PD3/May 2016

Professional diploma in procurement and supply

Strategic supply chain management

Date

Thursday 19 May 2016

Time

Start 14:00

End 17:00 Duration 3 hours

QUESTION PAPER
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
This examination has FOUR compulsory questions worth 25 marks each.
1. Do not open this question paper until instructed by the invigilator.
2. All answers must be written in the answer booklet provided.
3. All rough work and notes should be written in the answer booklet.

QP04

QUESTIONS
You are advised to spend 45 minutes on each question.
Q1 Evaluate the contribution of supply chain management in creating sources of competitive advantage
for Whirlpool in the FOUR areas of cost reduction, improved quality, time to market, and product
and service differentiation.
(25 marks)
Q2 (a) Discuss the factors that would influence the design of Whirlpools distribution systems.

(15 marks)
(b)
Having considered the factors in part (a), summarise the approach adopted by Whirlpool to
address each of the following areas of its distribution system:
(i)
(ii)

Channel design
Physical network and transport arrangements.

(10 marks)

Q3 Identify FIVE performance measures or metrics that Whirlpool could use to assess its supply chain
performance and explain how these could be applied to improve Whirlpools performance. (25 marks)
Q4 In the case study, Reuben Slone suggested that supply chain initiatives typically run out of steam
before they get to their end point.

Explain how Whirlpool could ensure that the changes in its approach to distribution are sustained and
how Whirlpool could overcome any potential resistance to change from stakeholders.
(25 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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PD3 Exam Questions May 2016

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO:

CIPS ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT CENTRE
c/o LINNEY DIRECT, A7 GOODS IN
BELLAMY ROAD, MANSFIELD
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE NG18 4LN
UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44(0) 845 880 1188
FAX: +44(0) 845 880 1187
www.cips.org

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PD3 Exam Questions May 2016