Supply Interview
Job titles
Supply chain
management is a combination of different disciplines that the applicant must
have good knowledge about. Through the interview process, the applicants’
competency and quality of services will be measured to ascertain if they meet
the threshold for the entry-level position of a junior buyer. The applicant
should be aware of the following job titles concerning supply chain management.
Quality managers
The quality manager
is in charge of assessing the products or service quality confirmation to the
set standards by the regulatory bodies or the organization’s quality control
policies (Wisner, Tan & Leong, 2014). The quality manager heads the quality assurance and
control departments in approving quality of products before they are released
or received by the firm. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the quality
manager to compile quality assurance reports that are directed to logistics or
finance departments for purchases approvals or supplier payment. Customers are
satisfied when the products are super quality, hence, the quality manager will
help the firm in maintaining loyal customers and high profits.
Distribution manager
The distribution
manager plays the role of planning for the distribution and storage of goods in
the firm. It is upon the distribution manager to ascertain that the distributed
products are of the right description as per customer requirements and
delivered to the correct location at a cost-effective rate (Christopher, 2016).
The distribution ascertains that the time taken to deliver the goods is
minimized to save in cost while also controlling and monitoring the flow of
goods in and out of the organizations to provide for customer satisfaction and positive
relationships with external stakeholders.
Procurement manager
The procurement manager is in charge of all the purchases
in the firm. He is responsible for supplier assessment and selection based on the
evaluation criteria developed by the firm. The procurement manager’s main role is to ensure
that the products are purchased from a reliable and cost-effective supplier and
meets all the quality specifications. The procurement manager generally
oversees the supplier or vendor contracts and make purchase orders for the firm.
Dispatcher
The dispatcher is in charge of handling customers by
managing non-emergency or emergency calls regarding the firm’s products. The
dispatcher monitors the routes that the products take form the organization
using the trackers or records and reports to the distribution manager. The
dispatcher also maintains and updates the call logs and any other information
related to the firm’s products. The dispatcher generally responsible for good that
leave the organization.
Integration with quality
assurance department
Quality is the core consideration for most business
operations as far as supply management is concerned. Integrating the supply management
practices with the quality assurance departments will enable the firm to avoid
legal and regulatory fines for non -conformity while meeting the corporate social
responsibility objectives and maintaining customer loyalty. The quality
assurance department helps the supply chain managers with intel on the legal
and regulatory requirements for its operations. It also gives the supply chain
department the quality specification that the products must meet before being
purchased or distributed to customers.
Integrating the activities between supply and quality
assurance departments enables the firm to have satisfied and happy customers.
The integration helps to ensure the product prices are fairly set based on the
quality (Monczka, et al, 2015). The
firm gains competitive advantage from the positive remarks of loyal customers due
to quality products and supply services. The firm therefore, has a stronger
competitive advantage than firms that lack quality assurance departments in
their supply chain processes.
The firm makes enormous profits from quality supplies while
minimizing expenses for defective products. likewise, it has minimal or no
interruptions from regulatory bodies for non-conferment to quality standards.
Generally, the integration process enables the firm to use the six sigma and
total quality management techniques to identify quality issues in the products
or suppliers’ side. The quality assurance department also provides ideas and
alternatives for continuous process improvements in the supply chain department
in improving products or service quality. The firm will have
reliability and consistency in its supply chain processes and market control,
resulting in brand loyalty and customer satisfaction through the integration
process.
Roles of supply management for sustainable performance
Supply chain management is the lifeline of an organization in ensuring that products move from the suppliers to the firms and then to the final customers or dealers. The supply management processes maintain the equilibrium between supply and demand in an organization by providing resources for the production and delivering finished products to customers. The transport department plays a significant role in delivering final products to customers and transporting raw materials from suppliers.
Supply chain managers like procurement and distribution managers monitor operation in the firm and ensure that the supply chain processes are efficiently and cost-effectively carried out. By monitoring and controlling the supply chain and production costs, the firm will be able to set affordable prices for the final products while maintaining quality specifications. Fair prices and quality products increase customer loyalty and satisfaction. The operations manager in supply management ensures a continuous workflow and optimal resource management in the firm.
The supply chain management provides for quality and
reliable warehouses for logistics purposes and transportation system. The warehouse
is used to maintain stock inventory and to provide for continuous supply market
supply. The operations managers plan and forecasts for the supply chain process
to minimize expenses and also develop contingency plans for uncertainties in
future operations. Inventory mangers ensures that accurate stick takes so that the
firm has continuous supply in the competitive market. the stock takes enables
the firm to get information on the amount of stock required for sustainable
operation.
Total cost ownership
items
The total cost of ownership for capital equipment includes
the purchase price combined with additional cost of operation for the product’s
useful life period. Different items are considered in calculating TCO for
capital requirements in the firm (Saccani, Perona & Bacchetti, 2017). The
items include the product’s life cycle or obsolesce. A product with an
extensive lifecycle and obsolesce period will deliver positive value to the
firm.
The material content used in developing the product should
be of the right quality to increase products utility. However, when the
materials used are of low quality, the product will have negative value to the
firm due to the high maintenance cost. The product applications should also be
multivariate enabling the firm to use it in serving several functions. The more
the applicability the better the value and utility of the product.
The fourth item is order processing costs for the product.
