Develope Case study on logistics and supply Chain Managemnent issues, (Select
one manufacturing company in Ethiopia,Amhara region)
Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service , EPSS,
Purpose of the case study is for . Is it for academic analysis, a business school assignment
Scope of the case study is on Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service , EPSS, in Amhara region
Bahirdar City
specific area of the business are logistics and Supply chain management issues
Develop questionaries for Identify the Core Problem/Challenge in the logistics and Supply chain
management
Create research plan Determine primary and secondary data sources.
Phase 1: Planning and Definition
Define the Purpose and Scope: Clearly articulate why you are writing the case study. Is it for academic
analysis, a business school assignment, or internal training? Define the specific area of the business you
will focus on (e.g., marketing strategy, supply chain issues, financial performance).
Identify the Core Problem/Challenge: A good case study centers on a specific problem the company
faced. Interview key personnel or review company documentation to identify a compelling challenge or
decision point. The problem should be relevant to your intended audience's learning objectives.
Create a Research Plan: Determine your primary and secondary data sources.
Primary data might come from interviews with current or former employees, managers, and customers.
Secondary data includes annual reports, news articles, industry reports, company websites, and market
research.
Phase 2: Data Collection and Analysis
Gather Data: Conduct thorough research following your plan.
Ensure you collect both qualitative (interviews, observations) and quantitative data (sales figures,
financial ratios, market share) to provide a complete picture.
Analyze the Information: Synthesize your data to understand the root causes of the problem. Use
relevant business frameworks (e.g., SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, PESTLE analysis) to structure
your analysis. This helps move beyond surface-level descriptions to deep insights.
Identify Alternatives and Solutions: Brainstorm different courses of action the company could have
taken. Evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative based on your analysis.
Phase 3: Writing the Case Study
Structure your writing into clear sections:
Executive Summary: A concise overview of the company, the core problem, the main findings, and
the final recommendation.
Company Background: Introduce the company, its history, industry context, market position,
mission, and organizational structure.
The Problem Statement/Challenge: Detail the specific situation, dilemma, or challenge the
company faced. Provide enough context and evidence (using your data) for the reader to understand
the complexity.
Analysis: This is the heart of the case study. Present your findings using the frameworks you applied.
Explain how internal and external factors contributed to the situation.
Alternatives and Recommendations: Discuss viable options the company had. Finally, present
your primary recommendation(s), justifying why this is the best course of action based on your analysis.
Conclusion/Learning Outcomes: Summarize the key takeaways and lessons learned from the
case study. Reflect on what readers should understand about business strategy or operations from this
example.
Phase 4: Review and Finalization
Review and Edit: Ensure the case study is well-written, clear, and free of grammatical errors. Check that
all claims are supported by evidence from your research.
Format and Cite Sources: Follow any required formatting guidelines and correctly cite all sources used to
maintain credibility and avoid plagiarism.
Obtain Permissions (if necessary): If you plan to publish the case study publicly or use internal company
data, ensure you have the necessary approvals from the company or relevant stakeholders.
Logistics management is a component of the broader supply chain management (SCM).
Logistics Management involves planning, managing, and controlling the storage and movement of
goods, services, and related information within a single business or across internal functions (e.g.,
warehousing, transportation, inventory).
Supply Chain Management is a more expansive concept, encompassing all the processes and partners
involved in the production and distribution of goods, from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final
product to the end customer.
Key Issues in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
The challenges faced by logistics and SCM professionals are interconnected and often global in nature.
Operational & Financial Issues
Inventory Management: Balancing supply and demand is a persistent issue. Inaccurate forecasting leads
to either costly overstocking (tying up capital) or stockouts (lost sales and unhappy customers).
Rising Costs: Fluctuations in fuel prices, material costs, and labor expenses significantly impact
operational budgets and profit margins.
Transportation Issues: Challenges include poor route planning, traffic congestion, port delays, and
ensuring timely delivery while controlling costs.
Labor Shortages: The industry often faces difficulties in finding and retaining qualified labor, from
warehouse pickers to drivers, leading to operational slowdowns and high turnover rates.
External & Strategic Issues
Supply Chain Disruptions: Events outside a company's control—such as natural disasters, global health
crises (like COVID-19), and severe weather—can halt production and distribution channels.
Geopolitical Instability: Trade wars, new tariffs, sanctions, and political conflicts can force companies to
pivot sourcing strategies and navigate complex regulatory changes.
Regulatory Compliance: Companies must navigate a complex web of international and local regulations,
including customs documentation, environmental standards, and labor laws, to avoid legal penalties.
Technological & Data Issues
Lack of Visibility: Many organizations lack real-time, end-to-end visibility into their supply chains due to
siloed data systems and an over-reliance on manual processes (e.g., spreadsheets). This prevents
proactive responses to issues.
