5

Sourcing and Logistics Case Studies

SCMG201 Principles of Supply Chain Management

Project 3 Weeks 5 & 6

Sourcing Case Study

Snedeker Global Cruises

It was August 7th, and Brandt Womack had just been given his first assignment by his purchasing manager at Miami-based Snedeker Global Cruises Inc. It was the “E-Auction Development Program” (EDP). The purpose of EDP was to identify potential products that could be purchased through e-auctions, determine the necessary steps to conduct a successful e-auction, and assess the impact of e-auctions on supplier relationships. As a newly hired supply chain manager, Brandt wondered how to proceed.

Snedeker Global Cruises incorporated in 1986 and is a cruise company with 35 cruise ships and over 70,000 berths. Snedeker Global serves the contemporary and premium segments of the cruise vacation industry and offers a variety of itineraries to destinations worldwide, including Alaska, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Latin America, and New Zealand.

In 2005, Snedeker incurred its highest-ever procurement costs in sourcing the products and services needed for cruise ship operations and wanted to combat this trend. To that end Snedeker had been working on changing its buying practices. In the past, each individual cruise ship made all its own purchases for the upcoming season. Purchasing was decentralized, with each ship making purchasing decisions based on its needs alone. The company began moving away from this practice and put into place a centralized purchasing department in charge of making purchases for the entire cruise line. The centralized purchasing strategy provided many cost-saving opportunities for the company and greatly reduced the overall order costs of the company. The company wanted to continue to pursue ways in which the centralized purchasing practice could reduce costs, and e-auctions became a viable option. However, senior management at Snedeker was concerned about the impact on quality and the effect e-auctions might have on suppliers.

At Snedeker, the purchasing cycle began with a master forecast for the upcoming year with orders being placed 8 to 10 months prior to need. This master forecast included everything from replacement engine parts to chocolate mints placed on pillows in cabins. When the forecast was generated it was given to the Senior Purchasing Manager, Kasey Davis. Kasey scheduled a meeting with Brandt to discuss the E-Auction Development Program, giving Brandt the master list of all the products needing to be purchased for the next year. Kasey instructed Brandt to determine which products would be best to purchase through e-auctions and wanted to know how the e-auction process would work. In addition, Kasey wanted Brandt to determine the effect that e-auctions would have on relationships with current suppliers.

Brandt walked out of Kasey’s office overwhelmed. It was his first assignment, and he did not know where to begin the E-Auction Development Program (EDP).

Source:

Sanders, N. R. (2017). Supply Chain Management (2nd ed.) Wiley, VitalBook file. (p. 118)

Case Questions

Use your textbook and a minimum of three expert resources from the internet to answer the following questions regarding this case study .

Logistics Case Study

Strategic Solutions Inc.

Strategic Solutions (SS) is a small 3PL provider that was started by Scott Crash in 1992. Scott began his career working in the logistics division of a large trucking company. He worked with fleet scheduling, customer support, and route scheduling before he saw the opportunity to start his own business offering similar services. Strategic Solutions provides logistics services to small businesses in Columbus, Ohio, and has recently acquired major accounts with two well-known grocery store chains. Their core competency is specializing in the movement of cold and frozen food products. Refrigerated trailers can be expensive, and if not transported using reliable equipment, it can prove to be very costly for all parties. Scott started his company by strategically combining LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments for small stores such as gas stations, pharmacies, and small grocery stores. He found his niche in climate-controlled trailer movements. Business has been growing since.

The Business

Strategic Solutions operates by arranging customer shipments with the best for-hire transportation service they can find. Two of their main transporters are Frigid Movements and Problem Solved Shipments. Strategic Solutions has long-term contracts with most of its customers, but they also accept one-time shipments and business from random customers on a regular basis. Customers can either call or e-mail Strategic Solutions with the details, such as identifying the products that need to be shipped, the destination, and required time of delivery. Once Strategic Solutions has this information they can then arrange for the outbound shipments from the customer’s distribution centers to the desired location. The customer base has increased substantially as a result of the company’s success in the cold food movement area, and they have acquired new contracts with major grocery store chains.

