Supply & Chain Management

Please answer each number own paragraph

1 Please answer the following eight questions in each paragraph
1. (Long Essay: 15 points) (a) Under which conditions would you most likely utilize a centralized purchasing system? (b) List three advantages that would be gained by utilizing a centralized purchasing system. (c) Under which conditions would you most likely utilize a decentralized purchasing system? (d) List three advantages that would be gained by utilizing a decentralized purchasing system.
2. (Long Essay: 15 points) The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as defined in the textbook adds “all costs associated with the acquisition, use, and maintenance of a good or service.” The TCO is then broken up into three major cost categories. List the three cost categories, provide a definition of each, and then provide three examples of each of the three types of costs.
3. (Long Essay: 15 points) Home Depot is a retail leader in selling home improvement tools and materials. Home Depot wants to become more environmentally conscious. Answer the following series of questions in an effort to develop a plan that will guide Home Depot executives into transforming Home Depot into a sustainable organization through green sourcing. (a) Define sustainability. (b) Outline a set of goals (FOUR) that would lead Home Depot down a sustainable path. (c) How do these goals make sense from both a financial and environmental perspective? (d) What are some ways supplier managers can aid in achieving these goals?
4. (Long Essay: 15 points) Answer the following 3 questions: (a) Why would a firm want to assess their sourcing capabilities? (b) List six assessment criteria to evaluate the purchasing department’s performance. (c) What kind of performance tool can be used to assess the criteria listed?
5. (Short Essay: 10 points) Use what you understand about the outsourcing decision (Make vs. Buy) to answer this question. List and explain three reasons a restaurant might decide to buy pre-made desserts from a supplier rather than making the goods from scratch.
6. (Short Essay: 10 points) As relationships with suppliers become more trusted, reliable, and long-term in nature, early supplier involvement has become a popular strategy among firms. Explain three benefits gained from using this strategy.
7. (Short Essay: 10 points) What are the advantages and risks involved with global supply chains?
8. (Short Essay: 10 points) What are the two external certification programs discussed in the text? What does each certification attempt to certify