Assessment Methods
Assessment Details:
The module is examined by one piece of coursework comprising an individual assignment focusing on a Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Report, including detailed Current and ‘Future State’ Value Stream Maps. This individual assignment represents 100% of the total marks for the module. Further details about the assignment can be found below and more details will be provided at the start of the semester:
Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Report
“All we are really trying to do in lean manufacturing is to get one process to make only what the next process needs when it needs it. We are trying to link all processes – from the final consumer back to raw material – in a smooth flow without detours that generates the shortest lead time, highest quality, and lowest cost.”
(Rother and Shook, 2009)
Background: Value Stream Mapping (VSM) originates from the Toyota Motor Corporation and has been applied to a wide variety of firms, supply chains and industries (e.g. automotive, aerospace, defence, electronics, R&D, health care services, financial services, investment banking, insurance, etc) (Rother and Shook, 2009). At Toyota, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is called Material and Information Flow Mapping and is used to depict different ‘current states’ and ‘future states’ of the firm and its supply chain. The Value Stream Mapping (VSM) approach focuses on the big picture by mapping the supply chain of a particular product or product group and improving the performance of the whole supply chain rather than just optimising individual processes. Firms that use Value Stream Mapping have found that it helps to improve information visibility, eliminates waste and non-value adding activities, reduces lead times, generates a continuous flow of products and adds value.
The three options for this assignment
For this assignment, students are required to produce a Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Report for a product and identify how its supply chain could be improved in the future. You can complete this assignment in three different ways. Each student must choose only one of the following three options for this assignment.
Option 1:Work Experience Value Stream Map: If you are familiar with a product/service and its supply chain from your work experience, past employment or your current job, then this can form the basis of your value stream mapping assignment. In particular, you might want to use information collected from your company and face-to-face interviews with managers/employees to help construct a detailed value stream map for a particular product. Following ABC production analysis, you might want to focus on one of the following types of product: (i). Runners: A product that is purchased daily and accounts for the majority of the company’s demand (i.e. A items), (ii). Repeaters: A product that is purchased less frequently and accounts for a moderate share of demand (i.e. B items), (iii). Rogues: A product that is ordered infrequently and in variable amounts (i.e. C items), (iv). Problematic products: A particular product that is generating problems for the company and its supply chain, or (v). New product: A new product that has only recently been launched via an existing/new supply chain. In previous years a wide range of Work Experience value stream maps have been produced, these include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), petroleum, pet food, automotive components, aerospace parts, Chilli Powder, luxury fashion clothes and even dynamite explosives!
Option 2:Primary Data Value Stream Map:Some students choose to collect primary data for this assignment by visiting local factories, attending factory tours or interviewing managers to collect detailed information about the supply chain. Please note that factory tours in the UK are very popular, so you may have to book in advance and access is not always guaranteed. Past students that have used this approach have studied consumer goods products, components for the oil and gas industry, charity clothes, alcoholic beverages, aerospace components, and automotive door frames.
Option 3:Secondary Data Value Stream Map: An alternative approach is to select a product/service and supply chain that you are interested in and wish to understand more about. Students often select a product from a company they wish to work for in the future, or a company they would like to study for their dissertation. You can find lots of information about different products and their supply chains by looking at company websites, industry reports, trade journals, magazines, newspapers, press releases, online videos, conferences, MS PowerPoint presentations, and past academic research. If you are choosing this option, I would strongly recommend that you collect as much information as possible about the company, its product and its supply chain at the start of the semester (i.e. weeks 1 and 2) to see if there is enough data to complete the value stream mapping assignment. Past students have used this approach to create value stream maps for Coca-Cola drinks, frozen foods, IPhones, laptops, computer components, etc.
Report Structure
Title Page: Each report should contain a title page that clearly identifies your student ID number, degree (MSc …), module code (BMAN70292), and the title of your report. A Contents Page that lists the main sections of the report with the accompanying page numbers should follow this.
