A supply manager for JKL, Inc. is negotiating a contract with a supplier of a component. The component will be used in a new product JKL Is manufacturing and plans to bring to market early next year. Which of the following will be the MOST important provision for the supply manager to negotiate for?
A supply manager wishes to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. During which phase of the system development process should the supply manager communicate with end users to review their business environments?
RST, Inc. is an electronics manufacturer. The profit margins for a major product developed by RST are falling. Accordingly, the firm asks the supply manager to identify ways to reduce the product's costs. The product includes a high-tech, high-cost component for which only one source is able to meet quality standards. Which of the following is the BEST way the supply manager can achieve cost reductions from this supplier?
MNO, Inc. operates within a volatile industry in which unforeseen demand and events often result in unreliable forecasts. Which of the following is the BEST way for MNO to generate better information about demand and improve forecast accuracy?
A manufacturing firm redesigns its premier product to benefit from material standardization. The change will entail re-tooling costs. The firm conducts a cost benefit analysis on four possible options. Option 1 is to make no change at all. Options 2, 3, and 4 represent different re-tooling configurations involving different materials:
Option 1Option 2Option 3Option 4
Re-tooling Costs (Year 1)$0$800,000$1,000,000$1,200,000
Material Costs
Year 151,000,000$700,000$650,000$600,000
Year 2$1,100,000$750,000$700,000$650,000
Year 3SI,200,000$800,000$750,000$700,000
Year 451,300,000$850,000$800,000$750,000
Year 551,400,000$900,000$850,000$800,000
Total$6,000,000$4,000,000$3,750,000$3,500,000
Labor Costs
Year 1$1,000,000$700,000$650,000$600,000
Year 2$1,100,000$770,000$715,000S660,000
Year 3$1,210,000$847,000$786,500$726,000
Year 4$1,331,000$931,700$865,150$798,600
Year 5$1,464,100$1,024,870$951,665$878,460
Total$6,105,100$4,273,570$3,968,315$3,663,060
In addition to this, there will be a cost of $3.5 million in lost production during Year 1, should any of the re-tooling options (2, 3, or 4) be selected.
The firm wants to rank the options in order of financial preference, from the best option to the worst. Based on this information, how should the four options be ranked?
MNO, Inc. is a national retail home goods chain formed of local franchisees. Each franchisee uses its own returns processing systems. A key advertising point for MNO is its liberal return policy, which is part of its overall focus on excellent customer service. While feedback from customers is positive regarding MNO’s return policy, there have been inquiries as to why stores handle returns via different processes. MNO’s supply manager suggests the implementation of a reverse supply chain to deal with this issue and possibly yield cost enhancement opportunities. In order to implement this, which of the following is the FIRST course of action the supply manager should take’’
How long after the delivery date must a freight claim on a motor carriage shipment be presented and filed with the carrier in the United States’
A supply manager for a U.S. firm is tasked with negotiating domestic shipping terms. The terms must ensure that the supplier has liability for any damaged products and is responsible for filing any claims with the shipper. The terms must also allow the buying firm to pay the shipper directly for shipping costs. Which of the following will BEST accomplish this objective?