Supply Chain Management: The Heart of Industry Over the past two decades there has been a rapid growth and need for individuals who specialize in Supply Chain Management (SCM). SCM is the central planning of all industrial work and is the logistical motor that keeps the manufacturing world running efficiently; keeping a company's goods and services in constant supply to their customers: “A fundamental element of any business strategy is the supply chain process or strategy to deliver goods and services to the consumer” (Thomas, 2010). SCM requires a disciplined understanding and the use of fields such as economics, computer systems information and marketing. There is a great difference between a company that has an efficient SCM system with one company that has an inefficient supply chain affecting a company's entire resources from labor productivity to consumer loyalty. According to Rhonda R. Lummus (1990) "Interest in supply chain management has steadily increased since the 1980s when firms saw the benefits of collaborative relationships within and beyond their own organization" (p.11). Supply chain management is the brain-trust of any business strategy and when an effective model is put in place the benefits are shared by consumer and producer alike. “What is supply chain management?” Before we can answer this question one has to understand that the basic tenants of SCM is to have managers whom have skills and competencies (Gammelgaard, 1998). What is meant by skills and competencies? While all good and successful employees and workers are skilled and competent, SCM requires that theses skills cover general, context-independent knowledge (Gammelgaard, 1998). When one researches SCM one soon discovers that it is connected w... ... middle of paper ... ...M, over the past few years, has proven itself as a major staple in the running of a business. There is a high demand for the skills that organize a company according to function and communication. The job skill sets are encompassing of many different disciplines and has one major goal: To streamline an organizations model in order to bring better and more effective service and goods to the consumer. The main purpose of a company's existence is initially to make a profit, but eventually, that goal transforms into maximization of profit, and it is here, that supply chain management becomes indispensable for a company, as we have seen with the example of Hewlett Packard. It requires experience know-how in order to treat many of the real world problems in an increasingly shrinking world and to make it look-like it was smooth and flawless in the eyes of the customer.
On the same note, it is well acknowledged that the competitiveness of any organization fundamentally depends on the workforce. Indeed, the workforce is recognized as the heart or living organism of any organization including hotels. It goes without saying that there is minimum likelihood that a restaurant where workers operate in unsafe conditions or are mistreated will offer services and products of the highest quality. Scholars note that employees always desire to work in institutions or restaurants that have high standards of integrity and strive to do the appropriate thing (Fox & Vorley, 2004 pp. 33). This is especially so for the new generation workforce, as well as in attracting the best talent in the industry. A reputation for responsibility and integrity has been recognized as crucial in motivating, as well as recruiting staff especially considering that individuals care about the principles and values that their employers wish to uphold. Scholars note that operating voluntarily to high ethical standards pertaining to environment and social responsibility can result in competitive advantage (Schlegelmilch et al, 2004, pp. pp 254). Customers and civil society groups have been increasingly vigilant in determining whether there is an ethical lapse in the manner in which employees are treated within the supply chain of any organization (Fox & Vorley, 2004 pp. 33). In fact, they have been pressurizing restaurants and other business entities to cut ties with any organization in their supply chain that is not ethical in its treatment of employees. Scholars note that the impression that a restaurant or business entity would create in terms of public relations both on the stakeholders and the customers is highly dependent on the ac...
Now referring to Blue Bell Company, the shift in supply occurs when they decide to recall all their products and re-evaluate it. Blue bell will more than likely increase the price of the remaining items in the market. This is the result of consumers still providing a high amount of demand for ice cream even though there is less to supply. This theory can be accurately applied to this situation because there is no other solution that they can do to combat the consumers’ need of ice cream. For example, if they do continue to sell at the same price, soon they will not be able to produce as much as consumers want thus eliminating the good from the market.
WISNER, J.D., TAN, K. and LEONG, G.K., 2009. Principles of supply chain management : a balanced approach / Joel D. Wisner, Keah-Choon Tan, G. Keong Leong. Mason, OH : South-Western Cengage Learning, 2009; 2nd ed. pp 111-113,262
In order to succeed, managers have to realize that they cannot do it alone and they must work together on a daily basis with the whole organizations in their supply chains. Because supply chain management involves all functions within an organization, managers need to know what a supply chain is, why it is important, and the impact of supply chain management on the success and profitability of their organization. Today, Wal-Mart topped the list of the America’s biggest companies on the Fortune 500 list, “with sales of almost $345 billion — more than a quarter of a trillion dollars” (Forbs). Wal-Mart’s supply chain management is becoming recognized as a core competitive strategy.