Section 1: Executive Summary:
The report should begin with an Executive Summary (1 paragraph) that provides a clear overview of the report and the key findings for managers. This should be followed by a paragraph that outlines the background details about the company, its product, supply chain and the industry.
[5% of the marks, for executive summary section]
Section 2: ‘Current State’ Value Stream Map
Using the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) approach, describe and justify what you believe to be a plausible supply chain for your chosen product/service. Identify the key production processes, material flows, product flows, information flows, financial flows and supply chain relationships that have the greatest influence over the performance of this supply chain. Students will receive high marks for their ability to ‘critically evaluate’ the problems with the existing supply chain, such as identifying bottlenecks, long lead times, production waste, non-value adding activities, scheduling problems, poor supply chain communication, excessive inventory, stock out risks, capacity constraints, order backlogs, disruption risks, logistical/ transportation delays or sustainability issues. Students are also required to provide a detailed “Current State” Value Stream Map to help illustrate the problems with the existing supply chain. On this value stream map, students should provide details of the existing flow of materials, products, information and finance using the established icons. All current state value stream maps must include details of these flows between the supplier, the firm (and its internal processes), and its customers. Where possible, students should also include a ‘extended value stream’ map that graphically illustrates the flow of products across the whole supply chain (i.e. from the source, supplier’s suppliers, suppliers, the firm, warehouses, distributors, and customers/retailers/end users). It is recommended that students choose a particular product or a ‘product group’ (i.e. a group of similar products) rather than attempting to map the value streams for a large number of different products. It is important to remember that Value Stream Mapping focuses on the ‘big picture’ (i.e. the supply chain system), not just individual processes, and improving the whole supply chain not just optimizing its parts. Students are not required to calculate precise inventory levels, cycle times, changeover times, uptimes, delivery times, capacity levels, and lead times, but if you have access to some of this information then it can be incorporated into the report. To develop a “current state” value stream map, Rother and Shock (2009) suggest that you follow a four-step process:
STEP 1: Identify the end customer’s requirements
STEP 2: Draw the basic processes within the firm/organization.
STEP 3: Identify and map material flow from suppliers
STEP 4: Map and include information flows along the Value Stream
[30% of the marks]
Section 3: ‘Future State’ Value Stream Map
Imagine you are the Supply Chain Director for this product. How would you fix these problems and improve the supply chain’s performance? Illustrate your answer with examples of practical applications from the SCM literature and the “real world” (e.g. Case Studies, industry examples, etc). For example, you might use past research that has investigated how similar firms have transformed their supply chains by implementing Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) to reduce the bullwhip effect, or using Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) to improve supply chain coordination. Students will receive high marks in this section by supporting their managerial recommendations with references to the SCM theories, strategies, practices and systems covered in this module. For instance, if you are recommending that a supply chain needs to become more responsive to consumer demand, then you could examine the changes Zara made to its logistics, operations, and sourcing strategies to build an agile supply chain (e.g. the Zara Fast Fashion System). You should also provide a detailed ‘Future State’ value stream map to help illustrate how the new supply chain would operate. For example, previous students have developed ‘future state’ value stream maps to identify how a ‘current state’ supply chain can be changed into a lean supply chain or a supply chain that is less susceptible to disruption risks. Alternatively, the ‘future state’ value stream map might depict how a supply chain could be designed to prevent and mitigate the impact of the bullwhip effect, or address a particular strategic concern experienced by the firm and its supply chain (e.g. excessive inventory, long lead times, poor supply chain coordination, order backlogs, etc). High marks will be awarded to students that demonstrate ‘originality’ during their discussion for how the value stream could be changed to develop a long-term competitive advantage for the firm
.
