Merloni Business Analysis

1491 Words3 Pages

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Merloni Company was created in 1930 by Aristide Merloni. After the Second World War Merloni started to expand their range of products, and in the 60s and 70s Merloni was already the biggest producer of high quality domestic appliances, operating in both, Italy and Europe.

At some point in the 70s, the company became Merloni Group formed by four subsidiaries. Merloni Progetti for industrial projects; Merloni Igienico Sanitari for bath and heating products; Merloni Casa for built-in kitchen and bath furniture; and Merloni Electtrodomestici for domestic appliances. The latter is the subsidiary with the biggest percentage of consolidated sales.

COSTS AND BENEFITS OF MERLONI’S CURRENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

When analysing the actual distribution model, we find out several faults. Firstly, the inventory management is much decentralized and there are few formal replenishment methods. The regional warehouses managers just define the stock goals and call central warehouse daily with a list of restocking needs. This lack of control can lead to an excess of stock, creating a higher inventory cost, or to a situation of stock out. When the latter happens, regional warehouse manager must order the required product from central warehouse and in order to compensate costumers he offers a discount of 4.000lires per piece.

We also realized that transportation costs are particularly high because every finished good, no matter where it came from, must be taken to the central warehouse and just afterwards it is sent to a regional warehouse. However, in some cases the products are just “travelling” across Italy creating useless transportations costs. For example, a dishwasher produced in Bonferraro goes to the central warehou...

... middle of paper ...

...uld invest in training programs.

Having an alternative mean of transporting the products available in cases of predictable storm situations or other problems with the trucks. For instance by airplane, or ship (only applicable to long distances).

Besides this contingency plans there are some changes that we recommend to the integrated distribution system of Merloni’s:

In order to reduce transportation costs we recommend the creation of another central warehouse strategically located. Far from Fabriano and near a region with high demand.

The sales manager should be responsible for all sale process.

Despite we do not have enough information to make such an important decision, Merloni should consider outsourcing for the transportation of the products.

Open Document