The Home Depot Supply Chain Management model is based on integrated inventory management through a centralized network of 20 distribution centers, called Rapid Deployment Centers (RDCs) and three Direct Fulfillment Centers (DFCs) aimed at the e-commerce market (Bond, 2015). Orders are processed and managed to meet current and forecasted demands, sent to the regional RDCs, which service approximately 100 stores each, and sent to retail outlets to meet stock requirements (Bond, 2015). Direct Fulfillment Centers are e-commerce distribution systems. Home Depot delivers within a two-day timeframe to 90% of US based customers, and the system also leverages in store stock for same day pick-up (Bond,
Before we start, we would like to briefly introduce the definitions of Supply Chain and Supply Chain Management (SCM).
Based on the information provided in the case there were a few viable options in regards to expanding the business. However, many of them were resolved within the case. Fortunately enough, there were a few ends left untied specifically related to Zappos’ supply chain. In their supply chain they dealt with many inefficiencies that go beyond their organization.
Supply chain management is basically refers to the fundamental supply chain analysis of the organization which predominantly describes functionalities from source to the delivery point. In this process of delivery, supply chain management framework divides in four categories: In Planning the products and suppliers evaluated and selected, Sourcing pull the information process including contracting, ordering and expediting, Moving is a physical process from suppliers to end user and Paying is the financial process including payment and performance measurement.
‘Supply chain management integrates supply and demand management within and across companies. It encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion, and all logistics management activities. Importantly, it also includes coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, thir- party service providers, and customers’. (Web: Council for Supply Chain Management Pr...
This article adds value to the class by going into detail and providing examples of every pitfall the supply chain management can encounter, by doing so, it makes it easier to understand and visually how the supply chain management works. The supply chain management has various parts to it, and it can be hard to understand, but after reading this article and having so many different examples of situations, I see all the opportunities that come from pitfalls and I am aware of all the problems that can happen in order to avoid making them.
Supply chain management has been defined as that process that involves the management of information, materials, and all the finances that are handled within and across the entire supply chain process (Christopher, 2016). The management is usually done through out the entire supply chain management from that moment when the suppliers are involved through all the manufacturing activities, different distribution activities, and the way that the products are served to the final product consumer (Turban, et al., 2002). The process also includes all the activities that different organizations offers to their customers as after sale services for purposes perfecting their services and products towards their highly valued customers (Christopher,
Today’s organizations are faced with increasing levels of global competition, customer’s demanding value for their money and high stakeholders expectations on investment returns. Gattorna (2003), notes that firms are now pursuing supply chain management as a strategy to competitive advantage. Firms in a supply chain relate, transact, and partner on different levels; from product design and development to product delivery. Through supply chain management a firm pursues value creation through timely product delivery, cost management, inventory control and customer service (Beamon, 1999).They do so individually or through synergies formed with other organizations to increase customer service
The key performance drivers of Supply Chain Management (SCM) are - facility effectiveness, inventory effectiveness, transportation effectiveness, information effectiveness, sourcing effectiveness, pricing effectiveness, delivery effectiveness, quality effectiveness and service effectiveness. These drivers include various performance markers that may be measured quantitatively by gathering information and applying them in SPSS. The works here may principally be quantitative with spellbinding measurable investigation. In the current world, practical supply chain management to help the triple primary concern, (nature, domain, and economy) is likewise included in the extent of supply chain performance drivers. This is relatively a quite new research region.
As an Industrial Engineer with more than 15 years of work experience, I choose Supply Chain Management (SCM) because I believe that logistics is the most dynamic, vibrant, challenging, technology driven area, and the future of any big national and international companies. It will give me the opportunity to know behind the scene of improving the companies’ performance by using SCM tools. If I work in this field, I can get my answers and a chance to work in the market of raw material, purchasing, production, distribution, logistics, and final goods. After finishing two semesters in the College of Business at University of Houston Downtown (UHD), I am really passionate about it and want to gain my knowledge in the logistics sector, learn new techniques and skills, and seek new opportunities.
Coyle, J., Langley, C., Gibson, B., Novack, R. and Bardi, E. (2008).Supply Chain Management: A Logistics Perspective. 8th ed. Cengage Learning, p.366.