Coordination in a Supply Chain

1. What characterizes supply chains that could be affected significantly by the bullwhip effect? How can the bullwhip effect be reduced?

2. What is the impact of lack of coordination on the performance of a supply chain?

3. In what way can improper incentives lead to a lack of coordination in a supply chain? What countermeasures can be used to offset this effect?

4. What problems result if each stage of a supply chain views its demand as the orders placed by the downstream stage? How should firms within a supply chain communicate to facilitate coordination?

5. What factors lead to a batching of orders within a supply chain? How does this affect coordination? What actions can minimize large batches and improve coordination?

6. Compare continuous replenishment programs (CRPs) and vendor-managed inventory (VMI).

7. What are the different CPFR scenarios and how do they benefit supply chain partners?