The Problem

Scott’s company has begun to struggle with the business growth due to information technology constraints. Their current method of telephone and e-mail information exchange has become outdated, and customers have found it hard to communicate with Strategic Solutions. Customer satisfaction has dropped in the recent past, and Scott fears the loss of some of his top business clients. Something must be done so that Strategic Solution’s reputation isn’t damaged, and no customers are lost.

The Need for EDI or TMS

Scott understands that logistics depends on accurate real-time information but isn’t sure what type of system would be best suited for his operation and has decided to take a customer-oriented approach. He personally spoke with each of his customers to find out what would be the best system for them and how the two companies could best work together. He also spoke with his transportation providers to see what type of information exchange and transportation scheduling arrangements would best work for them. It seems that the ideal system would be a single point of contact for customer orders where information is updated in real time. It is inconvenient and time consuming for a customer to call and deal with busy phone lines and unanswered phone calls or wait for an e-mail reply. There could also be clerical errors when transferring the information between different parties.

The EDI versus TMS Expansion

Scott is not sure which system to implement and what would be the best investment. He assumes that electronic data interchange (EDI) can accomplish real-time information sharing with all of their customers as well as potential carriers. For customers, information can be available online with proper access codes so that scheduling arrangements involving shipments, equipment, and time schedules can be made with a single point of contact. The downside of an EDI system is the expense. Also, system failure could halt the business, potentially resulting in significant financial losses.

Another option is a transportation management system (TMS), which is a software system designed to manage transportation operations. TMS would enable Strategic Solutions to directly link to their transporters’ systems to more efficiently identify and find potential routes. They wouldn’t have to arrange shipments through telephone or e-mail but could simply schedule them using the TMS. A downside to TMS is that it would leave out noncontracted carriers. If a certain time or route wasn’t available through Frigid Movements or Problem Solved Shipments, Strategic Solutions would have to find other ways to schedule the transportation of their customers’ goods.

Scott has estimated the following costs for both systems as well as customer preferences:

Source:

Sanders, N. R. (2017). Supply Chain Management (2nd ed.) Wiley, VitalBook file. (p. 137)

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2

Sourcing and Logistics Case Studies

SCMG201 Principles of Supply Chain Management

Student’s Name

Date

Sourcing Case Study

Snedeker Global Cruises

Case Questions

Use your textbook and a minimum of three expert resources (total) from the internet to answer the following questions regarding this case study.

Question 1. Suggest and explain the specific steps Brandt should follow to prepare for the EDP process

Question 2. Identify differences between traditional purchasing and use of e-auctions. How can Brandt use these differences to make his selection? What types of items would be best suited for purchase through e-auctions?

Question 3. Assume Brandt has identified products to purchase through e-auctions, what steps does he need to take to conduct a successful e-auction?

Question 4. What negative impact can e-auctions have on supplier relationships, and how can Brandt ensure that they do not occur?

Logistics Case Study

Strategic Solutions Inc.

Case Questions

Use your textbook and a minimum of three expert resources from the internet to answer the following questions regarding this case study.

Question 1. Identify and describe the characteristics of an ideal information system for this logistics environment. Gather information on both EDI and TMS, and compare their suitability for this environment

Question 2. Help Scott decide if he should invest in either EDI or TMS, or both. Is there another type of system that you believe would be better? What kind of benefits, including performance and customer satisfaction, can Scott expect by making these proposed changes to the business process?

Question 3. What are the key considerations when deciding on the best possible systems to implement?

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APA 7th ed. Guidelines

APA 7th ed. Guidelines

APA 7th ed. Guidelines New Seventh Edition 2019 The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association has recently updated the widely referenced Manual to a Seventh Edition. Updated for simplified, condensed material while retaining and strengthening the basic rules of APA. American Public University

APA 7th ed. Guidelines

New Guidelines seventh Edition 2019

In today’s fast growing technological world, new inventions have altered the manner in which we gather report and perform scientific research. Thus, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association updated the widely referenced Manual to a Seventh Edition, which simplifies, condenses, and meets the needs of users in mind. This edition promotes accessibility for everyone, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines while also concentrating on the Basic Elements of APA writing.

October 2019, the American Psychological Association released its seventh edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, with modifications to APA Style writing, sources, & structure.

