1. How Philips Reduced Returns, (Supply Chain Management Review, November/December 2003) describes cut its returns by more than $100 million per year, stopping returns before they enter the reverse supply chain.

a. How does this act affect the supply chain? What capabilities are necessary to make this possible?

2. Supply Management: Six Elements of Superior Design, (Supply Chain Management Review, April 2004) describes six elements of supply chain design that can lead to better performance.

a. What are the six design elements? How does each lead to enhanced value for all supply chain members?

3. L.L.Bean Delivers the Goods (FastCompany, Issue 10) provides a description of how L.L. Bean continues to provide a model of retail delivery quality.

a. Describe the aspects of L.L. Beans approach that differentiate it from its competitors.

4. Collaboration and cooperation are critical components of SCM. Global Enabled Supply Chain Series: Logistics (Murphree, J., iSource, January, 2002) article provides examples of how collaborative business partners in transportation and logistics drastically reduce costs.

a. Clearly, collaboration can reduce transportation and logistics costs. Like any business solution, however, improving performance in one area can increase costs in another. What are the negative aspects of the type of collaboration and cooperation described in this article?