1 Bill Gates of Microsoft describes the 2000s as ‘business @ the speed of thought’. Discuss the importance of speed in the supply chain. How can speed be increased
within the supply chain?
2 Suggest logistics performance priorities for the following, explaining why you have
come to your conclusions:
a a low fare airline such as Ryanair;
b a fast food chain such as McDonald’s;
c an overnight parcels service such as DHL.
3 What is meant by the term alignment in relation to supply chain processes? Why is
alignment important in setting a strategy for a given supply chain?
4 What does flow mean in a supply chain context? Explain how material flow relates to information flow in a supply network.
