Logistics - Term Paper

A#2, Part 1

Light Up My Life, Inc.

During the weekly staff meeting, the topics of “Supply Chains” and “Logistics” came up.    There was some attempt by various people to try to explain the differences between these concepts.  But it was clear that an oral discussion was not-doing-a-good-job-of-explaining-the-concepts.

Managers; logisticians; supply people; operations; finance all had a slightly different “cut” at what these terms represented.

The CEO asked if she could get some information on the topic. Of course, the answer was “of course”.    Mrs. Ennis asked if the information could be provided as a memo to her that would ultimately be sent to the senior managers and senior staff.  Here are her questions.

[Points as listed for each question.  Remember that there are also other standard graded elements that are not separately listed.]

#1-1.  (100 points) What, indeed, is a supply chain?  Please include a diagram or other visual with a few words of explanation.

#1-2.  (100 points) What is supply chain management?

#1-3.  (100 points) What is logistics?  Again, a diagram or visual & explanation.

#1-4.  (100 points) What is logistics management?

#1-5.  (100 points) How does logistics fit into a supply chain?

             Very helpful if can show this visually.

#1-6. (100 points) What is the role (or roles?) of the supply chain in a market-oriented economy? 

#1-7.  (50 points) What might be the role of a supply chain in a non-market-oriented economy?

#1-8.  (50 points) How might risk affect the supply chain?

#1-9.  (50 points) Any other information that you think should be covered for the managers and/or staff.  If none, then so state.

Tom, our VP, says that he will have a memo sent to the CEO in a few days with the requested information.  After the meeting he asks you to write up the memo.

[You are not restricted on the length.  But for most of these a very nice answer can be prepared in a paragraph or two. Indeed, some with a sentence or two.  Remember that the CEO is asking these pretty basic questions, so we should assume that she is not very familiar with these concepts.

Sometimes a good figure can help a great deal.  But very few figures or diagrams are “stand alone” in their own right.  Most figures also need some explanation.]