[30% of the marks]
Section 4: Value Stream Improvement
Now that you have identified the ‘future state’ of the value stream, your next task to explain how the Supply Chain Director should change their existing Supply Chain Management (SCM) practices to achieve this goal. Within this section, you need to critically evaluate how you would use different SCM theories, models and practices to improve the supply chain for this product and transform the value stream from its ‘current state’ to the ‘future state’. Here you can make strategic, tactical and operational recommendations that managers could then implement. Examples might include developing a new agile SCM strategy, acquiring shares in key suppliers in Asia to prevent counterfeiting, and installing an online order tracking system to improve information visibility across the supply chain.
Students should draw upon the Supply Chain Management literature to support their recommendations and use the theories, models and practices from this module. In addition, students can also recommend new Supply Chain Management (SCM) practices the firm could use to improve supply chain performance, as long as these are supported with references and sources to the academic/industry literature.
[30% of the marks]
Section 5: Conclusion
Finally, a conclusion paragraph should be included into the assignment that provides an overview of the key findings from your Value Stream Maps and your improvement recommendations for managers.
[5% of the marks, for the conclusion]
Building a Value Stream Map:
To draw your Value Stream Maps you can use pens or pencils on an A4 sheet of paper or draw the map using Microsoft PowerPoint (note: you can use the icons provided on the lecture slides). In addition, for this assignment you can also develop your own value stream icons and symbols and then incorporate them into your value stream map (along with text boxes, such as ‘comment boxes’) to identify how it can be improved in the future (e.g. where there is a long lead time, inadequate suppliers, supply disruption risk, sustainability concerns, etc).
Report Format
Word Length:The word length limit for this report is 2,500 words. The title page, contents page, reference list, appendix and any tables, figures, diagrams or graphs will not be included in the word count.
References: The report should include references to articles and sources from the Supply Chain Management (SCM) literature (i.e. more than just the main textbooks). All reports should be properly referenced using an appropriate style – the Harvard Referencing System is recommended as being straightforward and easy to use. A full reference list should also be provided at the end of the report containing the references for all sources used within the report. It is recommended that students reference at least 20 academic journal articles/books within this report and include additional references that focus on the details of the company, the product, its supply chain, etc.
Appendix: Any additional information should be included in an Appendix to provide further details about the product, the supply chain or industry background. However, the information in the Appendix will not be marked.
Writing Format: Reports should be completed in Times New Roman font style (font size 12) in Microsoft Word (or a similar word processing program), with 1.5cm spacing between lines and a 2.54cm boarder margin around each page. However, boarder margins can be increased for the pages that contain the value stream maps. Page numbers should be clearly displayed at the bottom of each page.
Plagiarism: Students should refer to the section on Plagiarism in your Programme Handbook.
Tables/Figures/Diagrams: Additional tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, maps, illustrations and examples that help to illustrate the product, supply chain and value stream map would be advantageous and can be included in the main sections of the report. They should also be numbered (e.g. ‘Figure 1.’ / ‘Table 1.’). Text within the value stream maps, tables, figures or diagrams will not be included in the word count.
Confidentiality:If your Value Stream Map is likely to include commercially sensitive information please ensure that that final report contains anonymous identification information (e.g. use a pseudonym for the company’s name, the product, the factory’s location, and any managers or employees that were interviewed). In addition, if you are interviewing managers or employees you will also need to complete and sign an ethics approval form from MBS which should be included in the Appendix of your final report.
Submission deadline: The assignment is due to be submitted online by Friday 8th May 2015, before 3pm.
English Language Programmes and Advice
If English is not your native language, you may wish to enquire about the wide range of credit bearing and non-credit bearing English courses available through the University Language Centre.
Individual Advice Sessions: International students who would like one-to-one individual advice on how they can improve their academic writing are encouraged to make use of the one-to-one academic writing tutorial service run at the University of Manchester. Around 500 individual sessions are held per year and these are free of charge. These courses are very popular, so make sure you sign up straight away. Please send an email to the following email address to book your one-to-one individual advice session: tutorials@manchester.ac.uk Alternatively, you can call the following telephone number to book an appointment: 0161 275 3426.