As you continue your higher education, you are faced with different writing styles. This reference guide will concentrate on the basic principles of APA style as it applies to writing term (research) papers and essays. This reference guide will provide helpful tips and suggestions to assist in producing a scholarly term paper or essay using APA formatting and style guidelines.

CHANGES TO THE NEW APA EDITION

· Citing online material

· Use of inclusive & bias-free language

· References & in-text citations are easier and clearer

· APA diversity for paper guidelines professionally or academically created

· Better explained guidelines for mechanics

APA Manual 7th edition: The most notable changes

Date published October 11, 2019 by Raimo Streefkerk. Date updated: November 5, 2019

In October 2019, the American Psychological Association (APA) introduced the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, which replaces the 6th edition published in 2009.

In that time a lot of things have changed. Citing online material has become more common

· the use of inclusive

· bias-free language is increasingly important

· technology used by researchers and students has changed

The 7th edition addresses these changes by providing better and more extensive guidelines. This article outlines the biggest changes that you should know about.

References and in-text citations in APA Style

· When it comes to citing sources, more guidelines have been added that make citing online sources easier and clearer.

· In total, 114 examples are provided, ranging from books and periodicals to audiovisuals and social media. For each reference category an easy template is provided that helps you to understand and apply the citation guidelines. The biggest changes in the 7th edition are:

1. The publisher location is no longer included in the reference. Instead of “New York, NY: McGraw-Hill” it’s just “McGraw-Hill.” (9.29)

2. The in-text citation for works with three or more authors is now shortened right from the first citation. You only include the first author’s name and “et al.”. (8.17)

3. Surnames and initials for up to 20 authors (instead of 7) should be provided in the reference list. (9.8)

4. DOIs are formatted as urls (https://doi.org/xxx). The label “DOI:” is no longer necessary. (DOI)

5. URLs are embedded directly in the reference, without being preceded by “Retrieved from,” unless a retrieval date is needed.

6. For ebooks, the format, platform, or device (e.g. Kindle) is no longer included in the reference. (10.2)

7. Clear guidelines are provided for including contributors that are not an author or editor. For example, when citing a podcast episode, the host of the episode should be included; for a TV series episode, the writer and director of that episode are cited. (Table 10.15)

8. Dozens of examples are included for online source types such as podcast episodes, social media posts, and YouTube videos. Also, the use of emojis and hashtags is explained. (Table 10.15)

Inclusive and bias-free language (5.1-5.10)

Writing inclusively and without bias is the new standard, and APA’s new publication manual contains a separate chapter on this topic.

The guidelines provided by APA help authors to reduce bias around topics such as gender, age, disability, racial and ethnic identity, and sexual orientation, as well as being sensitive to labels. Some examples are:

9. The singular “they” or “their” is endorsed as a gender-neutral pronoun.

10. Descriptive phrases such as “people living in poverty” are preferred over adjectives as nouns to label people (e.g., “the poor”).

11. Instead of broad categories (e.g., over 65 years old), you should use exact age ranges (e.g., 65-75) that are more relevant and specific.

APA Paper format

In the 7th edition, APA decided to provide different paper format guidelines for professional and student papers. For both types a sample paper is included. Some notable changes include:

12. Increased flexibility regarding fonts: options include Calibri 11, Arial 11, Lucida Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, and Georgia 11. (2.19)

13. The running head on the title page no longer includes the words “Running head:”. It now contains only a page number and the (shortened) paper title. (2.2-Sample)

14. The running head is omitted in student papers (unless your instructor tells you otherwise).

15. Heading levels 3-5 are updated to improve readability. (Table 2.3)

Mechanics of style

In terms of style, not much has changed in the 7th edition. In addition to some updated and better explained guidelines, there are two notable changes:

16. Use only one space after a period at the end of a sentence. (6.1)

17. Use double quotation marks to refer to linguistic examples (e.g. APA endorses the use of the singular pronoun “they”) instead of italics. (6.22-6.23)

WHY APA?

APA (Seventh Edition) provides a foundation for effective scholarly communication, helping authors present ideas clearly, concisely, and in an organization manner. Uniformity and consistency enable writers and readers to:

a) Focus on ideas being presented vs. formatting

b) Scan works quickly for key points, findings, sources

APA style guidelines encourage writers to disclose essential information allowing readers to dispense with minor distractions i.e.

