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1 – 10 of 829Işık Özge Yumurtacı Hüseyinoğlu, Deniz Kurtay, İrem Aşar and Serra Dilmaç
In this case study, the alternative route designs were observed to significantly decrease transportation costs and the total distance traveled. This decrease in logistics…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
In this case study, the alternative route designs were observed to significantly decrease transportation costs and the total distance traveled. This decrease in logistics requirements almost halved the annual number of shipments and the time needed for operation and documentation activities. In addition, reduced carbon emissions made this an environmentally friendly transportation model, in line with trends in society.
Case overview/synopsis
The basis for this case study was the analysis of Whirlpool Turkey’s transportation system for materials used in the production of white goods. Data obtained through fieldwork and cooperation with company consultants showed that some suppliers have high annual logistics costs. This inefficiency causes time loss and increases the total distance traveled and thus carbon emissions. In the case study, the current application created inefficiency in cost and time management, and therefore, after determining the factors that increase costs, different transportation solutions were developed accordingly.
Complexity academic level
This case is particularly designed for undergraduates in the final semester of management courses that specialize in supply chain and operation management.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 9: Operations and logistics.
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Bishal Dey Sarkar, Prasad Vasant Joshi and Nisarg Shah
After completion of the case study, students will be able to understand the concept of clustering and identify clusters for improving capacity utilization, analyse transport…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, students will be able to understand the concept of clustering and identify clusters for improving capacity utilization, analyse transport routes to optimize logistics resources, analyse the impact of a full truckload on resource optimization, evaluate unused capacity and ascertain the impact of reverse milk run to reduce the same and apply clustering and reverse milk run to optimize the logistics resources.
Case overview/synopsis
The case study is about a freight forwarding company that offered end-to-end logistics solutions for the exporters based in India. Within a short time span, the company became one of the sought-after service providers for its clients. However, when the company planned to expand its business by expanding its client base, the efficiencies reduced and hurt the profitability of the company. It was all excellent with the limited number of clients, but as the number of distantly located clients surged, the operating costs increased. Trucks were running with partial loads, thus reducing efficiency. The rate of increase in cost surpassed the rate of revenue every time. The cost per mile of transportation was on the rise. The surging fuel prices were adding to the heat. In spite of being one of the first choices for clients, the company could not generate good profit margins. If they chose to increase prices, the company would have lost customers to the cheaper unorganized players in the market. It was time to choose between growth and survival. The company could not sustain itself without devising a mechanism to reduce costs. The company would not have sustained itself without devising a mechanism to reduce costs. To sustain in the business, the company had to device a mechanism to reduce costs. Whether to continue operating the conventional way or to transform? Was there a logistics strategy that would have improved transportation efficiency and reduced the costs for the company?
Complexity academic level
The case study is suitable for teaching post-graduate management courses in operations and logistics, supply chain management and supply chain analytics, as well as entrepreneurship-related courses.
Supplementary material
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CCS 9: Operations and logistics.
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Rodney Thomas, Stephen Rutner and Christopher Boone
This case study addresses a number of common transportation management issues. It provides an opportunity to analyse historical freight payment data in order to reduce…
Abstract
This case study addresses a number of common transportation management issues. It provides an opportunity to analyse historical freight payment data in order to reduce transportation costs and improve customer service, allowing students to utilise real freight payment data and order shipment history data to make recommendations that have strategic implications for both cost and service performance.
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Sunil Chopra, Ioana Andreas, Sigmund Gee, Ivi Kolasi, Stephane Lhoste and Benjamin Neuwirth
In September 2010 Suresh Krishna, vice president of operations and integration at Polaris Industries Inc., a manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles, Side-by-Sides, and snowmobiles…
Abstract
In September 2010 Suresh Krishna, vice president of operations and integration at Polaris Industries Inc., a manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles, Side-by-Sides, and snowmobiles, needed to recommend a location for a new plant to manufacture the company's Side-by-Side vehicles.
The economic slowdown in the United States had put considerable pressure on Polaris's profits, so the company was considering whether it should follow the lead of other manufacturers and open a facility in a country with lower labor costs. China and Mexico were shortlisted as possible locations for the new factory, which would be the first Polaris manufacturing facility located outside the Midwestern United States. By the end of the year Krishna needed to recommend to the board whether Polaris should build a new plant abroad (near-shored in Mexico or off-shored in China) or continue to manufacture in its American facilities.
Evaluate tradeoffs between different geographic locations when establishing a manufacturing facility (off-shoring, near-shoring, and on-shoring)
Run a sensitivity analysis on total cost
Assess the impact of transportation costs, exchange rates, labor cost rates, lead times, and other assumptions on total costs
Identify qualitative factors to be considered when deciding between non-U.S. facility locations, transportation time variability, consumer perceptions, and cultural differences
Evaluate tradeoffs between different geographic locations when establishing a manufacturing facility (off-shoring, near-shoring, and on-shoring)
Run a sensitivity analysis on total cost
Assess the impact of transportation costs, exchange rates, labor cost rates, lead times, and other assumptions on total costs
Identify qualitative factors to be considered when deciding between non-U.S. facility locations, transportation time variability, consumer perceptions, and cultural differences
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This case illustrates the concept of consolidation and how freight forwarders use it to reduce transportation costs. The student must compare a ship-direct model against vehicular…
Abstract
This case illustrates the concept of consolidation and how freight forwarders use it to reduce transportation costs. The student must compare a ship-direct model against vehicular consolidation, then consider temporal consolidation, investigate the differences between a freight broker and a freight forwarder, and develop a rate analysis for use in negotiation.
