Montclair State University Ventilators Supply Chain Coronavirus Pandemic Paper

What is your paper about?

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis we have seen shortages of many products and services. I would like you to pick Ventilators and explore the reasons why this shortage occurred and what steps were taken to address this shortage. In this paper you will research the supply chain of Ventilators that was in short supply earlier this year at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose is to understand why there was a shortage, which links in the supply chain broke, what fixes were put in place and whether these fixes worked.

Please answer the following in 3 pages double spaced:

1. The effect of the crisis on this supply chain: What was the extent of the shortage? Provide some data or evidence for your numbers. Which links in the supply chain broke down? What were the reasons?
2. The changes or adjustments made as a result: What were the changes made? Have they been successful? Is the shortage over?
3. The status of the shortage: Is the product now freely available or are there restrictions? Are price and quality of the product the same as before?
4. Any lasting impact of the crisis: Has the supply chain of this product changed permanently? Has the supply chain become stronger or weaker as a result? What will be the impact on the availability of the product?

Important: Before you start work on your chosen topic, please read thoroughly the paper Introduction to Supply Chain Management, by Gal Raz. (attached)

• References (these can’t all be vague references to some stuff you pulled off the web. Actual magazine or newspaper articles will carry much more weight.)
• Use sub-sections and sub-headings to organize the report and make it easier to read.
• Use diagrams and schematics as needed in the main paper. Discuss all diagrams and schematics. They are not simply for show.

Where should you look for information?

• Newspapers (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, etc.) business periodicals (The Economist, Fortune, Forbes, etc.)
• Harvard Business Review
• Many of the big-name consulting firms like Deloitte, McKinsey, Accenture, etc., have published white papers on these issues. These are written for general business audiences and should be useful.
• Business periodicals and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, Economist, Fortune, etc.