Global Supply Chain Essays (Examples)

Global Supply Chain

nalysis of mazon.com's Global Supply Chain

Date you turn this paper in nalysis of mazon.com's Global Supply Chain

mazon's supply chain management systems and processes are predicated on the synchronization of a diverse base of global suppliers, partners, logistics services companies and warehouse management systems and technologies. ll of these elements of their supply chain strategy and infrastructure are orchestrated around delivering an exceptional customer experience and streamlining the ordering process for customers globally (Lapide, 2013). mazon is consistently rated in Gartner's top 20 list of supply chains globally, as their metrics of performance reflect the company's ability to orchestrate across a broad base of suppliers globally while attaining profitability in a historically low-margin business (O'Marah, 2010). The intent of this analysis is to evaluate the key performance drivers, metrics and supply chain challenges of mazon.com. The competitive strategy of mazon.com is predicated on the precise synchronization…

Successful supply chain strategies will consider many factors besides price; such as quality, reliability, stability, how well their technology integrates as well as plethora of other strategic considerations. Therefore since many of these factors are intangible in nature it is hard to quantify and contrast alternate supply chain possibilities. For example, if a low cost leader supplier isn't able to meet deadlines consistently then the costs associated with the disruption may greatly exceed any benefits gained from a lower unit price. This type of consideration makes comparative models very difficult to develop.

6. Compare and contrast the contribution approach with the net profit approach in cost/revenue analysis.

The contribution approach separates costs into fixed and variable costs and is often used in variable pricing situations to analyze the benefits of differentiated pricing models. For example, if a firm produces a product for ten dollars and produces this product at ninety…

" Fiscal year 2007 was ended with sales worth more than $37 billion and with a total staff number of 103,000 employees.

The Ongoing Battle against Coca Cola

PepsiCo and Coca Cola's endless disputes have been organized by the specialized literature under the syntax 'cola wars'. They generally received this name due to their intensity and their continuous occurrence, but also for the not always positive effects they had upon the two players. "Intense competition between Pepsi and Coca-Cola has characterized the soft-drink industry for decades. In this chess game of giant firms, Coca-Cola ruled the soft-drink market throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. It outsold Pepsi two to one. But this was to change. Then the chess game, or "war," switched to the international arena, and it became a 'world war'." concise presentation of the PepsiCo - Coca-Cola relationships along the times could be organized under the following…

Globalization has brought about several notable positive aspects, including the widespread of technology and information, as well as better living conditions for many of the Earth's population. However, in many cases, the positive aspects were swiftly overturned by negative ones. These may come in the form of hard labor conditions in several developing countries, the proliferation of products that do not meet the required quality much faster or in worsened environment conditions. In our case, we are concerned with the precarious employment conditions that many women face working for multinationals in third world countries.

The authors of "Trading Away Our Rights: Women working in Global Supply Chains" are keen to emphasize not only the conditions women work in, both in term of contractual agreements (often non-existent) and the actual conditions in factories and fields, but also the reasons behind the multinationals' desire to solely exploit and not provide for and…

Introduction
Audi produces luxury brand sedans for consumers around the world. As the manufacturer of premium automobiles with its main production facility in Ingolstadt, Germany, but with plants in Hungary, China, Thailand and Brazil as well, the company relies upon more than 1000 suppliers throughout its global supply chain.
Selecting International Strategy
The six components of global supply chains include: strategy and alignment; supply chain assets and routing; process, procedures and systems; planning and communication; outsourcing; and people and culture. A demand-driven plan and business model derived from information retrieved in real-time is preferable and is one that Audi has developed over the years to enhance its standing in the marketplace. It has developed an adaptive and quick-footed supply chain, particularly in Ingolstadt where it uses a Just-in-Time supply deliver system. Innovation has also been key to managing the company’s success over time, with its vehicles reflecting consumer demand in…

4)

he value inherent to freight forwarding in the modern global supply chain can be stated both in terms of finances and efficiency, which ultimately has its own effect on finances and revenues, as well. hese two value elements are largely intertwined in the supply chain itself as well -- freight forwarders are better equipped to locate available shipping space at the best possible price than are individual manufacturers or even distributors (Baluch 2005). Freight forwarders essentially offer a service to both shippers and manufacturers/those in need of shipping, creating greater value for both asset-based entities in the arrangement by creating greater efficiency in the system as a whole (Baluch 2005).

5)

he seven economic drivers of transportation costs can be easily illustrated with the example of a standard laptop computer. Distance for many of these units is considerable, often requiring transport from parts of Asia to Europe and North…

Research indicates that supply chains help organizations attain competitive advantage. In turn, the successes or letdowns of such supply chains are determined in the open market by the end consumers. Rendering the fitting product, at the fitting price, at the fitting time to the consumer is not only the fundamental aspect to competitive success but also the vital element to survival (Christopher and Towill, 2001). Owing to the fact that the intricacy of supply chains in the present day, partly as a result of globalization and out-sourcing, the manner in which supply chains are structured can make a difference between an organization generating profit or loss. Different types of structures avail the management the choice to select the one that best suits consumer expectations. However, it is imperative for such chosen pipelines to go hand in hand with the business strategy of the supply chain (Christopher and Towill, 2002). In…

supply chain challenges facing the company which the chosen application addresses.

4(b) Explain how the chosen application addresses these supply chain challenges

8Q2"IT should be considered as an integral part of the supply chain re-engineering process." Discuss this statement using appropriate references from the course module. Case studies or other source material.