Outdated Technology: The use of legacy systems that do not integrate well makes it difficult to leverage
modern tools like AI and data analytics, leading to manual bottlenecks and data errors.
Sustainability & Reputational Issues
Environmental Concerns: Increasing pressure from consumers and regulators demands greener
operations, requiring investments in sustainable transportation, reduced packaging waste, and ethical
sourcing, which can add complexity and cost.
Supplier Instability: Over-reliance on a single supplier or geographic region makes a company vulnerable.
If a supplier fails financially or engages in unethical practices, it poses significant financial, operational,
and reputational risks.
The purpose of this case study will be for academic analysis specifically structured as a business school
assignment.
The following sections provide a structured approach to identifying core problems via questionnaires
and determining data sources for your research on the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS)
in Bahir Dar City.
Questionnaires for Identifying Core SCM/Logistics Problems at EPSS Bahir Dar
These questionnaires are designed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from EPSS staff and
management to pinpoint specific issues within logistics and SCM operations.
Section A: General SCM Operations & Performance Metrics (For Managers/Supervisors)
Focus: Identifying systemic operational issues and performance gaps.
Question Type Purpose
What are the current Key Open/Qualitative
Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Establishes current
used to measure logistics success
measurement standards.
(e.g., order fulfillment rate,
inventory turnover, delivery
time)?
What is the average lead time Quantitative Measures efficiency of order
from receiving an order at the processing.
Bahir Dar branch to final
dispatch?
On a scale of 1-5, how would you Likert Scale Assesses forecasting reliability.
rate the current accuracy of
demand forecasting for essential
medicines? (1=Poor,
5=Excellent)
How frequently do "stockouts" Quantitative/Open Pinpoints frequency and severity
(zero inventory) occur for of stock issues
essential medicines in a given
quarter? .
Describe the most common Open/Qualitative Identifies primary transportation
causes for delivery delays bottlenecks.
identified within the last six
months.
Section B: Inventory & Warehouse Management (For Warehouse Staff/Inventory Controllers)
Focus: Deep dive into physical inventory handling and storage challenges.
Question Type Purpose
What percentage of physical Quantitative Measures data accuracy and
inventory counts match the system reliability
inventory management system
records? .
Do you have specific challenges Open/Qualitative Identifies specific
in managing cold-chain logistics infrastructure/handling issues.
(temperature-sensitive
products)? If yes, describe them.
What are the most frequent Open/Qualitative Targets waste and quality
reasons for pharmaceutical control issues.
product expiry or damage within
the warehouse?
How would you describe the Open/Qualitative Assesses physical operational
current warehouse layout and efficiency
picking process efficiency? Are
there bottlenecks? .
Section C: Technology & Communication (For IT/Logistics Staff)
Focus: Assessing system integration and communication flows.
Question Type Purpose
What logistics software or Open/Qualitative Identifies current tech stack.
Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) system is currently in use
at the Bahir Dar branch?
Quantitative/Open Measures communication
frequency/integration.
How often is data shared
between the Bahir Dar branch
and the central/regional EPSS
offices regarding inventory
levels?
Are staff adequately trained to Yes/No & Qualitative Assesses human-system
use the current logistics interaction efficiency.
management information
systems (LMIS)?
Research Plan: Determining Data Sources
This research plan outlines how to gather the necessary information to address the logistics and SCM
issues at EPSS Bahir Dar City.
1. Primary Data Sources
Primary data is information collected firsthand specifically for this case study.
Source Type Specific EPSS Contacts Data Collection Methods
Interviews Logistics Manager, SCM Director, Conducted in person (given location
Warehouse Supervisor, Inventory proximity in Bahir Dar) or via phone
Controllers Semi-structured calls.
interviews using the questionnaires
developed above
Observations Warehouse Staff, Drivers (if Direct observation of warehouse
possible) operations, physical inventory
movement, receiving, and
dispatch processes to verify
stated procedures and observe
bottlenecks in real-time.
Surveys General EPSS Bahir Dar Staff anonymous surveys to gather
Short broader perspectives on morale,
process efficiency, and
communication effectiveness
across departments.
2. Secondary Data Sources
Secondary data is existing information that will provide context, benchmarks, and historical
performance insights.
Source Type Specific Documents/Locations Data Needed
Internal EPSS Documents Annual reports, internal audit KPIs, historical stockout data,
records, inventory reports, budget reports, existing process
previous operational manuals maps, historical performance
trends.
Academic & Industry Literature Business school databases, Best practices in
logistics journals, World Health humanitarian/health SCM,
Organization (WHO) supply chain industry benchmarks, common
guidelines for pharmaceuticals challenges in Ethiopian health
logistics context.
Government & NGO Reports Ethiopian Ministry of Health Regulatory framework, national
reports, HAPCO reports, health logistics context, external
USAID/Gavi logistic assessments evaluations of EPSS operations
in Ethiopia (if available).