You are a global freight forwarder who provides end-to-end shipment services to various destinations in Asia and USA. Shipment 1 Twice monthly shipments of packets of syringes to Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital located at 133 Soi Sukhumvit 49, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand. Each shipment contains 1,000 packets of syringes: 2 kg each, 30 cm x 20 cm x 5 cm of estimated value $800 per packet. The customer prefers air transport for this shipment. Shipment 2 Twice-weekly shipments of personal computers to Burns and Factory Co. Ltd., located at 2 Chome-5-15 Komone, Itabashi-ku, Tōkyō-to 173-0037, Japan. Each shipment contains 300 cartons: 8 kg each, 60 cm x 45 cm x 30 cm of estimated value $1,600 per carton. The customer proposes the cargo to be palletised for shipment. Shipment 3 Once a month shipments of 5 tonnes office gypsum boards (0.8 kg each; Dimensions 600 cm x 600 cm x 10 cm) to a customer, VP Builders & Developers at Sainik Colony, Sector 49, Sainik Colony, Sector 49, Faridabad, Haryana 121012, New Delhi, India. Each piece has an estimated value $6. The recommendation is to ship them all in 20-foot containers. Shipment 4 Once in two months’ shipment of printed brochures (each is A4 size) to Wells Fargo Bank located at 6010 Pacific Blvd, Huntington Park, California, CA 90255, USA. Each shipment contains 1,000 brochures: 1 kg each with an estimated value $12 per brochure. The customer does not have a preferred method of shipment. Shipment 5 Once a month shipment of engineering samples to China Coal Mine Engineering Machinery Equipment Group Corporation, Shanghai Kuangyong Electrical Apparatus Factory located at 795 Pushan Rd, ZhongShan BeiLu, Zhabei Qu, Shanghai Shi, China. Each shipment contains 20 samples sealed in boxes (about the size of a safety shoe box) of 2 kg each with an estimated value $500 per sample. The customer does not have a preferred method of shipment. (a) Apply effective freight planning techniques to estimate the costs for each of these shipments from Singapore to the given destinations. To do this, obtain actual quotations from local shipping sources and present a well-annotated cost table using these quotations. Scan and attach these quotations to your answers as evidence. (20 marks) LOG205e Assignment 2 SIM UNIVERSITY Assignment 2 – Page 5 of 5 (b) Discuss the intermodal transport routes for each of these shipments with the aid of suitable maps. You need to select the appropriate Incoterms for these shipments and give reasons for your choice. (15 marks) Give your views on the advantages of multi-modal freight shipments. (5 marks) Question 2 E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and/or services via electronic channels such as the Internet. E-commerce has grown with the increased availability of Internet access and the popularity of mobile devices. One of the main logistical challenges in e-commerce is the ability of the service provider to deliver the goods ordered to meet the customer’s requirement and expected service level. Select an organisation that provides the “last-mile” delivery service for goods and/or services that are ordered through an online platform. Conduct a case study and do online research on this organisation to cover (but be not limited) the following points. [Your report should not exceed 1,500 words.]  Explain the importance of transport in the supply chain of this organisation. To set the context, you should mention the organisation’s background, goods/services delivered, staff strength, assets owned or leased (e.g. facilities, equipment, vehicles), etc.  Analyse the routing approach for deployment of local distribution vehicles.  Relate the existing challenges faced by this organisation in order fulfilment and lastmile delivery.  Propose feasible solutions overcome these challenges. These solutions can be your own proposals or those that the organisation is considering.