(a) The major supply chain challenges facing the company which the chosen application addresses.

The Levi Strauss e-business and supply chain integration

Levi Strauss is a firm that was very successful and competitive in the manufacture of denim jeans. Like several other companies, it faced a lot of competition and changes in the market conditions. This subsequently led to a decline in its sales and profitability. The company's sales were at a peak value of $1.7 billion in 1996 (Leon-Pena 85). This later declined to about $4.1 in 2002 as pointed out by Girard (Girard). The corporation realized…

supply chains continue to gain in importance as a core attribute of current and future business models across nearly every industry, the need for using IT resources more effectively in orchestrating each transportation mode becomes essential. Orchestrating supply chain processes from transaction to fulfillment provides third party logistics providers (3PLs) with the opportunity to manage and modify manual processes to gain greater performance on a consistent basis (Gilmore, 2002). In the article Global logistics solutions: A Guide to the problems Shippers face (MacDonald, 2007) the author provides an overview of how supply chains need to be managed as a strategic series of process and system assets, with specific attention paid to the orchestration of transportation modes. Four critical problems supply chains face are also discussed including a lack of supply chain visibility and forecasting, the need for continual quality improvement at the process level, more optimization of transportation network designs,…

Logistics Design Alternatives

Intermodal transportation essentially refers to the process of transporting passengers and cargo by means of multiple, inter-linked transportation modes. It capitalizes on the comparative advantage of the individual modes to bring about high productivity at considerably low freight costs. Intermodalism has gained prominence over recent years, and is currently an integral component of international trade and global supply chain management. The U.S. Penal Code (49 USC, Chapter 55, Sec 5501, 1998) presents the government's commitment towards delivering a National International Transportation System that is not only environmentally fit, but also economically efficient and in congruence with ongoing attempts geared at making the U.S. economy more competitive on the global front. According to David Collenette, the former Transport Minister of Canada, intermodal transportation is about efficiency and safety in transportation. Canada and Mexico are among America's leading trade partners; in fact, trade volumes between the three have risen…

Supply Chain

The Current State, Objective and Future Trends of isk and disruption management in supply chains

States and Trends of isk and Disruption Management in Supply Chains

After suffering for years, managers' gain ground in supporting supply and demand market of today, yet the effective assessment of managing risk as well as disruption is still an active conversation amongst project managers. Management takes a new position and arranges new strategies to support potential critical paths in product development and distribution. The supply chain is now global, thanks to the help of the internet, and thus needs active plans to support the future growth of distribution of products to a diverse and otherwise complex sociological environment. By evaluating the current state, revealing potential trends and discussing the support of potential disruptions, a better understanding for problem solving and preventative measures will ensue.

Current State

The current state of affairs for…

Supply Chain Integration

Defining Integrated Supply Chains in the 21st Century

Collaboration and the ability to orchestrate complex purchasing, procurement, quality management and fulfillment strategies typify integrated supply chains today. These lessons learned and more are found in the article, Integrated Supply Chains to be Explored (Johnson, 2007). Also alluded to in the article is the concept of having a 360 degree view of global supply chains, with the added benefit of being agile enough to adapt to business models that are changing rapidly in the marketplace (Johnson, 2007). These concepts are only a partial definition of what an integrated supply chain is in the 21st century. This paper defines in greater detail what an integrated supply chain is today, where it is going in the future, and what the key elements and challenges are to creating and successfully managing one over the long-term. Presented in the following sections is…

Supply Chain Management at Toyota

Toyota essentially follows a very simple supply chain management policy. While ensuring a reasonable level of quality, delivery time and satisfaction of customers, Toyota attempts to reduce costs in its supply chain.

Producing the right product for the market at the right price that can be affordable for the customers are the primary objectives of the supply chain management policy at Toyota at the right time. In order to maximize profits, the company follows a policy of targeting the right customer group at the right time (Liu & Brookfield, 2006).

A pictorial representation of the supply chain management policy of Toyota is listed in the appendix. The company segregates its supply chain and the suppliers. It considers the suppliers as a very integral part of the supply chain. Apart from supplying raw materials for automobile production, the suppliers are also suppliers of technology for the…

Supply chain integration has become the focus of a growing body of research in recent years, a trend that can help fill the gaps in the body of knowledge about what critical success factors characterize fully integrated supply chains and how organizations can leverage this process to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. It is important to note, though, that there is no universally accepted definition of supply chain integration nor is there a consensus concerning the types of outcomes that can be achieved using this supply chain management approach. This paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly research concerning supply chain integration, including a definition and overview of the process, a discussion of some real-world examples of supply chain integration in action and a summary of the research and important findings concerning supply chain integration in the conclusion.

Developing and Maintaining Effective Supply Chain Integration Practices…

Supply Chain Ann

Supply Chain Management Annotated Bibliography

Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2010). Supply chain management: Strategy, planning and operation (4th ed.).Upper Saddle iver, NJ: Prentice Hall

The text by Chopra & Meindl (2010) is an excellent starting point for this discussion, primarily because it serves as a rather exhaustive introductory reading on the subject. Providing academic explanation of the basic premise of supply chain management and an extensive investigation of the strategies used for maintaining and evaluating this business dimension, the Chopra & Meindl text is a highly useful primary and frequently employed reference source on the subject.

Lee, H.L. (2002). Unleashing the power of intelligence. International Commerce eview: EC Journal, 2(1), 61-73.