1) Inconsistencies or omissions in punctuation

2) Capitalization

3) Reference citations

4) Presentation of statistics (p. xvii)

APA 7th ed. broadened its audience of consultants of not only by psychologists but also students and researchers in many fields such as business, education, social work, nursing and many other behavioral and social sciences. The scope and length of the APA manual has grown in the response to the needs of researchers, students, and educators across disciplines.

(2.2) APA BASIC/MINIMUM STUDENT PAPER ELEMENTS:

Student papers, narrative essays, literature review, usually include:

· The cover page or title page (Sections 2.3-2.6)

· Text of the paper (Section 2.11)

· Reference page (Section 2.12)

· Page numbers (Section 2.18)

(2.3) COVER PAGE/TITLE PAGE

APA Manuscript elements of the title page:

***For Student Papers there is no requirement for a Running head in the header.

Page number in the header flush right

Title of the paper in bold

Added space

Student/Author name

Course #

Affiliation

Instructor

Due date

The Seventh Edition has revised the Title Page to consist of seven elements: page number, paper title, author, affiliation, Course, Instructor, Due date (2.2 – Sample Student Title Page).

1. Title (in title case 6.17) bold, centered, and positioned in the upper half of the title page, 3-4 lines down from top margin (2.4) added space for the next element is not required

2. Author name first name, middle initial, last name. No titles or degrees are used (Dr. or Ph.D.) (1.22)

3. Under the author’s name is the institutional affiliation – American Public University (2.6)

4. Next is the Course number – Course name

5. Instructor name

6. Due date (month date year)

7. Page numbers (2.18)

(2.11) TEXT OF THE PAPER

· 1” margins all the way around

· All text double-spaced

· Every new sentence 1 tab indent (0.5 inches)

Format, the text should start on a new page after the title page and after the title of the paper in title case, bold, and centered.

The text left-aligned, double-spaced paragraphs, the first line of each paragraph indented by one tab key (0.5 in.; Section 2.23-2.24). Use headings as needed to separate sections and reflect the organizational structure of content (Section 2.26-2.27). Do not start a new page or add extra line breaks when a new heading occurs; each section of the text should follow the next without a break.

BASIC APA WRITING COMPONENTS

· (2.3) Title page: Use APA format (see example above)

· (2.4) Title: Name your paper. The title can “hook” your readers. The title should summarize the main idea of the paper

· (2.11) Introductory Paragraph: Should summarize the prose of the assignment, introducing the topic. Pretend the reader has no idea of the topic the paper, concisely elaborate on the topic. The thesis statement is often the last sentence of the first paragraph, generally a segue sentence to the body/sub-header (if used) essay

· (2.26) Principles of Organization: The key to writing sound, organized, scholarly structured is to be clear, precise and logical. Headings in a paper identify the purpose

and aid the reader’s ability to become familiar with the essays content – allows for easier found information sought.

· (2.27) Heading Levels: The first paragraphs of the paper are understood to be introductory, the heading “Introduction” is not needed. Do not begin a paper with an “Introduction” heading

· (4.06) Sentence & Paragraph Length: Discuss topic. The number of paragraphs will depend on the length and complexity of your paper. There is not minimum or maximum sentence length in APA Style. Overuse of too short or too long sentences results in incomprehensible. Single sentence paragraphs are abrupt and used infrequently. A new paragraph signals a shift to a new idea.

WRITING THE PAPER

There are specific guidelines when writing an APA style paper.

· Center the title at the top of page two. The title is written in title case (6.17)

· Double space entire paper (2.21)

· Use 1 inch margins (2.22)

· Text is left aligned (2.23)

· APA Style paper should be written in a font accessible to all users.

