Supply Chain Analyst

Objective: The aim of this task is to develop a strategic plan for a hypothetical supply chain scenario by identifying critical areas for improvement, risks, and opportunities for optimization. You are expected to incorporate current supply chain theories and best practices into your plan.

Expected Deliverables: A comprehensive report saved as a PDF file that outlines your strategic plan, including a needs assessment, risk evaluation, and proposed solutions. Your report should cover themes such as supplier evaluation, transportation management, and distribution network optimization.

Key Steps:

1. Conduct a thorough literature review and research on supply chain strategic planning using publicly available resources.
2. Define a hypothetical supply chain scenario including products, market dynamics, and expected challenges.
3. Perform a detailed needs assessment and risk analysis identifying potential bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
4. Create a strategic plan that recommends actionable solutions and justification for each recommendation.
5. Compile the findings in a well-structured report including an executive summary, detailed analysis, recommendations, and a conclusion.

Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be evaluated based on the depth of analysis, relevance and coherence of strategies proposed, originality, clarity in presentation, and effective use of graphical tools (charts/diagrams) to convey information. The file must be submitted in a PDF format, and the report should not exceed 15 pages. It should clearly show evidence of independent research and critical thinking.

Objective: This task is designed to enhance your skills in data analysis and demand forecasting within a supply chain context. Students will simulate analysis of historical demand data and apply forecasting techniques to predict future inventory needs.

Expected Deliverables: A detailed analytical report and a spreadsheet file (e.g., Excel) with forecasts based on your analysis. The report should be saved as a PDF file and include all relevant calculations, graphs, and explanations that support your demand forecasting methodology.

Key Steps:

1. Identify and review publicly available historical supply chain or market data to simulate a realistic scenario. Create your own sample dataset if necessary.
2. Choose appropriate forecasting methods (such as moving averages, exponential smoothing, or regression analysis) to model demand.
3. Implement your forecasting model using a spreadsheet tool. Document all formulas and logic used in your analysis.
4. Create graphs and charts that visualize historical trends and forecasted demand.
5. Prepare a comprehensive report that explains your methodology, rationale for choosing the specific forecasting techniques, analysis of your results, and potential implications for inventory management.

Evaluation Criteria: The assignment will be evaluated based on the clarity and accuracy of your analysis, logic behind the forecasting model, visualization of data, and overall presentation of your findings. The quality of the spreadsheet analysis and the graphical illustrations are critical. The task should be completed in 30-35 hours.

Objective: This task focuses on developing detailed inventory management strategies with an emphasis on optimizing reorder points, safety stock levels, and overall inventory control. You are required to simulate an environment where you monitor inventory and propose improvements based on your analysis.

Expected Deliverables: A final submission that includes a written report (PDF file) and a supporting spreadsheet model (e.g., Excel file) that demonstrates your calculations and inventory optimization metrics.

Key Steps:

1. Create a hypothetical but realistic inventory management scenario involving a product line with fluctuating demand.
2. Research and describe various inventory management methods and best practices, such as the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model, safety stock calculations, and reorder point determination.
3. Develop your own inventory model using a spreadsheet that calculates optimal order quantities and safety stock based on simulated demand data.
4. Generate graphs and visual aids to illustrate inventory trends and potential areas for cost reduction.
5. Document your methodology, assumptions, and conclusions in a detailed report.

Evaluation Criteria: Your submission will be judged on the completeness and correctness of your inventory model, the clarity with which you articulate your optimization strategy, the quality of data visualization, and overall presentation. Practical application of theoretical knowledge, along with detailed justifications for your approach, will be essential. The task should be undertaken with an estimated commitment of 30-35 hours.

Objective: This task emphasizes process improvement under a simulated supply chain environment. You are required to design and simulate a process improvement initiative that can lead to enhanced efficiency in supply chain operations. The focus should be on identifying process bottlenecks and proposing strategies to alleviate them.

Expected Deliverables: A simulation report (PDF file) that describes your process improvement strategy, along with a documented simulation model (provided as a file such as a simulation software output, Excel model, or flowchart) that illustrates the changes made. The submission should include data-driven insights and recommendations.

Key Steps:

1. Research methodologies for process improvement in supply chain management, including lean management, Six Sigma, and process mapping.
2. Create a hypothetical scenario where a supply chain process (procurement, manufacturing, or logistics) experiences inefficiencies or bottlenecks.
3. Design a simulation model that manipulates key process variables to illustrate the impact of potential improvements.
4. Run the simulation to collect data on process performance before and after implementing improvements. Document the simulation parameters and outcomes.
5. Compile your findings in a written report that includes an analysis of the process, the methodology employed for simulation, graphical representation of the outcomes, and your strategic recommendations.

Evaluation Criteria: The final deliverables will be assessed based on the depth of your process analysis, the robustness of the simulation model, the clarity of your recommendations, and the overall presentation of data and findings. Creativity in addressing process bottlenecks and leveraging data for improvement will be critical. The task is designed for 30-35 hours of dedicated work.

Objective: In this final task, students will integrate their learning from previous weeks to perform an end-to-end analysis of a supply chain system. The goal is to evaluate overall supply chain performance and develop a comprehensive improvement proposal. This task involves combining data analysis, inventory optimization, process improvement, and strategic planning in one cohesive final report.

Expected Deliverables: A detailed final report (PDF file) that presents your comprehensive analysis, along with supporting documents (Excel spreadsheets, simulation outputs, charts, and graphs) that evidence your analytical process. The report should include an executive summary, methodology, analysis of findings, and clear recommendations.

Key Steps:

1. Develop a hypothetical supply chain scenario that incorporates elements of forecasting, inventory management, and process improvement.
2. Utilize publicly available data and/or your own generated datasets to simulate real-world operations.
3. Perform rigorous data analysis to identify inefficiencies, forecast demand, and determine optimal inventory levels.
4. Integrate process improvement strategies that address identified inefficiencies across the supply chain.
5. Compile your findings into an exhaustive final report that includes data visualizations, a discussion of the implications for supply chain strategy, and actionable recommendations for performance enhancement.

Evaluation Criteria: Your deliverable will be evaluated based on its comprehensiveness, depth of analysis, clarity of strategic vision, and quality of presentation. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to synthesize multiple aspects of supply chain management into one coherent report, with clear supporting documentation and creative insights. The anticipated work effort for this task is approximately 30-35 hours.