The above source is well-supplemented by the article from Lee (2002), which adds a discussion about technological and practical advancement to the subject. Here, Lee identifies shifts both in capability and orientation, particularly vis-a-vis the…

From this basis of trust and a
concentrated focus on streamlining processes that enable communication
between manufacturers and suppliers, technology is often introduced, albeit
selectively. It is erroneous to look at technology in the context of
supply chain management as the panacea; rather it needs to be seen as the
enabler of efficiency and inter-supply chain collaboration, quality
management, and supplier relationship management. Technology is only
applied to supply chains after the fundamental relationships and trust have
been defined, along with a culture that is unique to the collaboration
within a given supply chain. The culture that has emanated from high
quality standards that Toyota has placed on suppliers and the development
of the Toyota supplier base as a learning organization over just
transaction partners. Toyota has rigorous standards for defining their
suppliers and use technology including many forms of online collaborative
applications to further support their quality and egalitarian…

In addition, outsourcing is seen as one way of freeing HR professionals within the client organization from more mundane and time-consuming tasks so as to better concentrate on core competencies and provide a more consultative and strategic role (Cooke 186). Although the growth of HR outsourcing business has been dramatically facilitated by the introduction of innovations in information and communication technologies (ICT) throughout China in recent years, many companies also report an increasing use of e-HR in-house. For example, in some large Chinese organizations, employees are encouraged and even expected to use e-HR to update their personnel records as a cost-saving initiative (Cooke 186).

Based on the available evidence from secondary sources of data, the outsourcing of HR in general remains relatively limited in China; however, there are trends of the increasing use of external providers for their services such as recruitment and training (Cooke 186). According to the atson…

At the same time, it will provide the various subcontractors with specifications on how they can create the different parts. Once this occurs, it means that the overall process has been shortened from design to product implementation.

Identify slack in the activities not on the project critical path.

The different slack activities that are not on the projects critical path include: circuit, battery, display, camera and user interface designs. The slack in this part of the structure is 1. At the same time, other areas that would fall into categories that are not on the critical path include: hardware research and prototype testing. The slack for these areas are: 9 and 6. When you put these different elements together, this highlights, how there could be a possible slack that will range from 1 to 9 days. This is important, because it is underscoring possible delays and challenges that could be…

Supply Chain

Companies focus on speed to market for a couple of reasons. There are first-mover advantages, and in some markets like smartphones there are a lot of consumers who are early adopters, so the market is strong for products that come to the market quickly (Smith, 1999). Companies can position themselves as innovators if they are consistently first to market with new ideas. Speed to market is also reflected in firms that are not the innovators, but the followers. Following the leaders quickly is a method that can allow a company to remain competitive but with a lower level of innovation expense; following the leader slowly can leave a company with a noticeably inferior product.

Yet, there are disadvantages to the idea of speed to market. First, it is sometimes a more complex strategy. The company will need to develop an agile supply chain, and have its systems dialed…

The Japanese retail industry has intricate processes that keep demand management and inventory and production management efficient as a hybrid process that mixes automation and manual work. Given how many of the processes in the Japanese retail industry are comprised of manual and automated approaches to coordinating and communicating, it would take years for an outsider to understand how these specific processes interrelate to each other. Another factor that would significantly limit the potential of a non-apparel chain to replicate World's supply chain is the intensive coordination it allows production workers have, including their ability to create higher levels of process innovation vs. more traditional assembly line workers. Another factor is the intricate demand forecasting and aggregate demand practices World relies on. The specific approaches to forecasting for the Untitled line is also highly specific to Japanese retailing, and could not be easily imitated by outsiders, as this process builds…

Supply Chain Management

Wal-Mart is a retailer with a focus on being a low cost competitor. Supply chain management is a critical component of this, and has long been the primary focus on Wal-Mart's competitive advantage. In response to a website mocking Wal-Mart customers, one executive famously noted that Wal-Mart sells to everybody, and there are 476 billion reasons to believe that Wal-Mart's target market really is everybody (MSN Moneycentral, 2014). The company knows that it if perceived to have the lowest prices on a wide range of everyday goods, it will win a considerable amount of business. But delivering the lowest prices consistently is not easy, and this is where the supply chain comes into it.

An above-the-line initiative is basically mass media, while below the line consists of other promotional methods (Manral, 2011). In either case, Wal-Mart has a consistent message about low prices, and the supply chain…

The Helferich analysis also supports the findings of other researchers as well in the area of supply chain risk management and security. It has been found that the supply chain design characteristics of complexity of logistics and information sharing, node criticality, density of supply chain partnerships geographically and from a product perspective all influence the capacity for risk mitigation and minimization (Craighead, Blackhurst, ungtusanatham, Handfield, 2007). Simply put the greater the complexity of a supply chain and its logistics and collaboration functions the greater the need to have an agile, parallel-based supply chain and sourcing strategy in place (Stecke, Kumar, 2009). The need for an integrated framework is crucial if supply chains are able to anticipate and react quickly to disruptions, whether they are from natural disasters or acts of terrorism (Peck, 2005). The need then is for a framework that put agility ahead of formality and response times ahead…

Over the next five years, they are working on increasing this amount to as close to: 100% as possible. With the company estimating that such a move would cut logistics costs between $4 billion to $12 billion, over the course of 5 to 15 years. (Cassidy, 2010) This is significant because it shows that the ability of Wal-Mart to seek out ways to reduce logistics costs, are helping to improve the overall cost structure of the company. At which point, this allows their profit margins to increase and they can begin expanding into other areas.

