Question: Students are required to analyse the four issues arising from the Garden Birds Ltd . case study. Solutions should be proposed which are largely grounded

Students are required to analyse the four issues arising from the Garden Birds Ltd. case study. Solutions should be proposed which are largely grounded in a thorough appraisal of the quantitative data available. Construction of a dynamic spreadsheet, which allows the operational issues to be explored through insightful scenario planning and sensitivity analysis, will be invaluable in this respect. The students ability to present a coherent, professionally presented and well-written report. Insightfulness of Analysis: Interest and usefulness of findings, conclusions drawn. Understanding: Assignment demonstrates students have understood how the key relevant topics of forecasting, inventory management and aggregate/capacity planning interrelate in organisational decision-making. Quality of insights derived from the spreadsheet model. Strength and credibility of proposed solutions. Overall quality of the assignment Answer to Issue 110% Answer to Issue 210% Answer to Issue 310% Answer to Issue 410% Investigation of other issues 20% Strength of Conclusion/Priorities 10% Spreadsheet evidence/presentation 20% Cohesiveness of report/quality of writing 10%. Case Study: Garden Birds Ltd. Garden Birds Ltd.(GB) is a small niche provider of products for garden birds including seeds, feeders and associated products. One of the best- selling products is sunflower seed hearts. They are sold in 1kg,3kg,5kg and 10kg packs to 176 garden centres, 25 pet shops, 2 supermarket chains and direct to the public via the internet.The seeds are procured from China, packed in 50kg sacks delivered in minimum 11-tonne loads. The lead time from order to delivery to GB is quoted at 43 calendar days. GB use an agent to manage the freight forwarding to the GB packing and distribution plant. GB break the sacks down into four different-sized packs based upon the production forecast which is firmed up at the beginning of each month. Demand is variable, dependent upon the route to market and the season. Overall, it can vary from 5 to 20 tonnes per month.The maximum storage capacity of the GB packing and distribution plant is 24 tonnes of finished products and 26 tonnes of the 50kg sacks. Garden centres and pet shops order weekly, supermarkets forecast weekly but firm up at 6pm the day before delivery and products are on a sale-or-return basis. Customers ordering via the internet before 3pm will have their products dispatched the same day. Delivery to local garden centres and pet shops is undertaken by GBs own transport and for distant outlets a national carrier is used. For supermarket deliveries, and returns, a different national carrier is used and for direct to public sales the Royal Mail parcel service is used.The company has experienced a number of issues relating to its operations activities. Namely: returned goods from pet shops and garden centres because of damaged packaging during transit or offloading. large volume returns from supermarkets as a new seasons products are substituted in the valuable gondola end displays within the retailer. shortages of 1kg and 3kg packs. insufficient storage capacity within the packing and distribution plant. please write with respect to consumer demand

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