wal-mart

QSO 330 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview The final project for this course is the creation of a supply chain evaluation. Supply chain management (SCM) is a holistic view of a company’s efforts to source, procure, receive, store, and deliver products. These products can be raw materials for a manufacturing process, consumer goods for a retail chain, or a collection of items that will be joined in some way before ultimate delivery to the customer. In today’s global economic environment, SCM takes on an increasing level of complexity as companies attempt to reduce costs, drive efficiency, and remain compliant with the corporate social responsibilities that today’s consumers demand.

For this project, you will act as the lead consultant to Walmart as it attempts to improve its overall supply chain. The ultimate recommendation you make will be based upon your analysis of the current SCM and your insight on how to improve demand forecasting, sourcing, transportation, and warehousing options to optimize the overall operation. This project will showcase your ability to balance the competing requirements of reducing cost and increasing efficiency while remaining at the forefront of sustainable operations for the industry. Your analysis and recommendations will be formatted into a supply chain evaluation for Walmart’s executive team to use to optimize their supply chain management in this very demanding environment.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Analyze operational and logistical issues related to supply chain management using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies

 Determine pertinent issues and potential constraints for problem solving regarding supply chain management  Develop distribution solutions based on supply chain management principles that address network inefficiencies

 Recommend appropriate cost-saving strategies and risk mitigation plans for supply chain implementation

Prompt Using the provided Walmart China case study, create a supply chain evaluation in which you assess Walmart in terms of its demand forecasting, sourcing, transportation, and warehousing processes in order to develop SCM recommendations that will reduce costs and risks to the business operation. It is strongly recommended that you thoroughly review the prompt below before you read the case study, and you should continue to refer to the prompt as you read. You should format your analysis and recommendations as if you were a consultant hired by Walmart.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Executive Summary: In this section, explain the purpose of your brief and highlight key information and findings that will aid the understanding of the more in-depth analysis and recommendations to follow.

II. Demand Forecasting: In this section, first assess the supply and demand side of Walmart’s product flow, including the customer’s needs and the

supplier’s capabilities, in order to then identify potential alignments that will keep cost and waste at a minimum. A. Evaluation

1. Analyze Walmart’s suppliers in terms of their abilities to meet the demand of customers during steady-state and peak operations. How effective are each supplier’s inventory reorder points and economic order quantities? Support your analysis with quantitative examples.

2. Additionally, describe demand-forecasting constraints that exist within the supply chain. For example, consider the distance of the stores and the compatibility of the products in terms of shipping, storage, and so on.

B. Recommendations: Based on your evaluation, recommend strategies for better aligning the supply and demand side of Walmart’s product flow that will keep cost and waste at a minimum.

III. Sourcing: In this section, first evaluate the network sourcing strategy of Walmart in order to then identify possible areas in need of improvement that

will leave room for future expansion. A. Evaluation: Assess the current network sourcing strategy and determine whether or not the number and quality of suppliers is the optimal mix

for the operation. To what extent do the current suppliers meet steady-state and peak demand? Are they consistently providing products that meet or exceed Walmart’s quality standards? Defend your assessment with examples.

B. Recommendations 1. Recommend a strategy to optimize the sourcing network that takes into account current operations and leaves room for future

expansion. Be sure to consider any alternative sources of materials available to the organization in your response. 2. Recommend a standard procedure for vetting suppliers to ensure that they are compliant with the corporate social responsibility

guidelines of Walmart. 3. Make sure that you have recommended the best sourcing practices for Walmart using appropriate quantitative methods.

IV. Transportation: In this section, first consider the effectiveness of Walmart’s transportation network in order to then determine possible cost savings without sacrificing performance.

A. Evaluation 1. Identify constraints within the transportation network and discuss the impact they will have on the overall supply chain operation. Be

sure to provide specific examples to illustrate. 2. Analyze the transportation network and determine whether or not the correct modes of transportation are being used based on time,

cost, and quantity. B. Recommendations: Make recommendations on how to improve the transportation network given the constraints you identified, using specific

examples to illustrate and justify your claims.

V. Warehousing: In this section, first analyze Walmart’s warehousing network to in order to then determine requirements and develop recommendations for adequately meeting current and future storage needs.