Clearly, one of the biggest elements that contribute to the overall success of Wal-Mart is their ability to control costs associated with their supply chain. This is important because it underscores how Wal-Mart was able to maintain it low cost structure, despite expanding rapidly in size. Where, the elements of: the company owning / operating…

Executive Summary

This document considers the various points of correlation between human resources, management information systems, and supply chain management in relation to critical IBM concepts of managing an organization. It identifies how these three areas intersect and their long term value for organizations as a whole. Ultimately, they are vital aspects of operations in the contemporary business world.

Introduction

There are a number of eminent facets involved in the management of contemporary organizations. Encompassing a wide range of characteristics, the most notable of these pertain to information technology, resource allocation, and varying elements of procurement. Effecting competitive advantage today no longer requires simply being able to create superior products and services. Instead, there is a growing reliance on both operations and operational efficiency which influences an organization’s overall sustainability. Some of the key facets of operations include the prudent management of human resources, information systems, and supply chain. Organizations…

Lowe's Supply Chain Integration

Lowe's Companies. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina and currently employs approximately 262,000 people as of January 31, 2014, making it one of the largest home improvement retailers in North America (Lowe's Investor Relations, 2014). The company is renowned for its enterprise IT expertise, including integration of a large-scale SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system throughout its globally-based supply chain (Songini, 2002). For Lowe's, supply chain integration is essential to the successful operation of their business model, which includes home decorating products, maintenance and repair products and supplies and an extensive supply chain that provides the foundation for the company to grow its market share in the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) consumer market segment. Lowe's has found that integrating their supply chain management and execution systems across the many geographies they source from, in conjunction with integrating to the centralized ERP system, is essential to…

Third Way Supply Chain Strategy

VF Supply Chain Strategy

This paper examines VF rands global supply chain strategy as it transitioned to its "Third Way" sourcing strategy. Until 2009, VF's sourcing had followed the more traditional model that was typical of the industry. As with many other apparel companies, VF's supply chain strategy was focused on chasing low cost labor from one country to the next. The industry had evolved to the point that apparel was produced just about "everywhere on Earth," and they, like many of their competitors, had run out of new "low cost" places to source production. This situation led to the conclusion by Chris Fraser, the president of Supply Chain International for VF rands, that it was time that start finding cost savings by managing their supply chain more efficiently.

Rockford Consulting Group (2009) defines a supply chain as a stream of processes of moving goods…

ITT Supply Chain

Evaluating ITT Industries' Supply Chain

ITT Industries (NYSE:ITT) generated $2.1B in revenues during their latest full calendar year of results with a Net Income of -$130M. For the latest calendar quarter ending September 30, 2012 the company generated $555M in revenues and earned a Net Income of $73M. This transition in financial performance is attributable to several factors incouding better coordination, collaboration and integration of suppliers into their manufacturing operations, more efficient use of existing manufacturing assets, and greater use of analytics and IT systems to streamline complex processes (ITT Investor elations, 2012).

ITT's diversified operations include engineer-to-order, configure-to-order and build-to-order production strategies that have a multiplicative effect on the complexity and extent of collaboration with suppliers (Boon-itt, Himangshu, 2006). Using these product customization strategies the company competes successfully in energy, infrastructure, electronics, aerospace and transaction. Supply chain locations and their corresponding operations are tightly integrated across…

Innovation Distribution Company: A Total Cost Approach Understanding Supply Chain Risk Case

The initial purchase cost per unit paid to Dong Hai Supply is calculated as follows. The current exchange rate is 1 CNY China Yuan Renminbi = 0.14646 U.S. Dollar. As pointed out, the price per unit in Dong Hai supply is 547 ¥.

Therefore, the price per unit is 547 x 0.14646 = 80.11362.

The initial purchase cost per unit in U.S. Dollars is $80.11 (Frankel, 2013).

The average time for an order filling a TEU container to come from Dong Hai Supply in Chengdu, China to the distribution center in Alliance Fort Worth

Dong Hai Supply in Chengdu, China to the distribution center in Alliance Fort Worth

Mean

Variance

Standard Deviation

Time for processing and manufacturing order at Dong Hai

Moving Container by Rail from Chengdu to Shanghai

Loading to ship at Port of Shanghai

Pacific Ocean…

Improvement of Supply Chain Management Tools and Processes for Ultimate Strategic Achievement of Success in Military and Civil usiness

Today, both public and private sector organisations of all sizes and types are faced with the same need to optimize their supply chain management processes to the maximum extent possible in order to achieve and sustain high levels of performance and productivity. ecause supply chain management systems are frequently highly complex, it is vitally important to understand how these systems operate and what factors contribute to their successful management. Moreover, innovations in information technologies have changed the manner in which companies manage their supply chains, but these innovations have introduced yet additional management challenges. In this environment, identifying opportunities to optimize the supply chain management process represents a timely and important enterprise. To this end, this study reviews the relevant literature to provide an overview of supply chain management and the…

However, as it works in foreign production markets like China, Riordan must remain conscious of its strategy capacity for output of its product and for the input of the resources required for this product. Establishing this balance means determining the pace at which the company should import and stock fan motors as these relate to peak and slow sales peariods for the seasonal product line. This is to say that at this juncture, Riordan's priorities are in an expansionist strategy whereby it must maintain a substantial stock of the necessary resources in order to attend to a long-term effective capacity. The increased output required for an expansionist strategy means that Riordan is focused today on a design capacity that is based upon the different needs reflected in different market places. In the U.S., the 7% delay on a 93% delivery proficiency means that market demand remains ahead of supply. A…

