NMIMS Global Access
School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Course: Supply Chain Management
Internal Assignment Applicable for April 2019 Examination
Assignment Marks: 30
1. Globalization and the advent of Information and communication technologies have
influenced substantial changes in forms of supply chain management. Discuss the
need and importance of warehouse management. Explain in detail the various types
of technology that can be used to manage the warehouse operations with reference
School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Course: Supply Chain Management
Internal Assignment Applicable for April 2019 Examination
Assignment Marks: 30
1. Globalization and the advent of Information and communication technologies have
influenced substantial changes in forms of supply chain management. Discuss the
need and importance of warehouse management. Explain in detail the various types
of technology that can be used to manage the warehouse operations with reference
to a retailer like Reliance Trends,
Pantaloons, etc.
(10 Marks)
2. Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) is a technological
innovation tool that was first registered as a trademark by the Voluntary Interindustry
Commerce Standards (VICS) Association (1998) and is defined as a web-based
approach which can coordinate the diverse process of supply chain management
including production and purchasing planning, demand forecasting. It is a collection
of new business practices that leverage the internet and EDI in order to achieve two
goals: radically reduce inventories and expenses while improving customer service.
Give an example of a pharmaceutical company where the different phases of CPFR
have been successfully adopted. (10 Marks)
3. Over the past several decades, logistics activities have increasingly been sourced out
to specialized third-party logistics providers (3PLs). In recent years, however, 3PLs
have increasingly been challenged by new disruptive business models and digital
technologies. For example, platforms such as Cargomatic and Uber Freight enable
cost-efficient, real-time, on-demand arrangements of transports that cut into the
domain of logistics services. E-commerce providers such as Amazon, which used to
be a business partner to 3PLs, has started building up its own online-based logistics
solutions. Similarly, vehicle manufacturers have started to leave their traditional
business field and provide their own digitalized fleet management and mobility
services, which used to be domains of 3PLs as well. As pointed out in a study by the
consultancy company Oliver Wymann, logistics start-ups from the USA and Asia
with high financing volumes are transforming the entire logistics industry. This puts
significant pressure on traditional logistics markets such as Germany, Sweden and
the Netherlands, with their established market players. Experience from other
industries such as travel and retail shows that digital disruptions may change entire
markets within a very short time. In the course of these changes, business models
that have been dominant for decades are replaced by new ones. (Source: Hofmann,
E., & Osterwalder, F. (2017). Third-party logistics providers in the digital age:
Towards a new competitive arena? Logistics, 1(2))
a. Highlight any two examples of third-party logistics providers (3PLs) startups in India
and how have they transformed the ecommerce space. (5 Marks)
b. How do these startup companies disrupt the already existing established domestic
logistics players? (5 Marks)
***************
(10 Marks)
2. Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) is a technological
innovation tool that was first registered as a trademark by the Voluntary Interindustry
Commerce Standards (VICS) Association (1998) and is defined as a web-based
approach which can coordinate the diverse process of supply chain management
including production and purchasing planning, demand forecasting. It is a collection
of new business practices that leverage the internet and EDI in order to achieve two
goals: radically reduce inventories and expenses while improving customer service.
Give an example of a pharmaceutical company where the different phases of CPFR
have been successfully adopted. (10 Marks)
3. Over the past several decades, logistics activities have increasingly been sourced out
to specialized third-party logistics providers (3PLs). In recent years, however, 3PLs
have increasingly been challenged by new disruptive business models and digital
technologies. For example, platforms such as Cargomatic and Uber Freight enable
cost-efficient, real-time, on-demand arrangements of transports that cut into the
domain of logistics services. E-commerce providers such as Amazon, which used to
be a business partner to 3PLs, has started building up its own online-based logistics
solutions. Similarly, vehicle manufacturers have started to leave their traditional
business field and provide their own digitalized fleet management and mobility
services, which used to be domains of 3PLs as well. As pointed out in a study by the
consultancy company Oliver Wymann, logistics start-ups from the USA and Asia
with high financing volumes are transforming the entire logistics industry. This puts
significant pressure on traditional logistics markets such as Germany, Sweden and
the Netherlands, with their established market players. Experience from other
industries such as travel and retail shows that digital disruptions may change entire
markets within a very short time. In the course of these changes, business models
that have been dominant for decades are replaced by new ones. (Source: Hofmann,
E., & Osterwalder, F. (2017). Third-party logistics providers in the digital age:
Towards a new competitive arena? Logistics, 1(2))
a. Highlight any two examples of third-party logistics providers (3PLs) startups in India
and how have they transformed the ecommerce space. (5 Marks)
b. How do these startup companies disrupt the already existing established domestic
logistics players? (5 Marks)
***************
