Introduction
Completion of this portfolio work project, an analytical report, will support your decision-making for a global manufacturing company and your understanding of best practices for choosing a vendor for a supply chain.
Scenarios
Choose Option 1 or 2 to complete the assignment. Both options will be graded using the same rubric.
Option 1
JM Manufacturing is a small manufacturer of power drills. Due to the specialty of the manufacturing and variety of parts needed, it is most practical to outsource the parts—a plastic tool case, power supply, batteries, printed circuit boards, and accessories such as drill bits—and perform the final assembly in the United States. It is critical to the company’s success to assess the market accurately and to be familiar with efficient global sourcing practices to choose an appropriate vendor.
As a supply chain manager for JM Manufacturing, it’s part of your job to be familiar with outsourcing supply chain practices. The vendor selection must be grounded in the business needs that are best for your organization. After performing your research, you must provide an analytical report with a recommendation for senior leadership.
Option 2
Imagine that you are working as a supply chain manager at a company of your choice. Note: It is recommended that you use the same company for each assignment in this course. Before choosing a company, read all three assignments thoroughly to ensure the following:
The company fits the assignment requirements and you have access to the information needed to complete each assignment.
The company information is disclosed in the assignment for faculty reference.
You can distribute the company data without disclosing confidential information.
Your boss has tasked you with an analytical report project. As the supply chain manager, you must be familiar with outsourcing supply chain practices. She is relying on you to conduct research and prepare a recommendation for senior leadership.
Contact faculty with questions.
Requirements
After completing your research, include the following in your analytical report:
Analyze three best practices for effective global supply chain sourcing, such as the following:
Properly aligning and staffing the supply chain organization. Some companies are best served by embedding proficient supply chain management professionals in various business units.
Establishing alliances with key suppliers. Two-way communication, which requires the buyer and seller to manage the relationship jointly, is more effective.
Engaging in collaborative strategic sourcing. Rather than considering strategic sourcing as just a matter for the purchasing department, best-in-class organizations get internal customers actively involved in the decision-making process.
Focusing on total cost of ownership (TCO), not price. Identifying the total cost of ownership requires looking at the entire process of procuring and consuming the product or service—something that can only happen with cooperation and input from the buyer and the seller.
Analyze ethical and legal considerations for selecting a supply chain vendor. What specific ethical principles and legalities are associated with the three best practices you identified? How do these considerations affect your selected organization?
Recommend a global supply chain vendor for the manufacturing company. Justify why the selected supplier is the best choice for improving your selected organization’s global supply chain.
Deliverable Format
Analytical report
Regardless of the option you choose, your report should be 5–6 pages of content (in addition to the title and reference pages).
Use a report template of your choice.
