Alaska Supply Chain Integrators cost of goods

Assignment Help Operation Management
Reference no: EM133181473

Case study- Alaska Supply Chain Integrators' cost of goods

Alaska Supply Chain Integrators (ASCI) purchases goods for oil companies working on the North Slope of Alaska. The North Slope is the oil production field where crude oil is extracted and then transported to the shipping terminals in Valdez, AK. From Valdez, the oil is shipped to other ports on its way to becoming refined petroleum products such as gasoline.

ASCI purchases approximately 40,000 items per year for these oil companies.

The cost of goods (COG) purchasing, handling, and transportation process is subject to many variables.

Background

To enhance ASCI's supply chain capabilities, it has developed a state-of-the-art supply chain management and electronic commerce tool - a software system. This system facilitates control of the procurement process through a series of checks and balances.

The various software modules describe the business functions in their names:

SmartTracker, SmartCatalog, SmartMarkets, SmartMeasures, SmartBOM, SmartSpecs, SrnartActions, SmartTagger, SmartBundler. Key to many of these e-commerce capabilities are time-sensitive measurement metrics. ASCI's time measurement metrical units include weekly, monthly, and quarterly timeframes for three tiers of vendors. These internal metrics are also linked to the Balanced Scorecard method to track vendor delivery compliance agreements. Vendors are held accountable to on time and accurate delivery for the items they provide. Through the use of these metrics, ASCI's 2005 performance measurement achieved 90.6% on time and accurate delivery of goods to North Slope customers The problem

ASCI's e-commerce solution is intended to address the lack of visibility in tracking or capturing the movement of goods from vendor to end user or client. This lack of visibility has been identified as recurring supply chain management problem that, if adequately addressed, would add value to the client. To be fully inclusive and contribute the highest value, this visibility must provide not only tracking of goods purchased but the handling and transportation activities, as well. The logistics of moving the procured items provides a means to measure and
enhance added value to the product while assisting ASCI in lowering the final price paid.

As an example, one frequent event includes the misclassification of purchase price with the total price of the goods purchased, which includes transportation costs. In this situation, the cost of transportation is buried in the cost of the goods' purchase price. The indicated cost of material is inflated by the transportation cost which prevents or hinders the supply chain management team from identifying the true cost and potentially addressing root issues.

One key factor in providing the overall supply chain visibility is the capability to track the product from receipt to final delivery. Currently tracking is achieved through a combination of bar codes, visible inspection and person-to-person contact augmented by manual computer entry.

The RFlD solution

At a recent meeting with representatives of MX Consulting, a proposal was presented to show that RFID could save ASCI more time and money in tracking goods from the vendors to the end customer's warehouse. Meeting with ASCI manager, Scott Hawkins, and several senior purchasers, Bob Tibmen, president of MX, explained, "With passive RFID tags on high value items, like the generator, you could track and trace its movement from the factory to the North Slope warehouse." Scott and his staff listened as Bob laid out how an RFlD system not only could provide visibility along the entire supply chain, but could also be very useful in ASCI's cross-docking facility. Bob explained that when pallets of goods entered the facility they could instantly read what the product was, where it had come from, the due date to get to the North Slope, and any other related information. The key to successfully using RFID is that when boxes of items come in on a pallet, ASCI no longer have to open each box and read each item by bar code, or record any hand written information that might have been added to the bar
code label as often happens. Bob said, "The use of an RFID tagging system could cut down on your labor cost; you could probably eliminate one or two positions in loading and processing and checking of products as they enter your facility."

Case analysis

1. What advice would you give Bob if you were one of Bob's employees?

2. What advice would you give Scott if you were one of Scott's managers or employees?

3. What is the basis for determining the price on the COG that could be changed by RFID?

4. What savings on the COG could be realized with an RFID system?

Reference no: EM133181473

Questions Cloud

Discuss evaluation of the security guard training program : In 2019 John Brown was wrestled to the ground by security guards at a grocery store in Toronto. He was handcuffed and kept face-down on the ground where he die
Evaluate mills paper company management : What are the strengths and weaknesses of their approach to performance appraisals (i.e., management by objectives)?
Best way to roll out a change management initiative : 1. How do you get employees engaged in a change management initiative? What role does HR, managers, and the C-Suite play?
What are the reasons for downsizing : What are the reasons for downsizing (please give at least 5 reasons that cause downsizing)? As an HR practitioner, what are would you recommend to have an effec
Alaska Supply Chain Integrators cost of goods : What advice would you give Scott if you were one of Scott's managers or employees? What savings on the COG could be realized with an RFID system?
Summarize the common hr problems : From your credible sources, summarize the common HR problems that organizations face servicing expatriate managers.
Explain what swot analysis means : As you did with the PESTEL analysis question, do the same with SWOT analysis. Briefly explain what SWOT analysis means?
Scenario a disciplinary or coaching problem for steve : Steve Miller moved to the head Administrative Services Division of Atlantis after 20 years' experience management procurement and logistics in the military. In
How to avoid becoming part of employment scams and fraud : Question 1: Explain how to avoid becoming part of employment scams and fraud.

Reviews

Write a Review

Operation Management Questions & Answers

  Compare and contrast two motivational theories

Compare and contrast two motivational theories (one content and one process theory) regarding how they can support diversity within teams.

  Balanced scorecard approach

The company that I have selected is Starbucks. Can you help with this? Balanced scorecard approach and ERRC approach (eliminate, raise, reduce, and create, to critique their strategy. identify which of the items in each approach are present and adequ..

  What is the importance of professional service organizations

What is the importance of professional service organizations in standardizing a profession, to include their established code of ethics?

  Monthly profit increase over the current production schedule

Layton Machining Company (LMC) manufactures two versions of a basic machine tool. how much will monthly profit increase over the current production schedule?

  Perform a linear regression that relates bar sales to guests

The following data relate the sales figures of the bar in Mark Kaltenbach's small bed-and-breakfast inn in Port and, to the number of guests registered that week: Perform a linear regression that relates bar sales to guests (not to time)

  Components of human resource management system

Discuss the five major components of a human resource management system. Describe the collective bargaining process.

  What does standard theory predict about the average amounts

What does standard theory predict about the average amounts written down in each of the groups.

  Introduction to clinical inquiry

Describe how you used keywords which was NURSING & WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE to search on your chosen clinical issue of interest.

  Apply the best organizational development process skills

Apply the best organizational development process skills the executives should use. Apply the change strategies within the short term and long term.

  Describe change management models

Organizations, like all cultures, must continue to evolve or they stagnate and eventually become obsolete. Describe 2–3 change management models.

  How is quantity determined in inventory control

How is quantity determined in inventory control? Cover EOQ (including quantity discounts and EPQ), FOI, and the Single Period Model. In addition, give simple examples with input information, tabulation, graphs, and calculations of each of the followi..

  Develop alternatives to address the problem

What are your criteria? What is relevant? Develop alternatives to address the problem.

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd