Abstract:
Supply chain management impacts the delivery of both products and services for public and private sectors. Road salt for winterization illustrates the challenges associated with supply chain management from snowfall variability to product availability, sourcing, ordering, lead time, storage, and application aspects. Decisions involving service levels associated with road salt that public entities make directly impact the safety and lives of their citizens as well as public sector budgets and the local economy. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a justified strategy for road salt that creates public value.
Learning Objective:
This case involving supply chain management for road salt will demonstrate the complexities associated with developing a strategy for ordering, storing, and applying road salt, which is a product and service almost all individuals are familiar with. The strategy developed will require thoughtful analysis of numerous interconnected variables and will impact the safety of citizens. Students will also contemplate feedback loops and assessments in order to improve the process or service.