A. Evaluation 1. Analyze the current warehousing infrastructure to determine if the current warehousing network adequately meets storage needs.

Additionally, consider eventual expansion requirements of Walmart’s operation. What are the constraints or restrictions involved in the possible locations?

2. Identify considerations for special handling of hazardous materials and describe their impact on warehousing for the current mix of products that Walmart’s SCM is handling, using specific examples.

B. Recommendations 1. Determine warehousing requirements that will ensure adequate availability of resources for the organization. Support your proposed

requirements with given production and demand elements from the scenario. 2. Based on your determination of requirements, recommend a warehouse design that will minimize movements between functions and

reduce costs. Explain how your recommendation will drive this improvement throughout the network, considering facility costs, inventory carrying costs, personnel costs, and equipment costs.

VI. Conclusions: In the final section, take a critical look at your various recommendations in order to develop final conclusions for Walmart. A. Prioritize your demand-forecasting, sourcing, transportation, and warehousing recommendations based on efficiency gain, cost, and

sustainability. B. Discuss the feasibility of your recommendations based on supply chain constraints of Walmart in the case study. Justify your claims with specific

evidence.

Milestone One: Demand Forecasting and Sourcing

Milestones

In Module Three, you will submit an assessment of the supply and demand of Walmart and product flow, as discussed in the Walmart China: Supply Chain Transportation case study. You will also evaluate the network sourcing strategy of Walmart to identify areas that may be in need of improvement and will leave room for future expansion. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two: Transportation and Warehousing In Module Five, you will submit an evaluation of Walmart’s transportation and warehousing networks, focusing on constraints, modes of transportation, infrastructure, and special handling requirements. You will also make recommendations to improve transportation. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Final Submission: Supply Chain Evaluation In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your supply chain evaluation should be 12–15 pages, double spaced, with one-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, and APA citations when applicable.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Executive Summary Meets “Proficient” criteria, and the executive summary reflects a concise, effective communication style

Explains the purpose of the brief and highlights key information that supports the analysis and recommendations of the brief

Discusses the purpose of the brief or highlights certain information, but there are gaps in necessary detail

Does not include an executive summary

2

Demand Forecasting: Evaluation: Suppliers

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and analysis reflects deep insight into operational and logistical issues related to supply chain management

Accurately analyzes suppliers’ abilities to meet customer demand during steady-state and peak operations using valid supporting quantitative evidence

Discusses the suppliers’ abilities to meet various customer demands, but there are gaps in necessary detail, accuracy, or the quantitative evidence

Does not discuss the suppliers’ abilities to meet various customer demands

6

Demand Forecasting: Evaluation: Constraints

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description reflects a nuanced understanding of constraints that impact problem solving in supply chain management

Describes all relevant demand forecasting constraints of the supply chain using specific details

Discusses demand forecasting constraints but fails to consider all relevant constraints or cite specific details

Does not discuss demand forecasting constraints

5

Demand Forecasting: Recommendations

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect advanced ability to strategically reduce costs and mitigate risks in the supply chain

Recommends appropriate strategies for better aligning the supply and demand sides of the product flow that would effectively keep cost and waste at a minimum

Discusses strategies for better aligning the supply and demand sides but fails to recommend fully appropriate strategies that would effectively keep cost and waste at a minimum

Does not discuss strategies for better aligning the supply and demand sides of the product flow

5

Sourcing: Evaluation Meets “Proficient” criteria, and assessment reflects a nuanced understanding of issues that impact problem solving in supply chain management

Assesses the current network strategy to determine how optimal the supplier mix is for the operation, citing specific, supporting evidence

Discusses the current network strategy in terms of the supplier mix, but there are logical gaps in the assessment, or the assessment is not sufficiently supported with specific evidence

Does not discuss the current network strategy

5

Sourcing: Recommendations: Strategy to Optimize

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect a particularly shrewd or creative ability to apply supply chain principles to address network inefficiencies

Recommends an effective strategy for optimizing the sourcing network that takes into account current operations and leaves room for future expansion

Discusses a strategy for optimizing the sourcing network but fails to propose a fully effective strategy that takes into account current operations and potential future expansion

Does not discuss a strategy for optimizing the sourcing network

9

Sourcing: Recommendations: Vetting Suppliers

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect advanced ability to strategically reduce costs and mitigate risks in the supply chain

