Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani 333031

Second Semester, 2004-2005

Comprehensive Examination

Course Title: Supply Chain Management Weightage: 40 %

Course No: ITEB G 621 Duration: 3 Hours.
________________________________________________________________________

1. Define the following:

a) Supply Chain Management
b) Implied demand uncertainty
[2]

2. Discuss the dimensions of the inter-functional coordination. [3]

3. Explain the critical steps that manager should follow to develop and implement a
value delivery strategy. [3]

4. What are the different views of supply chain process? Discuss Push/Pull
Processes with suitable examples. [3]

5. Graphically represent the following relationships.

a) Relation between number of facilities and inventory costs
b) Relation between number of facilities and transportation costs
c) Variation in logistic cost and response time with number of facilities
[3]

6. A large manufacturer uses exponential smoothing to forecast demand for a piece

of pollution control equipment. It appears that an increasing trend is present.
Smoothing constants are assigned the values of alpha = 0.20 and Beta = 0.40.
Actual demand for month 1 was 12; initial forecast for the month 1 was 11 units
and the trend over that period was 2 units. Compute:
a) the forecast for month 2
b) the trend in period 2
c) the forecast including trend
[3]

7. Give the arguments to support the statement that “Wal-Mart has used each supply
chain driver to achieve good strategic fit between competitive strategy and
supply chain strategy.” [4]

8. What are the future challenges of SCM managers? Explain them in brief. [5]

1
9. What is the bullwhip effect and how does it relate to lack of coordination in the
supply chain? Explain in detail. [1+4]

10. Short note on [9]

a) Inter-Organizational Information System’s (IOIS) information categories (any

three with examples)
b) Performance evaluation system for sales force in SCM environment.
c) Cost impact of E-Business

******

2
 4. Information categories(any six):
1. Product information
2. Customer information
3. Supplier information
4. production process information
5. Transportation information
6. Inventory information
7. Supply Chain alliance information
8. Competitive information
9. Sales & marketing information
10. Supply Chain Process& Performance information
1. Forecasting answer:
Demand for the February month =0.40(95) +0 .30 (105) +0.20(90) +0.10(100)
= 38+ 31.5+18+10= 97.5 units