An Overview and Explication of the Importance of Organizational Supply Chains
Although every organization has one, far too many companies of all sizes and types fail to analyze their supply chain in order to identify opportunities for reducing input, warehouse and transportation costs and optimizing the delivery of products and services to end consumers. To help determine the facts, the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of supply chains and why they are critically important for all organizations. Including a description of a value chain and the corresponding flow of structure, the type of inputs and outputs that are typically used in supply chains and a discussion concerning inventory points and forecasting. In addition, a description of sourcing activities and associated risks as well as the implications of locations and logistics are also provided. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning the importance of…

Supply Chain ManagementOne way to improve supply chain management is to onshore production. By producing goods domestically, businesses can better control the quality of their products and reduce the risk of delays due to transportation. In addition, onshoring can provide a boost to the local economy by creating jobs and supporting small businesses. Finally, businesses that produce goods domestically are less likely to be impacted by international disputes or natural disasters. While onshoring is not without its challenges, it offers a number of benefits that make it an attractive option for businesses looking to improve their supply chain management. As Optimas (2022) points out, supply chains are critical for manufacturers and distributors, but they can be convoluted and unreliableand that is especially true in times like today when supply chains are drastically impacted by war and pandemic effects.Businesses that produce goods domestically can better control the quality of their products.…

Apple Inc.

An Analysis of Apple's Manufacturing Process

hat products or services of the company are you analyzing?

Apple is one of the world's premier manufactures of a product mix consisting of electronics goods, and related software applications, in a broad range of different industry segments. The company has a global supply chain that spans the globe and markets its products in a number of different international markets.

Apple's current mission statement is "Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad (Investopedia, 2015)."

How are these products made or services provided?

The distribution channels for Apple's products depend on the…

Amazon

How is data different from information? How is information different from knowledge? How knowledge is different from experience? hat are examples of each?

Data can be thought of in different ways but one explanation is that computers dwell in data, a building block for storage and retrieval. In this analogy, information would be the aspect that is able to give data the meaning and context needed, at which point, the human process of using data and information to build knowledge which can eventually lead to the broader concept of wisdom, which represents creating principles, or patterns, from knowledge (Doyle, 2014)

The Company chosen is Amazon for the following questions.

Using a company of your choosing as an example, detail the components of their value chain? hich components comprise the primary activities? hich components comprise the support activities? hat is the extended value chain?

Amazon has grown to an online…

Supply Chain

Information technology in supply chain management

The supply chain capabilities within a resource-based framework

The supply chain capabilities

Exchange of information

Coordination

Integration of activities

Supply chain responsiveness

In this paper, we evaluate the role played by information technology in the improvement of supply chain operations. The main aim is to evaluate how information technology can be used in the achievement of a competitive advantage in regard to the supply chain operations. This is conducted in light of factors such as exchange of information, coordination, and integration of interfirm activities as well as supply chain responsiveness.

Supply chain management (SCM) a term which refers to the management of a network of businesses that are highly interconnected but are involved in the intricate process of providing products and services that are required by the end users (customers) (Harland,1996) has been heavily influenced by the advents of the internet. The…

Supply Chain Management increasingly positioned a key strategic enabler helping organisations ADD VALUE push boundaries performance" ( e-business shortens supply chain) the eport yo submit largely work-based thoughts, ideas, views, opinions words.

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management is increasingly been positioned as a key strategic enabler helping organisations to add value and push the boundaries of performance

The modern day buyers are more and more pretentious; the organisational staff members are more and more demanding; the competitive environment is more dynamic; the legislations change and the technology evolves. Virtually, the internal and external environments of the firms are in a continuous process of change and the organisational leaders have to devise a wide array of mechanisms by which to cope with the new challenges, to take advantage of their opportunities and to limit their threats.

One important tool used in this direction is represented by Supply Chain Management. The…

Question One

As for how one company can be part of both the internal and external supply chain networks, this is actually easier than it seems to be. The external supply chain refers to factors such as political, economic, technological and geographical. Internal refers to the departments and machines that go into getting items and supplies to where they go. An easy example of a situation where a company obviously and extensively touches both, one can speak about Fedex or UPS. If the supply chain of those companies is not working well, there will be obvious implications of both an internal and external supply chain nature as the consequences will relate to both getting the job done and to the political factors that come with not getting the job done properly. To use a less obvious example, a volcano erupting would create havoc for both methids since it is a…

4-4. Describe the Hierarchical and Matrix Organizational Design.

The hierarchical organizational theory has its roots in the command and control of the military institution. In such a structure, decision making and communication follow a top-down pattern. Employees are expected to respond to their supervisors. In a matrix design, employees have cross-functional responsibilities. Therefore, employees report to different supervisors in different departments such as logistics, marketing, and production (Murphy & Knemeyer, 2014).

4-10. Discuss The Reasons Why Logisticians Might Be Concerned With Theft.

Theft is a global issue affecting not only logisticians but also business owners and consumers alike. Nowadays, the sourcing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods happens in every corner of the globe just as the warehousing, shipping, and consumption of the finished goods. However, cargo theft can occur at any given point in between hence compromising product availability and integrity. Although their insurance provider may reimburse a…

transitioning of the Defense Transportation System towards complementing best practices in supply chain management efficiently and securely is a daunting task. Organizations like DTS that aid the DOD in various processes requires consistent, effective, and continual management of things like inventory and delivery. That is why examining ways to improve the supply chain must be addressed. One way to address this issue is seeing how other companies or similar organizations handle their supply chain demands. Best practices mean collection of information from organizations or companies that perform a certain task or adopt a strategy effectively.

