Introduction

In this second assessment, you will submit an evaluation of decision making tools, featuring a literature review and a worked example of the decision making tool in use. This directed research task is important for you to master, as you will need to perform a similar process of research, evaluation and reporting in your dissertation module.

Read the background and scenario below to provide context before completing the task.

Background

Following the successful completion of the University of Hull Online MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course, you have secured a senior supply chain analyst job in a large Tier-1 automotive supplier.

Scenario

You are attending the first meeting with your team. Your line manager asks you to introduce yourself to colleagues and share any state-of-the-art technologies you were exposed to during your masters course. As an enthusiast of computer-based technologies, you explain how supply chain simulation / optimisation software tools are used to improve performance of logistics and supply chain systems. During the follow-up discussion, the team reveals that the company has never used any simulation / optimisation technologies.

Task

Enthused by what you said about simulation / optimisation technologies, your line manager asks you to produce an executive report, which will help to develop a business case to acquire these technologies. Given that the report is going to be shared with the senior management team, the line manager suggests the following structure for your report.

• Introduction brief Introduction to technologies
• Successful deployments relevant information about two (2) real-world examples of where simulation / optimisation technologies have been successfully deployed. You may choose examples from the automotive sector and/or the manufacturing sector.
• Potential barriers to deployment what might impede successful deployment?