To stock or not to stocK? it’s a question of procurement!
business
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Teacher Guidance and Instructions The following activity is
designed to address the content covered in section 2.3.2 of the
Edexcel specification focusing specifically on factors affecting
supplier choice, procurement and logistics and managing
stock.
The group activity allows students to explore a range of options,
weighing up the pros and cons of each, before arriving at a final
justified decision.
Instructions 1 Organise the students into groups of 4
2 Issue each group with a scenario sheet, supplier information
cards and a decision sheet
3 Students record their suggested pros and cons based on the
information provided on the decision proforma
4 Allow the students time to review the sheet and decide on a final
supplier – this decision must be justified
5 There are additional follow up examination questions, written
specifically for each examination board, that can be completed in
class or set for homework
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To stock or not to stock? it’s a question of procurement!
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Dairy Dreams
SCENARIO Dairy Dreams ice-cream are a medium sized manufacturer of
luxury ice-cream who supply to several high-street supermarkets as
well as smaller retail outlets. Following the appointment of a new
lead buyer to the procurement department the company is reviewing
its current stock control methods and suppliers.
Detailed research has been carried out into the range of potential
suppliers and tenders have been received from three suppliers to
compare alongside their current supplier.
Dairy Dream Ice-cream - Data Drop: • Average monthly demand –
100,000 units (forecasts suggest this will increase by 50% in the
next 12 months) • Current output – 30,000 units per week • Current
delivery schedule – 60,000 units every two weeks • Current amount
of buffer stock held 20,000 units
Your Task Based on all the information provided, which supplier
would you advise Dairy Dreams Ice Cream to choose?
You must be prepared to give reasons to support your
decision.
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Defective products (per 1000 units delivered)
10
15
£1.90
Other factors Already have a strong working relationship after 10
years with the supplier
Other factors Favourable credit terms of 60 days
Current Supplier – Fresh Direct Dairy
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Lead Time
7 days
Lead Time
1 day
Discounts available
20
10
Other factors Located in close proximity to Dairy Dream
ice-cream
Other factors Deliveries are sent 24hrs a day for maximum
flexibility
Supplier – Horizon Organic Dairy
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To stock or not to stock? it’s a question of procurement! Decision
sheet
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Supplier – Farm & Country Dairy
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To stock or not to stock? it’s a question of procurement! Decision
sheet/ Teacher Guidance
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Supplier – Farm & Country Dairy
The final decision is: See commentary below
The main reason for this decision is: Students are likely to opt
for either remaining with the current supplier and discuss the
benefits to a business of established supplier relationships and
bargaining power or opt for Horizon Organic Dairy. For this choice,
although price is higher, there is scope to negotiate discounts for
Dairy Dreams and also the advantage, as production is set to
expand, that they could hold less stock and move to a JIT method of
managing stock control. There is also the possibility of the
organic USP to be utilised in the luxury ice cream market.
• Established relationships – 10yrs of loyalty • Quality of the
product is very good • Price is very competitive compared with
other suppliers and almost the cheapest when the discount is
factored in at 10%
• Very short lead time which could allow Dairy Dreams to have more
frequent orders and hold less stock • Minimum order required is low
and more suited to frequent ordering • Credit terms could help cash
flow for Dairy Dreams
• Cheapest supplier on offer • Located close to Dairy Dreams
therefore delivery costs may be lower, however lead time could be
an issue
• Shortest lead time out of all suppliers • 24hr delivery means
that Dairy Dreams could have more frequent and smaller deliveries
arriving at various times during the day e.g. avoids disruption to
production or distribution
• There are cheaper alternatives • Lead time is greater than
possible new suppliers – if more frequent orders are needed is the
50,000 units, minimum order quantity, too much?
• Expensive unit price (2nd most expensive) although a discount is
available for larger orders • Wastage could be a problem as the
number of defective products are 50% higher than existing
supplier
• High level of defective products, double the amount currently
received • Long lead time (7 days) and two days more than current
supplier
• The most expensive supplier, however it is organic produce which
could add a further USP in the luxury marketSA
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To stock or not to stock? Follow up examination question Edexcel
exam board
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Managing Stock
Evaluate the impact on Dairy Dream ice-cream of a decision to
manage their stock using JIT (12 marks)
Procurement & Logistics
Evaluate the impact on the procurement and logistics of Dairy Dream
ice-cream from a decision to switch suppliers (12 marks)
DescriptorLevel Mark
No rewardable material
Demonstrates elements of knowledge and understanding of business
concepts and issues, with limited business terminology used (AO1b)
• Limited application of knowledge and understanding of business
concepts and issues to the business context (AO2) • Attempts to
deconstruct business information and/or issues, finding limited
connections between points (AO3a) • Draws a conclusion, supported
by generic assertions from limited evaluation of business
information and issues (AO3b)
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding of
business concepts and issues, including appropriate use of business
terminology in places (AO1b) • Sound application of knowledge and
understanding of business concepts and issues to the business
context although there may be some inconsistencies (AO2) •
Deconstructs business information and/or issues, finding
interconnected points with chains of reasoning, although there may
be some logical inconsistencies (AO3a) • Draws a conclusion based
on sound evaluation of business information and issues (AO3b)
Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding of business
concepts and issues throughout, including appropriate use of
business terminology (AO1b • Detailed application of knowledge and
understanding of business concepts and issues to the business
context throughout (AO2) • Deconstructs business information and/or
issues, finding detailed interconnected points with logical chains
of reasoning (AO3a) • Draws a valid and well-reasoned conclusion
based on a thorough evaluation of business information and issues
(AO3b)
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