The supply chain and supply chain management must be examined and through research into best practices of other organizations and business in relation to supply chain may yield favorable results. For example, the use of AIT technology could very well help increase automation and tracking for the DTS. Technology is a way to improve the…

al-Mart and how over the years it has managed its supply chain operations. A one of the leading successful company in the world, and ruling the Fortune 500 in 2011 and for the second year running, its success could be labeled from its continued focus on customer's needs and reducing costs through efficient supply chain management practices.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) can be defined as the running of a network of interrelated businesses with the ultimate goal of providing products and services at the required time, and as required by end/right customers and at the required time using the most efficient means. (Harland, 1996) al-Mart has been commended for doing that very well. It could also be taken to mean the process of a company design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities with the objective of creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing…

Poject Management at Boxe Pumps Limited

Poject management is a cucial undetaking in evey oganization. It implies the application of methods, pocesses, expeiences, skills and knowledge in a bid to achieve the objectives of the poject. A poject is intentional and geaed towads the achievement of cetain specifications. A poject efes to a tansient and unique endeavo that is done to meet the planned objectives. These objectives ae definitive and could be in the fom of outputs, benefits, outcomes, all with figuative measuements. While seeking to achieve these meits, the poject has to be put into diffeent sections in the fom of depatments, which will wok hand-in-hand like a system since simila objectives bind them. All the depatments have to meet the equiements that compise a poject like a scope, the costs of poduction, the time, and the quality of the pocesses and poducts. This study has exploed on the…

UU KU isk

isk is everywhere. The greatest opportunity for any organization rests in its ability to manage risk to its own advantage. The world is not that simple though, and the mysterious nature of the universe presents unknowable challenges in front of us all as we navigate through our lives and experiences. "Managing risk is the number one concern of CEOs and COOs and financial executives in North America and Europe see supply chain disruptions as the second biggest threat to their operations, " (Bidgoli, 2010). Success in any endeavor results from mindfully weighing pros and cons to find appropriate solutions that can maximize benefit. The entire journey is a narrow path, but those organizations and individuals who can navigate without fear have an opportunity to make the best of risk.

The purpose of this essay is to discuss how risk management within supply chain logistical systems can be…

Improvement at Wal-Mart Stores

How can the logistics processes be improved in your organization?

The logistic process of Wal-Mart provides results that have propelled the retail giant to the top income earning company in 2007. They are the first store to assume the first place in sales in the Fortune 500 magazine, exceeding giants in the energy sector: Chevron and Exxon Mobil; and manufacturer: General Motors. Wal-Mart's growth is based on the organizational structure established on logistic excellence, and logistics are vital. Logistics is about supply chain; having the right supply chain is no longer just an interesting opportunity. It is a survival skill. The fallacy is that Wal-Mart is in the retail business, but in reality, it is in the distribution business. Wal-Mart is obliged to bring products from the docking station to the client's doorstep in less than 72 hours and calls for the highest efficiency level in…

Home Depot and Management Tool

• Company background -- must include sales and employment data. Products or services provided. ize vs. major competition.

The Home Depot (NYE: HD) is the world's largest home improvement chain and the fourth-largest retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Founded in 1978, Home Depot has about 2,500 locations in each of the 50 states as well as in the 10 provinces of ten provinces of Canada and in Mexico and China. It also operates an online company. The company's headquarters are in Cobb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta and its CEO is Francis Blake.

Home Depot targets the do-it-yourself (DIY) and professional markets with its selection of some 40,000 items, including lumber, flooring, plumbing supplies, garden products, tools, paint, and appliances. Home Depot also offers installation services for carpeting, cabinetry, and other products. (Hoover.com)

According to Forbes.com:

The Home Depot stores sell…

GM Case Study1. How important is the IP to GM? What is the consequence if the supplier owns the IP? Why would a supplier be hesitant to share its IP with GM?GMs intellectual property (IP) is crucial to its business model (Srock et al., 2019). If a supplier owns the IP, GM would be at a disadvantageous position and may have to pay royalty fees or license the technology. This would make their products more expensive and less competitive. Additionally, the supplier may be hesitant to share its IP with GM because it could be used by GM to develop competing products.In fact, a supplier may be hesitant to share its IP with another business for a variety of reasons (Daniels et al., 2007). The supplier may believe that the other business is not capable of properly safeguarding the IP, or that the other business will use the IP to…

Supply Chain Technologies and Collaboration / Supply Chain Analysis: Coca Cola, DHL, Amazon and John Deere Company

Supply chain management implies managing the movement of services and goods. It covers raw material storage and flow, inventory of work-in-process, and movement of finished products from the point of manufacture to the consumption point (Blanchard, 2010). This paper will review four firms, namely, Coca Cola, Amazon.com, John Deere, and DHL, for understanding their respective supply chain mechanisms and collaboration.

What did you find in terms of technologies uses for the companies researched?

Coca-Cola's supply chain operations are closely linked to SAP, in the development of software for improving supply chain efficiency. Technology created as a result of this collaboration may profit all players in the beverage sector, according to market analysts. The implementation intends to impart more information to the company, at the account and store levels, for enhancing its relationship with…

Supply Chain Integration can have a direct impact on the financial status of a business (Afshan, 2013). Therefore, in order to better regulate and ensure a profit in business, it is essential to understand the complex nature of supply chain integration and how various relational aspects of the supplier-customer-company chain can be altered or attenuated to more positively impact the business's profitability. Thus this topic is an important research subject because it can enhance the future of business practices around the world.

