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Reflective Journal 1 - Sample

The document discusses a student's reflections on required course readings from Module 3, which included chapters from a supply chain management textbook as well as an article on the bullwhip effect. The student found the concepts in Chapter 7 on supply management most relevant. The chapter helped the student better understand issues with their organization's supplier evaluation process. The student is also responsible for purchasing supplies and notes their organization follows a competitive bidding process common in the public sector, awarding contracts to the lowest bidder. Chapter 8 covered logistics and warehousing, which the student saw opportunities to improve at their organization by consolidating multiple warehouses into a central location based on concepts from the chapter.

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77 views4 pages

Reflective Journal 1 - Sample

The document discusses a student's reflections on required course readings from Module 3, which included chapters from a supply chain management textbook as well as an article on the bullwhip effect. The student found the concepts in Chapter 7 on supply management most relevant. The chapter helped the student better understand issues with their organization's supplier evaluation process. The student is also responsible for purchasing supplies and notes their organization follows a competitive bidding process common in the public sector, awarding contracts to the lowest bidder. Chapter 8 covered logistics and warehousing, which the student saw opportunities to improve at their organization by consolidating multiple warehouses into a central location based on concepts from the chapter.

Uploaded by

Ata Syed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The required readings from module three included Chapters 7 and 8 of Introduction to

Operations and Supply Chain Management by Bozarth and Handfield (2019). The

chapters address the major issues and considerations involved with developing an

organized, networked supply chain network and discuss the importance of establishing

mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations (Bozarth & Handfield, 2019,

pp. 189-253). Module three also includes the article “The Bullwhip Effect in Supply

Chains”, which was published in the MIT Sloan Management Review in the journal’s

1997 spring periodical (Padmanabhan, Whang, & Lee, 1997). There were many

interesting topics discussed in Module 3’s material, but the concepts and theories

discussed in Chapter 7 (“Supply Management”) were most relevant to my current

occupation. In my first reflective journal entry (RJE), I discussed how the SCOR model

helped me identify inadequacies in my organization’s supplier evaluation and selection

processes. The material presented in Chapter 7 provided me with a

broader understanding of the issues I addressed in RJE #1.

In my current occupation, I am responsible for purchasing supplies and materials for the

support services department at my designated site. Eastern Health follows a

competitive bidding process for sourcing grocery suppliers. Vendors bid on various

products from a master inventory list, and contracts to supply each product are awarded

to the vendor with the lowest bid. Contracts are valid for a predetermined duration,

which is usually three to six months. Importantly, EH’s bottom line for awarding

contracts to grocery vendors is price. This competitive bidding process is common in the

public sector (Read, Kelly, & Worthington, 2008). Within the provincial government, the
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conditions for awarding contracts vary. For inexpensive goods and services, an open

call for bids is not required, and contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder (Read,

Kelly, & Worthington, 2008). However, when the cost of goods or services exceeds the

threshold limit defined by the appropriate regulating bodies, an open call for bids is

issued, and contracts are awarded to companies that can provide the most cost-

effective solution (Public Procurement Agency, 2018). Bozarth & Handfield outline three

conditions, that if satisfied, would warrant the use of the competitive bidding approach

(Bozarth & Handfield, 2019, p. 209). The purchases I make at work satisfy all the criteria

outlined on page 209, and the competitive bidding process is suitable for selecting

vendors in my work environment.

Chapter 8 examines the key decisions and activities that encompass the field of

logistics. I found the topic of warehousing relevant because I often encounter problems

at work that originate from warehousing inefficiencies. Eastern Health operates from

dozens of different facilities located throughout the Avalon Peninsula and surrounding

areas (EH, 2019). I regularly order medical supplies from three different internal

departments, all of which operate from separate facilities. This method of warehouse

poses many disadvantages: it reduces inventory oversight, creates communication

challenges, increases shipping expenses, and so forth (Bozarth & Handfield, 2019).

Eastern Health would benefit from consolidating its warehouses to one central location.

According to Bozarth & Handfield (2019), this form of warehousing is preferred

for organizations with multiple service facilities operating from one geographical location
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(p. 225). The method would improve inventory oversight and eliminate unnecessary

storage and transportation expenses.

After studying the material covered in Module 3, I have been able to identify limitations

in the ideas I expressed in RJE #1. I also have a better understanding of some of the

logistics related challenges and opportunities within my organization. Importantly, I was

able to identify practical applications for the concepts discussed in both chapters

References

Bozarth, C. C., & Handfield, R. B. (2019). Introduction to Operations and Supply Chain

Management (5th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Eastern Health. (2019, November 19). Facilities A to Z. Retrieved from Eastern Health:

Our Services: http://www.easternhealth.ca/AboutEH.aspx?d=2&id=724&p=460

Padmanabhan, V., Whang, S., & Lee, H. (1997, April 15). The Bullwhip Effect in Supply

Chains. MIT Sloan Management Review, 38(3), pp. 92-102. Retrieved from

https://hbsp.harvard.edu/download?url=%2Fcourses%2F688786%2Fitems%2FSMR029

PDF-ENG%2Fcontent&metadata=e30%3D
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Public Procurement Agency. (2018). Public Procurement Policy. St. John's: Public

Procurement Agency of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved from

https://www.gpa.gov.nl.ca/division/policy/index.html

Read, J., Kelly, R., & Worthington, R. (2008). Review of Government’s Procurement

Legislation, Policies and Processes. St. John's: Government of Newfoundland and

Labrador. Retrieved from https://www.gpa.gov.nl.ca/publications/index.html

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