At Dell, transformational leaders are prevalent given the approach Michael Dell takes of allowing risk-taking, greater autonomy and support for decentralized decision making throughout the company (Dell Investor Relations, 2013).
Explain different supplier relationship practices you think will be an advantage to the company, providing examples.
There are many different approaches Dell takes in creating and sustaining their supplier relationships. There are supplier relationships for commodity-oriented products to entirely different ones for high-value products like microprocessors. Dell has been able to unify all of these using a common set of analytics and metrics of performance, creating a consistent approach to managing their diverse supply chain based on profitability contribution by supplier, not just price (Weisendanger, 1993).
Explain the different customer focus practices you think will be an advantage to the company including examples.
Dell is very attuned to its customers and their needs through the pervasive integration of the Sig Sigma core principles evident tin every aspect of their value chain. Dell uses the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) methodology to create a consistent customer focus in the design, engineering and production of their simplest to most complex products (Abramowich, 2008). DMAIC stresses concentrating on customer needs and requirements above all else first and this strategy has proven essential to Dell's success (AlSagheer, 2011).
TQM utilizes specific tools to resolve problems with processes. Explain one of the processes and the reason Dell is using this specific TQM tool resolve it? What conclusions did you get that improves the process?
TQM is pervasive throughout Dell and one of the most common tools they use is Control Charts of quality management throughout supplier management organization. Dell averages over 52 inventory turns a year, and this can only be accomplished by having very tight integration of supplier management TQM processes to the Control Chart level and supplier...
Control Charts give Dell insight into how they can continue to move extremely hast through inventory and stay profitable.
What are the benefits of using Six Sigma in Dell? List three benefits of using Six Sigma in Dell.
The Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) methodology pervades Dell's culture as the company strives to bring greater levels of customer needs and preferences into every product they produce. This is reflected in how well the laptops have done, earning the leading market share position in consumer segments many years in a row (Dell Investor Relations, 2013). The three benefits of standardizing on the Six Sigma for Dell include higher quality levels for their products over time, greater control over costs, and more efficient supply chain performance by having suppliers managed to a common set of metrics of performance.
References
Abramowich, E. (2008). Lean six sigma's new look. ASQ Six Sigma Forum Magazine, 7(2), 38-39.
AlSagheer, a. (2011). Six sigma for sustainability in multinational organizations. Journal of Business Case Studies, 7(3), 7-15.
Dell Investor Relations (2013). Investor Relations. Retrieved January 10, 2013 from the Dell Investor Relations and Filings with the SEC Web site:
http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/about-dell-investor
Godfrey, Blanton (2011). Perfection is possible. Quality Progress, 44(12), 8-10.
Hammonds, K.H. (2003, the new face of global competition. Fast Company,, 90-97.
Martin, J. (2004, Balancing elephants. FSB: Fortune Small Business, 14, 84-88+.
Muller, W. (1991). Gaining competitive advantage through customer satisfaction. European Management Journal, 9(2), 201-201.
Rehder, R., & Ralston, F. (1984). Total quality management: A revolutionary management philosophy. Advanced Management Journal, 49(3), 24-24.
Weisendanger, B. (1993). Benchmarking intelligence fuels management moves. The Public Relations Journal, 49(11), 20-20.
