanding of the supply chain modelling techniques. Please note: your reflection is a personal one, so this part will not be assessed. However, it will be taken to form part of the overall evaluation intended to ascertain your understanding of the contributions of supply chain modelling. This evaluation may be considered for the overall module evaluation and research. There will be no reference to your name if any information provided within this report is used in research.
Marking structure:
35 marks are allocated for part A.
• Determine an original case study based on the structure provided which will support a selection of the two operation techniques.
• Use relevant and contemporary literature to show your understanding of issues in the supply chain that can be solved using the simulation, the VRP approach and ERP issues. Reference your work correctly using the indicated APA6 referencing style.
• Identify the key performance measures you aim to use for the selected case study.
• The data used can be selected from past experience or secondary data can be used (from published reports, journal papers, books and/or the examples provided within the indicated software packages). Ensure to provide details to the date used. A sample of the data can be provided in the appendix.
35 marks are allocated for part B.
• Show good theoretical understanding of the reasons for using ARENA simulation, VRP techniques and/or ERP with SAP.
• Critically discuss the approach used to develop the model.
• Link the model with appropriate performance measures.
• Ensure to provide the files of the solved models in Unilearn following the indicated link.
30 marks are allocated for part C.
• Critical analysis of the models used in relation to the selected case study.
• Evaluate the limitations of using any of the techniques and the software packages selected.
• The ability to analyse the models proposed and their solution forms the basis for this answer.
• The ability to interrelate supply chain management theory studied on this course (not only this module) will help you to achieve a high score for this part.
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• Use appropriate references where necessary.