Department of

Engineering & Warehouse Systems & Transportation

55-704261
Mathematics Assignment – 2022/2023

Session: 2022/2023
Module: 55-704261 - Warehouse Systems & Transportation
Assignment Title: Value of Warehouses and Critique of Automation
Academic Contact for guidance: Tim Parker Email: t.parker@shu.ac.uk
Type of Assignment: Individual Assignment
Word Count or Number of Pages: 2,000 (+/-10%) words
Percentage Contribution to overall Module Mark: 50%
Deadline for Submission: Monday, 20 March 2023 15:00 hrs (3pm)
Method and Location for Submission: Blackboard & TurnitIn Submission Points
Deadline for Return of Feedback: Three working weeks after due date.
Module learning outcomes to be
assessed: To establish your ability to:
1. To critically assess the management of warehouses and to evaluate the strategic importance of the
warehouse function.
2. To evaluate the strategic importance of transportation in the supply chain.
3. To differentiate warehouse design and operation.
4. To appraise the appropriate use of transportation to meet business and customer needs.
References/recommended reading:
• Richards (2022) Warehouse Management, a complete guide to improving efficiency and minimising costs
in the modern warehouse.
• Please also refer to other resources in the library and online to complete thorough research of the topic
such as:
o Library Catalogue (books, academic papers and journals).
o Materials supplied on Module Blackboard site.
o Support Resources available via Blackboard
Please ensure that all sources of information used are referenced correctly using SHU APA.
For guidance see:
http://libguides.shu.ac.uk/referencing
All forms of assessments are subject to SHU regulations around academic conduct. For further
information on plagiarism, and collusion and how to avoid it, please refer to:
https://students.shu.ac.uk/shuspacecontent/assessment/plagiarism

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 Department of
Warehouse Systems & Transportation
Engineering & 55-704261
Mathematics Assignment – 2022/2023

Warehouse Systems & Transportation

Individual Coursework Assignment 2023.
Module Assessment:

The module has 2 assessed elements:

• An individual assignment task on the subject of ‘warehouse processes and automation'

(outlined below) contributing 50% of your final grade.
• An individual assignment task on the subject of ‘transportation processes and
automation' (to be issued) contributing 50% of your final grade.
Task:

Assignment Topic: Critically discuss the potential of warehousing to add value to a

supply chain and critically contrast traditional warehouse process methods versus
deployment of technology and automation to conduct warehouse operations.

Your task is to research the academic view of the value of placing warehouses in a supply
chain. This includes all possible strategies that could be deployed to offset what could be
seen as the cost of operating warehouses. You are then required to critically contrast
traditional methods, that may include paper-based systems, with modern and even cutting-
edge alternatives used to both manage and complete warehouse operations. This should
include contextual circumstances under which manual operations or new technology systems
might be appropriate and an evaluation of how each might impact the total cost of
operations. You must discuss the benefits as well as risks of deploying technology and
automation when considering the development of a sustainable warehouse system.

You are to produce a 2000 word academic report for this submission.

You should research this topic and discus the benefits and challenges that warehouse
operations face in both developed and developing countries. Your task is to use the module
content and supplementary research to investigate and critically discuss this topic. Note the
learning outcomes cover more than just warehousing and relate to both warehousing and
transportation. Transportation will be the focus of the next assignment task.

From an operational perspective your discussion of automation and process management

must be rational. Thus, your discussion around warehouse processes and automation must
reflect the opportunities but also the challenges of adopting current and future systems.

From an academic perspective your report should present a balanced view of any options
you present and critical analysis of academic theory to support your recommendations. It is
stressed that your critical evaluation of the warehouse systems will be key to determining
your marks.

It should be noted that this should be considered a research project. Whilst the content of
the taught element of the course will provide a framework and context for the assignment, it
will not provide all the detail. It is your task to research the topic in depth and provide a

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 Department of
Warehouse Systems & Transportation
Engineering & 55-704261
Mathematics Assignment – 2022/2023
structured, well-reasoned response with appropriate reference (and use of citations) to
underpin your discussion. All submissions must conform to the SHU standard of APA
referencing conventions.

Drafting Your Work

There is a folder in the assessment tab of the module Bb site that will help with drafting your
work. This includes links to SHU APA referencing, critical writing, avoiding plagiarism and
use of draft TurnitIn submission points. You may also submit work to Studiosity to help you
with your work. Plagiarism and/or collusion will be prosecuted where found so please ensure
you understand University requirements.

Hand In

Your final report submission must be submitted electronically via both the 'Report
Submission Point' and the 'TurnitIn' submission point marked 'Final Warehouse System
Assignment TurnitIn Submission Point'. These can both be found on the blackboard
module site in the assessment tab. Your work should be submitted as a word document file
and should be uploaded with a covering sheet as per the assignment brief below.

The deadline for this is 15:00hrs on Monday 20th March 2023. You will have 24 hours
to submit after this but without extenuating circumstances your work will be capped at
50%. Any element submitted after the Tuesday 15:00hrs deadline without prior
arrangement or exceptional circumstances request may result in an award of zero
marks for the task.

Support

Your lecturer or seminar tutor will be available to discuss your progress and to provide some
direction with your research. This will be provided during seminars, by prior arrangement to
meet with your tutor, or by e-mail response within 3 working days of your request. A marking
scheme for the report can be found attached.

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 Department of
Engineering & Warehouse Systems & Transportation
55-704261
Mathematics Assignment – 2022/2023
REPORT MARKING SCHEME
Warehouse Systems & Transportation Individual Research Assignment

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 Department of
Engineering & Warehouse Systems & Transportation
55-704261
Mathematics Assignment – 2022/2023

Warehouse Systems and

Transportation
55-704261
Coursework Assignment 1

Warehouse Systems Research Project.

Student Name:

Student Number:

TurnItIn Similarity %: Word Count:

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