1. What methods would you use for determining a demand forecast for cotton balls?
2. Where would you start to search for a supplier for cotton balls? What is the UNSPSC Code for a cotton ball?
3. How would you categorize supplies based on your health organization’s situation?
4. What would be the difference if you outsourced through a GPO and distributor versus insourcing through a manufacturer?
5. What considerations (such as volume needed, delivery terms, quality, cost) are important and why?
6. What considerations are important if you contracted with a vendor for cotton balls?
7. Outline and explain the concept and process of sourcing in the healthcare supply chain.
8. Discuss and give examples of segmentation of supply chain items and the stakeholders involved with influence within each segmentation.
9. Relate, discuss, and provide an example where the Value Chain integrates with healthcare supply-chain sourcing and purchasing.
10. Distinguish the functional areas of vendor management in the context of the request for proposal and/or quote and shipping terms.
11. Relate the sourcing of a medical/surgical item, such as cotton balls, to the identification codes and electronic data interchange catalogs.
12. Evaluate the benefits of improved sourcing with regard to outsourcing as compared to insourcing for health-care supply chain operations and management in terms of stakeholders’ perceptions and incentives.