· Use the same font throughout the paper (2.19)

· Suggested options

· 11-point Calibri

· 11-point Arial

· 10-point Lucida

· 12-point Times New Roman

· 11-point Georgia

· Normal 10-point Computer Modern

· First sentence of every paragraph must be indented (2.24)

· Quotes 40 words or more must be in blocked quotation format with no quotation marks and include the page number in parentheses after the last period (8.27)

(2.12) COMPONENTS OF A REFERENCE PAGE

Page number

Title of page, in bold (References)

Alphabetize

Double-spaced

Hanging Indent

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The word ‘References’ (‘Reference if only one source) should appear at the top center of the page in bold. Entries are double-spaced using a hanging indent.

**Do not list a reference not used in the body of the paper. Similarly, do not include an in-text citation without a corresponding reference on the reference page.

(3) Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS)

Specialized guidelines developed by APA referred to as JARS outline for authors what information should be included for journal articles. Primarily authors seeking publication or students conducting advanced research projects.

Undergraduate or graduate students conducting advanced projects will use JARS. Common reporting standards for journal articles include the abstract and the introduction.

Undergraduate and graduate students tend to write less complicated research papers; therefore an abstract or introduction are not requirements (unless by programmatic design).

WRITING TIPS FOR STUDENTS

· Acronyms: Identify acronyms on first use. Example: American Public University (APUS).

· Allow Time Between Drafts: While a break of 24 hours or more is ideal, a thirty minute break will yield positive results.

· Ampersand: If the citation is in parentheses, use the ampersand ('&') instead of the word “and” in text of paper. Always use ampersand (&) in tables, captions and on the reference page.

· Awkward Phrasing: Use Standard English phrasing. For example, “try to do” rather than “try and do,” “we went” rather than “us went.”

· Brainstorming: Before beginning to write, take the time to put ideas down on paper. Mind-mapping and list-making are two useful brainstorming techniques.

· Commas and Introductory Phrases: Usually commas are placed between an introductory phrase and the main sentence; however, commas are rarely used to separate a concluding phrase.

· Complete Sentences: Write in complete sentences and avoid slang. Complete sentences contain both subjects and verbs. Avoid run on sentences.

· etc.: Avoid using etc. at the end of a list unless it is part of a quotation.

· Extra Time: Quality writing takes time – lots of time. Build in a cushion of extra time.

· Help from Others: Being mindful of plagiarism and academic honesty, request proofreading help.

· Homonyms: Homonyms are words sounding similar but are spelled differently and have different definitions. (Example, new and knew; your and you’re; know and no).

· Multiple Drafts: Professional writers create multiple drafts of their writing. You should too.

· Non-words: Ensure all words are Standard English words. (Example, “alot” is not a word).

· Organizing: Plan paper or assignment. This may be as simple as a chronological list of points or as elaborate as a formal outline.

· Question Marks and Quotation Marks: Place question marks outside the quotation mark unless the question mark is part of the quotation.

· Titles of Books and Magazines: Italicize the title of books and magazines.

· Titles of Articles and Chapters: Place the title of articles and chapters of books in quotation marks to set off when mentioned in text.

· Use Formal Voice: Academic writing is more formal than casual conversations, emails, and instant messages.

· Flow of Paper: Use transitional words helping maintain the flow of thought. Use a pronoun referring to a noun in a preceding sentence allows a smooth transition and elevates repetition. Other words assisting in transition are time links (after, next, since, then, while), cause-effect links (as a result, consequently, as a result), addition links (furthermore, in addition, moreover, similarly), and contrast links (although, but, conversely, however, nevertheless). (4.1 – 4.3)

· Anthropomorphism: avoid attributing human characteristics to animals or inanimate sources. (4.11)

· Verb Tense and Active Voice: Limit shifts in verb tense, and use active voice rather than passive voice. (4.12)

· Subject-Verb Agreement: Be sure your subject and verb agree. For example, “we are” rather than “we is,” “they did” rather than “they done.” (4.15)

· Perspective: Use third person point of view when writing research papers (avoiding pronouns such as I, we, my, our (first person) and you, yours, your, us, we (second person). You should deal with facts and not opinions, thus providing citations within paper and on reference page. Focus on the subject itself and not on your feelings about the subject. The use of third person retains a formal tone in your writing. (4.16)

· Wordiness and Redundancy: Eliminate wordy sentences; get your point across with as few words as possible eliminating empty words such as “that”. (4.5)

· Sentence and Paragraph Length: Be s

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