Operations Management homework help
Operations Management homework help. Michael’s Post
1.Create a list of benefits for adopting night deliveries, including (but not limited to) those that are mentioned above.
- Lower emissions due to less traffic
- Avoid delivering at peak hours thus lowering delays and wait times
- Rate of vehicle utilization is improved
- Fleet size is lowered for meeting customer demand
- Parking fines can be reduced
- Roadside parking is possible due to less traffic
- Less sound disturbance from other vehicles
- Less pollution and noise
2.Create a list of disadvantages associated with night deliveries, including (but not limited to) these that are mentioned above
- Trained staff with expertise to drive at night is required
- Costs to pay more for training and increasing shifts for nighttime deliveries
- High costs of heating and lighting is required to transport specific goods
- Certain cities may not allow deliveries at night due to disturbance reasons
- Driver may feel tired or restless at night
- Higher risk of theft and accidents
- View of small things on the road is not very clear at night
3.After considering both advantages and disadvantages, do you recommend that Cyclone adopt nighttime delivery? Why or why not? Should your recommendation be based only on costs?
Cyclone should adopt night deliveries as they can see a higher volume of business at night. Since not many competitors can have services at night, it would give Cyclone an added advantage where they can build their market share and also get loyal customers. At night, since most of them don’t want to step out, it is often a favorable option to order online and get the deliveries at the doorstep. Moreover, it reduces the risk of accidents happening at the road and is better for the society.
Kwaku’s Post
Case 13- 1
- Create a list of benefits for adopting night deliveries, including (but not limited to) those that are mentioned above.
Some benefits for adopting night deliveries include reduction of the delivery time, lower truck emissions, reduce idling time due to less traffic, decreased congestion, reduction in parking fines, able to avoiding peak sale time deliveries to and less fuel usage due to traffic decongestion. It also implies an immediate cut of total energy consumption and CO2 emissions of transport operations, the consequence could be a significant decrease of the environmental impact of urban freight transport, including improvement of air quality Devin 1).
Create a list of disadvantages associated with night deliveries, including (but not limited to) these that are mentioned above.
Some disadvantages for adopting night deliveries are: increased noise during nighttime, possible higher risk for theft of vehicles and product during delivery, added cost to store owners to have trained staff there through the night, higher heating and lighting costs.
- After considering both advantages and disadvantages, do you recommend that Cyclone adopt nighttime delivery? Why or why not? Should your recommendation be based only on costs?
I would recommend Cyclone to adopt night-time delivery with some precautions of reducing the noise produced by the machines. To take care of these issues, the firm can produce large quantity ice cream in the day-time and store it for night delivery. My recommendation does not only focus on staff satisfaction, reduction of carbon dioxide, noise, and theft issues as well as growth and revenues of the company.
Micheal’s Post for Case 13-2
Case 13-2
You have been chosen to work on the BEV project, which will require you to answer the following questions:
- What are the major opportunities and issues trucking companies face presently?
Trucking companies are facing challenges and issues in the form of shortage of drivers at the national level, increased level of regulations at the federal level, upward spiraling fuel prices, higher costs of insurance and congestion being faced in highways. Recently trucking companies have to deal with hike in fuel prices. Any hike in fuel prices increases the operating expenses for trucking companies and hence dilutes their margins. Regulations have increased at the federal level and there are strict limitations in place now with regards to the number of hours a driver can now drive. Highway congestion has led to more traffic and unavailability of drivers; especially long-haul drivers are further compounding problems for them.
- What insights can you provide to help BEV mitigate some or all of the issues?
The insights that I can provide to BEV to mitigate some of the issues are that the trucking companies should start by providing better job proposition for drivers. When better job proposition – in the form of better pay, better security etc – is provided more people will be willing to work as drivers and so the problem of demand shortfall can be met. With regards to the problem of increasing fuel prices the trucking companies can hedge their positions by using forward contracts.
Kwaku’s Post for Case 13-2
Case 13-2
- What are the major opportunities and issues trucking companies face presently?
Major issues that trucking companies face are a shortage of drivers, increased fuel costs, fluctuation of trucking demand, globalization, and pricing power. Lack of job security and time away from family are the two biggest deterrents for the attraction of new drivers. The increase in diesel prices causes companies to try to make up the difference elsewhere which normally means inflated prices to the consumer. The demand for trucking is directly influenced by the volume of products produced; an expanded economy increases the freight demand while a contracted economy reduces the demand for trucking. Global economic integration has caused trucking companies to adapt to containerized trucking to stay competitive however that same competition has limited the pricing power available to trucking companies (Ryan, 2014).
What insights can you provide to help BEV mitigate some or all of the issues?
To battle increased fuel cost, trucking companies can train drivers on some basic practices to save fuel such as reduced idle time, proper braking and acceleration and maximum speeds. Through proper management, BEV can reduce empty loads or bobtail movements and efficiently manage backhaul freight to increase revenue and reduce fuel waste on non-profit trips. New drivers can be attracted through higher wages and regional routes that allow more time with families (Coyle, Novack, & Gibson, 2016). Adapting new technology and product development strategies such as containerized trucking and RFID’s will help keep trucking companies competitive on the global market.
Work Cited:
Coyle, J. J., Novack, R. A., & Gibson, B. J. Transportation A Global Supply Chain Perspective 8th ed. Boston: Cenage Learning, 201