TRL3707 EXAM PACK
ASSIGNMENT 2 UNIQUE
Tut 201 Letters
Questions. Answers
,Tutorial Letter
Logistics Activities
TRL3707
Semester 1
Department of Applied Management
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
Bar code
,2. FEEDBACK ON COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS 01 AND 02
2.1 Feedback on compulsory Assignment 01
ASSIGNMENT 01
DUE DATE
ASSIGNMENT UNIQUE NUMBERS
719135
Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IS THE VITAL INGREDIENT NEEDED FOR
COVID-19 VACCINE SUCCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA
While President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa’s Covid-19
vaccine strategy is well underway, with 20 million doses to be delivered in the first
of the year, this is just the first step and effective supply chain management will be
key ingredient for a successful vaccine roll out, according to Southern Africa’s
Professional Body for Supply Chain Management (SAPICS).
“Distributing the Covid-19 vaccine to millions of South Africans will be one of the
supply chain and logistics profession’s greatest endeavours ever. The ultimate
success of South Africa’s vaccine programme will depend on effective, robust and
resilient supply chains and skilled, suitably qualified supply chain professionals,”
says SAPICS president Keabetswe Mpane.
“The challenges include the vaccine’s short-shelf-life, cold chain distribution
requirements and safety concerns for the workers distributing it. Some of the
Covid-19 vaccines require ultra-cold storage,” Mpane notes. “Pfizer’s vaccine, for
example, must be kept especially cold – frozen at -70 degrees Celsius. It will
reportedly require ultracold freezers or dry ice for refilling specialised delivery
containers.
Focused manpower development will be critical for the successful last mile
distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. We need to consider the knowledge and skills
of everyone involved in every stage of the vaccine’s transit, from the storage and
distribution personnel to ancillary workers like truck drivers. Everyone handling the
vaccine during its lifecycle must be trained in the basics of its storage and
temperature control requirements, to ensure that nothing is left to chance.
South Africa has never needed professional, suitably qualified supply chain
professionals more than we do right now", Mpane stresses, adding that the role
played by SAPICS in promoting professionalism and community in African supply
chains and in delivering education, training, networking and knowledge sharing
4
, opportunities for supply chain professionals, is more important than ever. In
addition to distributing the vaccine itself, there are secondary supply chains that
will be vital too, she asserts. She further asserts: "Think of the millions of syringes
needed to administer the vaccine. We will need as many syringes as doses of
vaccine. We will need safety boxes for used syringes. Nurses giving the vaccine
shots will need more alcohol wipes, masks and gloves. Supply chains that were
stretched and strained during the early stages of the Covid 19 pandemic with the
distribution of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) may not be ready for the
vaccine distribution challenges”.
While all eyes - and hopes - are on the Covid-19 vaccine, we must also ensure that
we do not overlook the other important treatment programmes that must continue.
The supply chains and professionals responsible for the distribution of life-saving
drugs to fight HIV, malaria and tuberculosis are already under immense pressure
and the critical work that they do cannot be compromised. Youth capacity building
and skills development to build a pipeline of new talent and enhance the
performance of healthcare supply chains is a priority for SAPICS and our partners.
SAPICS is a Coalition member of People that Deliver - a global initiative that aims
to improve health outcomes by promoting sustainable workforce excellence in
health supply chain management. A partnership between SAPICS and the
International Association of Public Health Logisticians (IAPHL) was established in
2020 to promote professionalism and community in South African public health
supply chains with the objective of improving the availability of healthcare supplies
and life-saving medicines including the Covid-19 vaccine.
When the vaccine arrives in South Africa, the quality of our supply chain
professionals could mean the difference between life and death," Mpane concludes.
5
ASSIGNMENT 2 UNIQUE
Tut 201 Letters
Questions. Answers
,Tutorial Letter
Logistics Activities
TRL3707
Semester 1
Department of Applied Management
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
Bar code
,2. FEEDBACK ON COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS 01 AND 02
2.1 Feedback on compulsory Assignment 01
ASSIGNMENT 01
DUE DATE
ASSIGNMENT UNIQUE NUMBERS
719135
Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IS THE VITAL INGREDIENT NEEDED FOR
COVID-19 VACCINE SUCCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA
While President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa’s Covid-19
vaccine strategy is well underway, with 20 million doses to be delivered in the first
of the year, this is just the first step and effective supply chain management will be
key ingredient for a successful vaccine roll out, according to Southern Africa’s
Professional Body for Supply Chain Management (SAPICS).
“Distributing the Covid-19 vaccine to millions of South Africans will be one of the
supply chain and logistics profession’s greatest endeavours ever. The ultimate
success of South Africa’s vaccine programme will depend on effective, robust and
resilient supply chains and skilled, suitably qualified supply chain professionals,”
says SAPICS president Keabetswe Mpane.
“The challenges include the vaccine’s short-shelf-life, cold chain distribution
requirements and safety concerns for the workers distributing it. Some of the
Covid-19 vaccines require ultra-cold storage,” Mpane notes. “Pfizer’s vaccine, for
example, must be kept especially cold – frozen at -70 degrees Celsius. It will
reportedly require ultracold freezers or dry ice for refilling specialised delivery
containers.
Focused manpower development will be critical for the successful last mile
distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. We need to consider the knowledge and skills
of everyone involved in every stage of the vaccine’s transit, from the storage and
distribution personnel to ancillary workers like truck drivers. Everyone handling the
vaccine during its lifecycle must be trained in the basics of its storage and
temperature control requirements, to ensure that nothing is left to chance.
South Africa has never needed professional, suitably qualified supply chain
professionals more than we do right now", Mpane stresses, adding that the role
played by SAPICS in promoting professionalism and community in African supply
chains and in delivering education, training, networking and knowledge sharing
4
, opportunities for supply chain professionals, is more important than ever. In
addition to distributing the vaccine itself, there are secondary supply chains that
will be vital too, she asserts. She further asserts: "Think of the millions of syringes
needed to administer the vaccine. We will need as many syringes as doses of
vaccine. We will need safety boxes for used syringes. Nurses giving the vaccine
shots will need more alcohol wipes, masks and gloves. Supply chains that were
stretched and strained during the early stages of the Covid 19 pandemic with the
distribution of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) may not be ready for the
vaccine distribution challenges”.
While all eyes - and hopes - are on the Covid-19 vaccine, we must also ensure that
we do not overlook the other important treatment programmes that must continue.
The supply chains and professionals responsible for the distribution of life-saving
drugs to fight HIV, malaria and tuberculosis are already under immense pressure
and the critical work that they do cannot be compromised. Youth capacity building
and skills development to build a pipeline of new talent and enhance the
performance of healthcare supply chains is a priority for SAPICS and our partners.
SAPICS is a Coalition member of People that Deliver - a global initiative that aims
to improve health outcomes by promoting sustainable workforce excellence in
health supply chain management. A partnership between SAPICS and the
International Association of Public Health Logisticians (IAPHL) was established in
2020 to promote professionalism and community in South African public health
supply chains with the objective of improving the availability of healthcare supplies
and life-saving medicines including the Covid-19 vaccine.
When the vaccine arrives in South Africa, the quality of our supply chain
professionals could mean the difference between life and death," Mpane concludes.
5