Insessional Courses: In addition, timetabled in-sessional courses for international students, covering areas such as academic writing, academic speaking, pronunciation and grammar are also available at no cost. Please send an email to the following email address to attend a course: insessional@manchester.ac.uk Please note, these courses are very popular, so please contact them straight away.
For further details, please contact the Academic Support Programme at the University Language Centre:
Academic Support Programmes
University Language Centre
University of Manchester
Samuel Alexander Building (LG8.1)
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
Email: englang@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 306 3397
Website: http://www.langcent.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/contact/
Presentation of Coursework
All coursework must be word-processed on A4-size paper. All coursework must include appropriate citations and a corresponding full list of references.
All marking in the School is anonymous. Therefore, your name should not appear on your work. Rather, you must enter your University registration number on the front cover sheet and at the top of each page of your coursework. You may find details of the University’s anonymous marking policy at:
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/tlao/map/teachinglearningassessment/assessment/sectionb-thepracticeofassessment/policyonmarking/63
The school reserves the right to submit any work handed in by students for assessment to electronic systems for detecting plagiarism or other forms of academic malpractice. This includes the JISC plagiarism detection service (TurnitinUK), details of which can be found at:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/services/as_pas.aspx
The University uses electronic systems for the purposes of detecting plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice and for marking. Such systems include TurnitinUK, the plagiarism detection service used by the University.
As part of the formative and/or summative assessment process, you may be asked to submit electronic versions of your work to TurnitinUK and/or other electronic systems used by the University (this requirement may be in addition to a requirement to submit a paper copy of your work). If you are asked to do this, you must do so within the required timescales.
The School also reserves the right to submit work handed in by you for formative or summative assessment to TurnitinUK and/or other electronic systems used by the University.
Please note that when work is submitted to the relevant electronic systems, it may be copied and then stored in a database to allow appropriate checks to be made.
Guidelines for the application of penalties when limits for coursework length are exceeded
Please refer to your individual course unit outlines for the length limit for each piece of coursework. The University will apply the penalties noted below if the limit is exceeded.
Extent to which limit is exceeded Penalty to be applied
No more than 10% over the limit* 5 marks
More than 10% but no more than 25% over the limit 20 marks
More than 25% but no more than 50% over the limit 50 marks
Extent to which limit is exceeded Penalty to be applied
* Penalty may be waived where the limit is exceeded by a trivial amount
Late Submissions
The penalty on all course units for late or none submission (where you have not been granted an extension) of assessment: a loss of 10 marks per day (sliding scale), for up to 10 days. A “day” is 24 hours, i.e. the clock starts ticking as soon as the submission deadline has passed. A day includes weekends and weekdays. You may additionally be required to complete a form acknowledging your late submission.
Given that assignments are set well ahead of the submission date, the only exception to this is where there are strong mitigating circumstances (e.g. medical circumstances documented by a doctor’s note) and these have been notified to the Programme Administrator (for consideration by the Exams and Assessment Officer and the Mitigating Circumstances Board) prior to the submission date. Work handed in after the deadline will not be marked. Where the final dissertation (or equivalent) is submitted after the deadline, at the discretion of the Board of Examiners it may be treated in the same manner as a resubmission following failure with the mark capped at 50% (or 40% for programmes with a pass mark of 40%) with no further opportunity for resubmission.”
You may find details of mitigating circumstances at:
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/tlao/map/teachinglearningassessment/assessment/sectionc-reachingdecisionsfromassessment/policyonmitigatingcircumstances/
Assessment Extension Requests
All coursework or presentation extension requests must go through your Programme Administrator ONLY. You need to collect a form from them and submit this with full evidence PRIOR to the day of submission. (Anything submitted after the date will be retrospective and may not be even reviewed). Your form and evidence will then need to be approved, until you have received confirmation it has been approved you must continue to work towards the original deadline. You can ONLY be granted approval from the Exams and Assessment Officer no one else, not even your lecturer.
Further details regarding Personal Mitigating Circumstances and what are required are noted further in the handbook.
