You have been asked by the senior management team (SMT) 

You have been asked by the senior management team (SMT) to assess the best way to set up a supply chain for a new product line which the company has just finished developing and is looking to put into production.

You have been asked by the senior management team (SMT)

“Introduction
In this assessment you will be required to write an individual piece of work in the form of a report to the senior management of a medium sized company in your own region. You can write about any company of your choice and should either choose one where a good level of information is publicly available or one you work with. The company should trade locally and globally. The report will require you to analyse current issues and developments in local and global trade logistics, and will use methods and techniques from the module and your own academic and practical research. You will also need to advise the company on adjusting its production schedule using an optimiser, from information given in the assignment.

Scenario

You have been asked by the senior management team (SMT) to assess the best way to set up a supply chain for a new product line which the company has just finished developing and is looking to put into production. The product can be something the company is actually considering launching, or something you think the company may be capable of producing in the future. For example, a food company will need to launch a food product not a car, and vice versa. The company will also need your help to optimise its production facility to deal with the new product.
Task
This task is in two parts.

Part 1: Supply Chain Investigation
Explore the best routes to local markets and to the lucrative markets of Europe and the USA, where the product will be launched. This will be in your report as ‘Supply Chain Route Investigation’.

This investigation will comprise:

1.       Supply chain transportation identification, to include:
Firstly, The best method of carrying the product (container, size, etc)
Secondly, An identification of two or three possible routes to reach target markets, including the type(s) of transport needed along the route (e.g. road, rail, shipping, air)
Thirdly, A consideration of the types of contract that would be appropriate for transportation. (A single contract, bill of lading, etc)

Lastly, An investigation of the cost of transporting the product
2.      Analysis of options, to include:
Consideration of costs
Supply chain risk analysis for each of the possible routes identified
Time to transport the product
An indication of where IT, and in particular Industry 4.0, might be used to optimise the supply chain

3.       Justification of chosen route with:
Firstly, Outline of its effectiveness (e.g. throughput)

Lastly, An estimate of the benefits (e.g. speed, cost saving)

Part 2: Optimising the Supply Chain
The company has decided to produce the product in standard shipping batches. To cope with the new product, an adjustment to production needs to be made on the lines that will make it. The company has given you the following information: