Assessment Information
This assignment is designed to assess learning outcomes 1-4:
1. Apply modern supply chain management principles and practice, including the evolution of modern
operations management theory, to real business cases.
2. Critically analyse the process of supply chain management decision making.
3. Apply and analyse appropriate management frameworks which can be used for the planning and
control of materials and services, from the viewpoints of quality, quantity and cost analysis.
4. Appreciate and utilise the range of tools and techniques available to aid effective supply chain
management decision-making.
This assignment is an individual assignment and requires you to produce a report.
This assignment requires you to analyse two supply chains of your choice. In addressing this report you should
consider the supply chain in the following areas:
– The overall design of the supply chains.
– How decision are made?
– Procurement strategy.
– Production strategy and operations.
In this part of the coursework, you have to select two supply chains – now
there are two options here
– you can select one of the following:
· Supply chain from the same sector e.g. a supply chain for Tesco and
Sainsbury’s or supply chain for Audi and Toyota, etc.

a) In this case, you have to then initially compare the two supply chains in
terms of the design of the supply chain, efficiency and agility of the supply
chain, how many suppliers, etc. Main focus for comparing the two supply
chains should be based on the design of the supply chain. But please do
search the literature and see what does design of supply chain means. You
will find a plethora of research on design of supply chain
b) Thereafter, you have to identify and assess what are the different
external macro factors impacting the supply chain and how the supply
chains are reacting to the external pressures?
c) Then you have to explain the procurement strategy of each supply
chain. Please refer to lecture 5 on Purchasing and Procurement, and look
at the procurement process/steps. Here I want you all to explain the
procurement strategy of the supply chain examples selected and justify
which strategy is more effective.
d) Lastly, you have to compare and explain the production strategy and
different operations of the supply chain e.g. in terms of production
strategy – what is the type of strategy used. In this case you will have to
explore the literature and identify the different types of production
strategies. And in terms of operations, you will have to explain the types
of operations in both supply chains.
· Two supply chains from different sectors e.g. one supply chain of Tesco
and the other from Audi or between manufacturing and pharmaceutical
sector. I leave this to you.
o Once you have selected the supply chains, you will have to follow the
same steps as explained above in points from a), b), c) and d).