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Margaret Ake, Kristine Kelly, Lauren Fournier and Jacob Kidder
Early in 2008, Tony Truesdale, President of the Vitamin Shoppe, was preparing for a meeting with the company's investment bankers. In particular, he was wrestling with supply…
Abstract
Early in 2008, Tony Truesdale, President of the Vitamin Shoppe, was preparing for a meeting with the company's investment bankers. In particular, he was wrestling with supply chain issues that were becoming increasingly pronounced in light of the company's aggressive growth plan. Truesdale recognized that it was nearly impossible to effectively manage the company's large and fragmented supply base, resulting in higher than necessary costs and lower than desired performance. The company also relied too heavily on one supplier for a significant amount of the company's volume. Truesdale recognized that it was nearly impossible to effectively manage the company's large and fragmented supply base, resulting in higher than necessary costs and lower than desired performance. The company also relied too heavily on one supplier for a significant amount of the company's volume.
Further, in the company's single distribution center, 95 percent of the available storage capacity was utilized throughout most of 2007; well above what was considered optimal. The lack of space was driving excessive product handling and increasing operating expenses. The company's inbound and outbound transportation strategies also contributed to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs. Operating efficiencies could be achieved if all transportation needs were brought together under one strategic umbrella. Truesdale was certain that in order to reach the company's growth targets and maintain its competitive advantage, addressing these supply chain issues was critical. Students are asked to describe the specific issues affecting supply chain performance and recommend approaches to solving the problems
Stephan M. Wagner, Viviane Heldt, Katrin Lentschig and Jennifer Meyer
The case of Bertelsmann China: Supply Chain for Books (B) is situated in China in the beginning of 2006. Bertelsmann Direct Group, the Chinese subsidiary of the worldwide…
Abstract
The case of Bertelsmann China: Supply Chain for Books (B) is situated in China in the beginning of 2006. Bertelsmann Direct Group, the Chinese subsidiary of the worldwide Bertelsmann AG, is one of the leading book retailers in the country. Supply chain management is essential for success in retailing, which is why Bertelsmann puts a lot of effort into the optimization of its supply chain design. As costs are paramount to importance in the low-margin book retailing sector, linear programming methods are applied to optimize the network
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Md. Fazla Mohiuddin, Anindo Mahmud, Hamim Islam and Tajandia Rahman Anchal
Undergraduate/Masters/MBA.
Abstract
Study level/applicability
Undergraduate/Masters/MBA.
Case overview
Anamika Enterprise Limited (AEL) is an export-import company founded in 1988. Today, AEL primarily imports coal from India which it then sells to customers in Bangladesh. However, a recent ban on coal mining in the Indian state of Meghalaya has created a huge problem for AEL. It is now considering opening trade routes to China and Indonesia. For that, it will need to consider both the short- and long-term factors related to its decision. It will need to take into consideration the cultural, economic and social factors in all three countries and trade accordingly. Tariff barriers and transportation costs will be a problem for AEL in the short run but in the long run, that may be overcome because of the experience effect arising from international business. Information and communication technology is also expected to have a huge impact.
Expected learning outcomes
Students are expected to learn the challenges of running international business in the real world and ways to overcome these challenges.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Subject code
CSS 5: International Business.
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Aasha Jayant Sharma and Shashank Bhat
It enables students to understand and design a business model canvas, design standard operating procedure (SOP) for very unorganized business operations and also devise base…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
It enables students to understand and design a business model canvas, design standard operating procedure (SOP) for very unorganized business operations and also devise base pricing for vendor negotiation.
Case overview/synopsis
Mr Gaurav Chaudhary, chief executive officer and Founder of Pashushala.com, established a first-ever Livestock online marketplace in India, leveraging the penetration of internet users in 2019. Pashsuhala.com evolved as an all-inclusive ecosystem that offered an innovative business model by bundling financial aid, logistics, veterinary and insurance solutions to its buyers and sellers. While every other aspect seemed to have had fallen in place, Gaurav was not convinced with the everyday handling of the cattle especially during transportation. Transporting cattle was the most challenging task tempered with issues such as changing weather conditions, stock density, lack of training on handling cattle while loading and unloading, long journey hours, feeding and watering procedures and many more for which Gaurav had to depend on the logistics partners. Gaurav was in a dilemma whether to have his own fleet armed with trained personnel for transporting the cattle or to streamline the existing operating procedures into SOP to be followed by logistics partners. If he continued with logistics partners he also had to work on standard costs i.e. fixed and variable costs incurred during the transportation of livestock. The case deals with business concepts such as supply chain risk management in the livestock sector, SOPs for a very unstructured and unpredictable ecosystem, pricing strategies and business model canvas.
Complexity academic level
Masters in business administration (MBA) and Executive MBA level.
Supplementary materials
Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Subject code
CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.
Details
Keywords