Description

The research topic of this study is to identify the factors that influence supply chain effectiveness and enhance business profitability. This topic relevant especially today as the world teeters on the brink of a global recession. Supply chain integration and effectiveness is one aspect of a business dynamic that can, if properly understood and adjusted, save businesses from financial loss (Afshan, 2013; Amue, Ozuru, 2014; Kutner, 2009).…

Global and egional Economic Integration

With the increasing globalization of emerging economies, regional and global economic integration is expanding, generating both benefits and challenges. While seeking to sustain global and region-wide economic growth, it is important to create an integrated market for the free flow of trade and investment. Economic integration is not working for the majority of the regional and global parties. In the course of the most recent period of drastic global trade and investment, economic inequality attained its peak both regionally and internationally. According to a report by the UN Development Program, the wealthiest 20% of the global population consumes 86% of the world's resources. In contrast, the poorest 80% are argued to consume a mere 14% (Peng, 2014).

Manufacturers operating under a regional or global bloc may profit from market size (Peng, 2014). In turn, market size is a vital variable that facilitates innovation, the fixed…

Integration of Anti-Counterfeit Technology in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Organisational Background

ationale for Strategic Action Plan

Strategic Aims and Objectives

Levers and Obstacles

Analysis of Internal Capabilities -- Strengths and Weaknesses

Trends and External Forces -- Opportunities and Threats

Stakeholder Influence

Strategic Action Plan

Key Actions, Actors, and esponsibilities

Timeline and Milestones

Cost Analysis

isk and Barriers

Mechanisms to Track Progress

Organisational Background

The organization, Cure Pharmaceutical (Cure), operates in the pharmaceutical industry's drug delivery technology segment. Cure is considered a small pharmaceutical company with revenues of one hundred and fifty million. A technology designed by the firm enables patients to take medications without water. This patented Oral Thin Film Technology (OTF) is small, light and occupies much less space after packaging. The technology can be shipped in single dose form or in bulk rolls to the site of patient care. Cure's core business integrates generic drugs that are an…

Whirlpool

Whirl Pool Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management

Critical appraisal of Whirlpool's Supply Chain Management

Company Overview

Products and Services

Critical review of Operations

Contribution to business performance

System Changes

Changes in Internal Forecasting Process

usiness Performance Results

Criteria for trade Partner Fit

Competitive advantage

Critical Evaluation of System

Customer Centric-Supply Chain Management System

Collaborative Supply Chain

Whirlpool's production

Current System Changes

Planning and sourcing decisions

Planning

Sourcing

Drawbacks of Whirlpool delivery system

Inventory

Delivery

Factors for taking supply chain management decision

Figure: Supply Chain Performance factors

Gap Analysis

Strategic partnership

Integration

Reduced Cost and Inventory

Future trends in home appliances supply chain management

RFID usage

RFIDs to Individual Products

Vendor Managed Inventories

Challenges for home appliances businesses in managing supply chain

Complex features

Multiple Channels Conflicts

Short life Cycles

Conclusion

ibliography

Executive summary

Whirlpool is renowned as a global electronic appliances manufacturer and marketer. The company's products and…

role of supply chain management in the management of the product and how various concepts of supply chain management can be applied to get better results for the chosen product.

Heated crib mattress and the diaper bag with an installed camera is an innovative product and its supply chain requires a cross functional approach which includes the management of the raw materials movement into the organization, internal processes of materials and then finally delivering the goods to the final customer. The supply chain will be flexible and would focus on the core competencies of the product by reducing the costs through keeping the inventory at the minimum required level. This will increase the cost efficiency of the organization. However this is only possible if the team is able to predict the demand of the customers accurately. Daily logistics operations will be kept to minimum by increasing the number of organizations…

Product and Supply Chain

Because of globalization world economies are increasingly becoming interdependent. The global market forces have made some business enterprises more vulnerable to economic crisis. Manufacturers have to take cognizance of the fact that global food prices are soaring because of supply constrains occasioned by bad weather. Surge in interest rates for investors who depend on bonds to provide a steady yield is an aspect of global market forces. Periods of long ultra-low interest rates steadily erode these investors income. ising interest rates also erode these investors principal. obust growth in emerging markets is a boon for the entire global economy. However, it comes with a price. Soaring inflation in emerging markets is majorly caused by ultra-low interest rates and strong capital flows. This is something that manufacturers in emerging economies have to be wary of. The global economy is becoming more connected. With the complex flows of…

As is shown in the case, CCBCC begins with an intensive commitment to the initial collaborative planning phases of ensuring front end alignment with their distribution channel partners. Joint business plans ensure the company has the ability to effectively plan for spikes in demand more effectively than traditional, and less flexible means allow for. The collaborative planning phase of the CPF Model is essential for ensuring a high degree of logistics coordination and collaboration has been achieved (Bonet, 2005). The collaborative forecasting process including sales forecasting, exception management and resolving expectations, all essential for making a strategic commitment to CPF function correctly, are also evidence in the CCBCC implementation (Ireland, 2005). Finally the steps of creating and fine-tuning order forecasts, defining identifying exceptions and resolving exceptions to drive orders are also evidence in how CCBCC creates demand management workflows with the applications installed. It is very important to realize that…

Yet the author does not however delve into the more complex and potentially more valuable aspects of collaborative communication and planning processes that can lead an organization to transform its supply chain from being based on price, to be based on learning. That transformation of any supply chain is achievable, and in the context of New Zealand's manufacturing base, critical to compete in a global economy.

eferences

Michel Aldanondo, Elise Vareilles. (2008). Configuration for mass customization: how to extend product configuration towards requirements and process configuration. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 19(5), 521-535. etrieved March 2, 2009, from ABI/INFOM Global database. (Document ID: 1561310401).

