Scm 5011 National And International Logistics Weekend Question Paper
Scm 5011 National And International Logistics Weekend
Course:Master Of Business Administration In Corporate Management
Institution: Kca University question papers
Exam Year:2014
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
EXAMINATION FOR THE MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
(MBA) IN CORPORATE MANAGEMENT
SCM 5011 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS WEEKEND
DATE: AUGUST, 2014
TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One and Any Other Three Questions
QUESTION ONE (31 MARKS)
Rococo chocolates
‘Functionality such as inventory management has been quite crucial as the business has grown,
because it means we have systemic knowledge of stock turnover ...
‘Being able to access a common, centralized ERP platform means that everyone speaks the same
language,’ says Gerry Kerins, financial director at Rococo Chocolates. ‘So introducing it led to a big
boost in staff efficiency and to the business.’
Rococo Chocolates, which was set up in 1983, is based in London and manufactures luxury chocolates.
The company employs 20 staff and sells confectionery to wholesalers and through two of its own
shops, the flagship store being located on the Kings Road, Chelsea.
By the end of 2003, the business had grown to such an extent that Kerins no longer considered a Sage
Line 50 accounting package to be fit for purpose. The package had been used to run spreadsheets and
word processing documents.
‘It was all very ad hoc,’ he says. ‘We had loads of Excel and Word documents dispersed across
different sites, which meant that some internal documents were on the wrong desktops, there was no
cross-communication, no one understood what anyone else was doing and there was a lot of emails
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flying around with lots of opportunity for misunderstandings.’
The company introduced a hosted suite of ERP applications from NetSuite, which included
accounting, sales management and logistics functionality.
‘I did the figures and it was the way to go,’ says Kerins. ‘I did not want us to be dragged into having to
deal with server, maintenance and security hygiene issues, so what I pay for in subscription licence
fees is more than made up for in internal cost implications.’
Deploying the system has helped support a 25 per cent growth in retail sales and a doubling of
wholesale revenue at the company by providing staff with access to the information they need to do
their jobs.
‘Functionality such as inventory management has been quite crucial as the business has grown,
because it means we have systemic knowledge of stock turnover,’ says Kerins.‘Previously, it was all
visual and in people’s heads, but it is now transparent in the system and everyone can see what is
happening. It is very helpful because it invites better management discipline for the business.’
The next step will see Rococo deploying an in-store inventory management application to run on its
electronic point of sales systems. The package will be integrated with the firm’s existing ERP suite and
allow it to see immediately what each shop has sold.‘We can tell what has been transferred to our
stores, but it is difficult to tell what has been sold,’ says Kerins.
‘Our integrated management system was a stepping stone, but we are also looking at putting a web
store on our web site and opening a new store in Kensington in September, so it has been a win-win
situation.
Required:
(a)
With clear examples define the term inventory and inventory systems as used in national and
international logistics.
(b)
(10 Marks)
Discuss the functions of inventory within the different stages in distribution channels.
(21 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (23 MARKS)
Organizations in national and international logistics can gain competative advantage by embracing the use of
ICT in their warehousing operations.As a specialist in logistics discuss the benefits accrued.
QUESTION THREE (23 MARKS)
Use of third party logistics providers enables firms gain competitive advantage over their rivals. Outline the
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drawbacks of outsourcing /use of third party logistics providers in global sourcing.
QUESTION FOUR (23 MARKS)
(a) Differentiate between logistics and supply chain.
(b) Write short notes on followingterms as used in national and international Logistics. (20 Marks)
(i) Vendor managed inventory
(ii) JIT concept
(iii) Lean operations
(iv)
(3 Marks)
Bull whip effect
QUESTION FIVE (23 MARKS)
(a) Define the term INCORTERM
(b) Explain the following INCOTERMS as used in international trade.
(i) EX WORKS
(iii) FAS
(iv)
(20 Marks)
FOB
(ii)
(3 Marks)
CIF
QUESTION SIX (23 MARKS)
The environment in which organizations ore operating in is constantly changing, dynamic and agile.
Generally, those organizations who have adapted emerging concepts in logistics management will
survive the challenges. Discuss any four challenges in logistics and suggest possible ways to manage
them .
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