Recommends an appropriate standard procedure for vetting suppliers that would reasonably ensure compliance with social responsibility guidelines

Discusses a standard procedure for vetting suppliers, but fails to propose a fully appropriate procedure that would reasonably ensure compliance with social responsibility guidelines

Does not discuss a standard procedure for vetting suppliers

5

Sourcing: Recommendations:

Quantitative Methods

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect advanced ability to apply quantitative methods to supply chain management issues

Presents sourcing recommendations based on and supported by appropriate quantitative methods

Presents sourcing recommendations that have some basis or support from quantitative methods, but there are gaps in the application or inappropriate methods are used

Does not present sourcing recommendations with a basis or support from quantitative methods

6

Transportation: Evaluation: Constraints

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and response reflects a nuanced understanding of constraints that impact problem solving in supply chain management

Identifies all relevant constraints within the transportation network and discusses their impact using specific examples

Discusses constraints within the transportation network but fails to address all relevant constraints or fully discuss their impact using specific examples

Does not identify constraints within the transportation network

5

Transportation: Evaluation: Modes of

Transportation

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and claims reflects deep insight into operational and logistical issues related to supply chain management

Makes valid claims about the effectiveness of current modes of transportation based on an accurate analysis of time, cost, and quantity

Discusses the effectiveness of current modes of transportation, but not all claims are valid or based on an accurate analysis of time, cost, and quantity

Does not make claims about the effectiveness of current modes of transportation

6

Transportation: Recommendations

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect advanced ability to strategically reduce costs and mitigate risks in the supply chain

Recommends sound improvements to the transportation network that address all of the concerns and constraints identified in the transportation evaluation using specific examples

Discusses improvements to the transportation network but fails to make fully sound recommendations that address all of the concerns and constraints using specific examples

Does not discuss improvements to the transportation network

5

Warehousing: Evaluation:

Infrastructure

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and analysis reflects deep insight into operational and logistical issues related to supply chain management

Reasonably analyzes warehousing infrastructure to determine its adequacy for meeting current and potential future storage needs

Discusses warehousing infrastructure but fails to reasonably determine its adequacy for meeting all current and potential future storage needs

Does not discuss warehousing infrastructure

6

Warehousing: Evaluation:

Hazardous Materials

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and response reflects a nuanced understanding of issues that impact problem-solving in supply chain management

Identifies all relevant considerations for special handling of hazardous materials and describes their impacts on warehousing using specific examples

Discusses considerations for special handling of hazardous materials but fails to identify all relevant considerations or to describe their impacts on warehousing using specific examples

Does not discuss considerations for special handling of hazardous materials

5

Warehousing: Recommendations:

Requirements

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and proposal reflects a particularly shrewd or creative ability to apply supply chain principles to address network inefficiencies

Proposes valid warehousing requirements that ensure adequate availability of resources based on given production and demand information

Discusses warehousing requirements, but fails to propose fully valid requirements that would ensure adequate availability of resources based on production and demand information

Does not discuss warehousing requirements

9

Warehousing: Recommendations: Warehouse Design

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations reflect advanced ability to strategically reduce costs and mitigate risks in the supply chain

Recommends a warehouse design that minimizes movements between functions, reduces costs, considers all relevant constraints, and is justified with specific evidence

Discusses a warehouse design but fails to recommend and fully justify a design that would effectively minimize movements between functions and reduce costs while considering all relevant constraints

Does not discuss a warehouse design

5

Conclusions: Prioritize Meets “Proficient” criteria, and prioritization reflects a deep understanding of key supply chain principles

Appropriately prioritizes all recommendations based on efficiency gains, cost, and sustainability

Discusses the relative merits of the recommendations but fails to logically prioritize each based on efficiency, gains, cost, and sustainability

Does not discuss the relative merits of the recommendations

9

Conclusions: Feasibility

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and response reflects a nuanced understanding of constraints that impact problem solving in supply chain management

Reasonably justifies all claims about the feasibility of each of the brief’s recommendations based on the constraints of the supply chain

Discusses the feasibility of the brief’s recommendations, but fails to justify all claims based on the constraints of the supply chain

Does not discuss the feasibility of the brief’s recommendations

5

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

2

Total 100%