When the order processing cost is higher than the product value, the asset will
deliver negative value to the firm. Managers, therefore, have to ensure that
the order processing cost is minimized to improve product value. Lastly, the
program’s management cost also makes the product to deliver negative value to
the firm. The management costs increase the firm’s expenses hence it is better
to lease the product rather than purchasing it.
Characteristics shared
with professional negotiators
There are several characteristics that a quality negotiator
possesses in a supply process. The characteristics include but not limited to
confidence and positivity. Negotiators’ confidence when setting a price is an
indication that the product is of the right quality. Positive perception
enables the negotiator to convince the customers or dealers despite the
economic situation of the bargain.
Effective communication is also a significant
characteristic that a negotiator requires for a effective negotiation with the
dealers or customers (Wisner, Tan & Leong, 2014). Effective communication enables the two parties to
come to a consensus on the terms of the contract. The negotiator has to be a
good listener and strategic in decision making to avoid regrets. The negotiator
also maintains human skills that are influential in developing positive
relations with other parties and engaging in peaceful negotiations.
The negotiators are open-minded and provide room for bargain
so that they do not lose lucrative and profitable opportunities. They positive
intentions and good reputation that makes them trustworthy and given referrals
for more business opportunities based on the positive profile. They are
respectful and persuasive in convincing their clients or customers to accepting
the deals. Lastly, the negotiators should be well prepared for any outcome in
the negotiation process and should be able to take the results positively.
Methods for selecting
suppliers
The weighted point method is the most appropriate method
for choosing a new supplier based on the data provided by the firm and customer
demands. Customer attributes are provided and weighted against all suppliers,
and the scores are later provided for each supplier (Wisner, Tan & Leong, 2014).
The attributes include product quality and price in which the best supplier delivers
the excellent quality at an affordable price. The suppliers are rated, and the
one with the highest bid gets the contract.
The methods is useful as it consider the needs of customers
as they are part of the most essential stakeholders. The technique is fair to
the firm and the suppliers because as much as the firm has to give out the
contract, it also has to take consideration of its customers to maintain their
loyalty. The method is also consistent because it leads to customer
satisfaction and cost for sustainable business operations.
Considerations made when seeking international sources of materials
When importing materials internationally, it is essential
to consider the total landed cost as compared to purchasing the items in the
country. The total landed cost includes all the costs and expenses attached to
the product until it reaches the customer’s premises. When the total landed
cost is higher than the product value, it is not a strategic option for
international purchase.
The trade regulations placed by different countries are
also a critical for consideration. Some countries attach high-interest rates to
imports to protect infant firms, which makes the materials expensive compared
to purchases within the USA (Mangan & Lalwani, 2016). The regulations also limit some products since they
are deemed illegal or legal in different countries. For instance, bhang is
legal in Jamaica but illegal in several countries, including the USA.
Politics and wars are critical factor to consider before
engaging in purchases from a foreign country like the middle east counties
which are prone to conflicts. The political issues lead to uneven supply
pattern and delays in deliveries. On the other hand, conducting business in the
USA is beneficial since political stability and peace create a conducive
environment for the business operations.
Applications for
fixed-price contracts
The first type of fixed contract is the firm fixed-price contracts
is a contract type in which the contractor agrees to supply the service or
product at a specified price. The contracts are applicable when the firm wants
to purchase commercial items at affordable rates. Secondly, the
fixed-price contracts with economic adjustments are contracts where the
supplier agrees to supply the products to customers at a specified price.
Still, the prices can be adjusted based on economic conditions (Wisner, Tan
& Leong, 2014). The contract
is applicable when the firm is operating in an uncertain and unstable market or
labor source, therefore, it includes contingencies that will be accounted for
in the adjustments.
The last type is fixed-price contracts with price redemptions. The contracts involve a contractor who receives a fixed initial price form a customer, and the preceding prices are equitably revised based on the variabilities. The contract is applicable when acquiring quantity service or production where the fair price is negotiable and the fixed is reasonable however this does not apply for preceding prices.
References
Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics & supply chain management. Pearson UK. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NIfQCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=supply+chain+management+&ots=x2b2ApJqkz&sig=48x1DIbKdPs05zvzt4k69_tKLdc
Mangan, J., &
Lalwani, C. C. (2016). Global
logistics and supply chain management.
John Wiley & Sons.
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5BsWCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA9&dq=inertantional+supply+mangament&ots=9c9BglM8m2&sig=gGL-cvPYOrSXcrMzvuqljcCClf4
Monczka, R. M.,
Handfield, R. B., Giunipero, L. C., & Patterson, J. L. (2015). Purchasing and supply chain management. Cengage Learning. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=cAJoBwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR4&dq=supply+chain+management+job+titles&ots=RaqNa5quEm&sig=2tCzYb34QsDNLmnPGqIfPQ8rRDY
Saccani, N., Perona, M.,
& Bacchetti, A. (2017). The total cost of ownership of durable consumer
goods: A conceptual model and an empirical application. International Journal of Production Economics, 183, 1-13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210539516000043
Wisner, J. D., Tan, K.
C., & Leong, G. K. (2014). Principles
of supply chain management: A balanced approach. Cengage Learning.
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tym6CAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=supply+chain+management+&ots=0qHrD1Ib70&sig=k1KIejzQZr7J5WoPcaZNVo5qE-0