Mohsen Attaran, Sharmin Attaran. (2007). Collaborative supply chain management:the most promising practice for building efficient and sustainable supply chains. Business Process Management Journal, 13(3), 390-404. etrieved March 2, 2009, from ABI/INFOM Global database. (Document ID: 1283942591).

Jane Barrett. (2007, November). Demand-Driven is an Operational Strategy. Industrial Management,…

What could Lucent do to mitigate exposure to material shortages without increasing inventory?

The strategy to mitigate exposure to material shortages without increasing inventories needs to start with their customers and their forecasts of demand for this complex, highly customized SE55 Switches. The need for creating a more accurate collaborative planning and forecasting system is critical in this regard. By having a very accurate forecast, Lucent will be able to source only the specific components required and use inventory minimization techniques including Just in Time (JIT) and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) techniques to minimize inventory risk while having a more accurate forecast from customers.

Was today's leading edge procurement effective for future environments?

Simply put, no, it is not. There is much room for improvement in this regard, specifically using the SRM strategies mentioned earlier in this paper, the need for creating a strategic sourcing initiative in Lucent, organized in…

The Black & Decker DOM system aligns with the Distributed Order Management (DOM) Hierarchical Model shown in Figure 1 as is shown in the Appendix of this study. This model conceptually illustrates how the Black & Decker supply chain, DOM, and distribution networks are integrated with each other (Johnson, 2003, et.al.).

The Data Services of Black & Decker, as defined by its customer- and shipment history databases, anchor the model, followed by Application Services, Presentation Services, and a separate Presentation Services specifically for Internal and External Constituents of the logistics provider.

The Master Data Services component is where Black & Decker 'normalizes and synchronizes data on customers, products, accounts, and suppliers is the primary building block. There are several techniques Black & Decker relies on building a system of record from database consolidation to the development of virtual objects that are a composite of various systems. egardless of the overall…

business clusters and supply chains, first supply chain must be properly defined. A supply chain comprises of all parties either indirectly or directly involved, performing actions that satisfy a customer demand. Supply chains include several parts that work together to supply the customer. The manufacturer and suppliers are in one part of the chain with retailers, transporters, warehouses, and customers being in the other end. The supply chain includes all the processes necessary to get the desired product or service into the hands of the consumer. A good example of this is milk production. The farmers involved in supplying the milk to the consumers must first deal with packagers, followed by distributors, then shippers, and finally vendors who sell the product, in this case, a carton of milk, to the consumer.

Supply chains are managed by several individuals and bodies involved in business. Utilizing the model of milk, the supply…

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Apple

Apple Inc. (previously Apple Computer, Inc.) is one of the largest American multinational companies that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. The company began in the business of personal computers but has expanded into a giant of global reach (lLinzmayer 1999). Currently, they are best known for McIntosh computers, the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. They are the proprietors of the Mac OS X operating system and the iTunes media browser. They offer the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software, iWork productivity software, and Aperture for professional photographers. Their current list of offerings is extensive and includes other applications for specific industries or uses.

Apple's current distribution system includes a chain of their own retail stores in ten different countries around the globe. They also have an online store where they hardware and software products are sold. Apple's major competition…

Managing the Supply Chain

Research an extended enterprise supply chain and identify key issues

Value driven supply chains are based on a variety of practices and assumptions. They tend to use the supply chain management to create a competitive advantage to improve a company's performance. The benefit of strategic supply chain management is seen in how an enterprise like Wal-Mart has used its supply chain to obtain an advantage over rivals. For instance, Wal-Mart excels in terms of cost and speed by erecting all domestic outlets within a day's drive of a warehouse and operating a trucking fleet. It has created economies of scale and distribution speed that peers cannot match. When K-Mart decided to compete against Wal-Mart head to head in terms of price, the sophisticated logistic system of Wal-Mart enabled it to withstand the price battle. Unfit to beat its competitor's costs and speed, K-Mart plunged into bankruptcy.…

Internal Supply Chain at a Local McDonald's

Description of the company from an Australian market perspective, the products offered in the store visited, and the supply chain in which the store operates

The Australian McDonald's corporate Web site indicates that the company opened its first restaurant in an Australian suburb in 1971 and there are currently almost 800 McDonald's restaurants throughout the country, employing approximately 85,000 people (About us 2011). Although Australian McDonald's typically feature a majority of the standard fare offered at the company's restaurants around the world, some also feature regional specialties as shown in Table 1 below.

epresentative products from a Sydney-based McDonald's restaurant

Meal

Product

Breakfast

Boston deli bagel

NYC benedict bagel

Bacon and egg McMuffin

Bakehouse brekkie roll

osti brekkie wrap

Assorted beverages

Lunch/Dinner

Hamburger/cheeseburger permutations

French fries

Baked fruit pies

McChicken sandwich

Chicken McNuggets

Filet-o-Fish

Various "combo" meals

Various family "dinner box" meals (available…