Marking Conventions
Marking Conventions:
The marking conventions are as follows:
70-100% Very good, well above average performance at Masters Level.
60-69% A good, sound performance at Masters Level.
50-59% Pass. An adequate performance at Masters Level.
40-49% Fail at Masters Level. Adequate performance at Diploma level.
30-39% Fail at Diploma level.
0-29% Fail.
The following marking criteria will be applied to the assessments (Please note: these criteria should be considered as GUIDELINES only):
Grade Marking Criteria
90–100% Distinction
Exceptional work that is nearly or wholly faultless relative to expectations at Masters level. Demonstrates consistently that the candidate achieves all relevant intended learning outcomes of the course unit. Also achieves the points under grade 70–79% below.
80–89% Distinction
Work of excellent quality throughout, comprehensively demonstrating that the candidate achieves all relevant intended learning outcomes of the course unit. Also achieves the bulleted points under grade 70–79% below.
70–79% Distinction
Excellent work, both thorough and focused, with critical depth and insight appropriate to Masters level. Demonstrates that the candidate achieves relevant intended learning outcomes of the course unit and the answer fits within a distinction profile.
The student
• evaluates concepts and assumptions critically and thoughtfully applies concepts to problems.
• demonstrates independent thinking and insight into theoretical issues
• shows evidence of extensive reading beyond the lecture notes and the ability to synthesise and integrate the relevant literature
• writes well in good English and structures the response to provide a succinct, coherent and logical answer to the question
• clearly presents solutions to calculative questions and demonstrates excellent analytical skills and understanding.
60–69% Merit
Answers are competent and well presented, touching very good work at the top end of the range. The work is critical and comprehensive and has a degree of depth and imagination in presenting and considering the material, especially at the top end of the marking range.
50–59%
Pass
This is the minimum performance required on a Masters programme. Answers provide a competent discussion of relevant material and some evidence of critical and analytical thought. They are well structured, well presented and demonstrate an awareness of relevant literature, and offer appropriate evidence, arguments, and assertions by reference to relevant literature/research.
The student
• demonstrates a good understanding of the material
• shows a basic knowledge of relevant literature but draws mainly on lecture material
• addresses the questions and demonstrates reasonable writing skills with some ability to structure the material logically
• provides solutions to calculative questions that demonstrate good analytical skills.
40–49%
Fail, compensatable at Masters level
Answers provide a competent discussion of relevant material, but are largely descriptive and lack critical/analytical depth. Answers are well structured, well presented and demonstrate an awareness of relevant literature.
The student’s answer
• shows a basic understanding of concepts introduced but with limited ability to apply these concepts
• largely reproduces lecture notes
• tends to miss the point of the question
• is written poorly, written in note form, lacks structure or is too short to properly address the question
• provides solutions to calculative questions that demonstrate basic analytical skills.
30–39%
Compensatable fail at Diploma level
Work shows some understanding of the main elements of the programme material and some knowledge of the relevant literature. Shows very limited achievement of the relevant
0-29%
Fail
Little relevant material presented. Unclear or unsubstantiated arguments with very poor accuracy and understanding. Little evidence of achievement of the relevant intended learning outcomes of the course unit.
Any change to the above criteria will be noted on blackboard.
Please note, however that these marking conventions are for guidance only and may vary across different programmes. For more advice on marking conventions for your programme, please contact your Programme Director.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting the ideas, work or words of other people without proper, clear and unambiguous acknowledgement. It also includes ‘self-plagiarism’ (which occurs where, for example, you submit work that you have presented for assessment on a previous occasion), and the submission of material from ‘essay banks’ (even if the authors of such material appear to be giving you permission to use it in this way). Obviously, the most blatant example of plagiarism would be to copy another student’s work. Hence it is essential to make clear in your assignments the distinction between:
(i). the ideas and work of other people that you may have quite legitimately exploited and developed, and
(ii). the ideas or material that you have personally contributed.
Students should refer to the section on Plagiarism in your Programme Handbook.
