Comparison of Zara and Mango stores Log Essay

The network design process is used to formulate decisions concerning various aspects of logistics networks (Croxton & Zinn, 2005). Efficient logistics networks are essential for transporting people and goods in the 21st century. In this regard, Katsioloudis (2009) advises that, "Transportation networks facilitate the movements of goods and people to markets and are essential for the prosperity of a society and the competitiveness of an economy" (p. 7). Designing a logistics network in general is a major component of successful material handling. For instance, according to Cheong, Bhatnagar and Graves (2007), "Designing a logistics network that maximizes the utilization of the transport and warehouse capacity in

Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2012). Supply chain management: Strategy, planning, and operation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Volume 7, Number 5, 2002, pp. 271 – 282;

Chase, R. B., & Jacobs, F. R. (2011). Operations and Supply Chain Management, 13e. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Logistics and supply chain management is an important aspect of a firm’s strategy for the business to achieve success by creating value throughout the logistics and supply chain. The research paper will outline the concepts that are involved in creating the logistics and supply management framework. The logistics and supply chain management strategies will drive success for the company towards fulfilling and supporting customer needs, procurement and manufacturing operations of the firm.

Logistics is the one important function in business today. No marketing, manufacturing or project execution can succeed without logistics support. 'Logistics ' is the management of the flow of resources, not only goods, between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics is one of the main functions within a company. The main targets of logistics can be divided into performance related and cost related. They are high due date reliability, short delivery times, low inventory level and high capacity utilization. But when decisions need to be made, there is always a trade off between these targets.

Chase, R., & Jacobs, F. R. (2011). Operations and Supply Chain Management (13th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Bozarth, C., & Handfield, R. (n.d.). Introduction to operations and supply chain management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

In recent years, logistics has been identified as having the potential to become the next governing element of corporate strategy to create value for customers, generate cost savings, enforce discipline in marketing efforts and extend the flexibility of production and information technology helps to improve the logistics management.

Bozarth, C.C. and Handfield, R.B. (2012). Introduction to operations and supply chain management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall

The work by (Solis & Edwards, 2010) highlights the gaps in research for this area of study. The research problem in the study is the weaknesses of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) supply chain management. The DoD supply chain weaknesses have been documented but there has been little research or discussion into a comprehensive solution. The purpose of the study was to (1) define DoD’s prior strategic planning efforts in the field of logistics, (2) highlight key elements in the new Logistics Strategic Plan, and (3) discuss opportunities for improvement in future iterations of this plan (Solis, et al., 2010). In conducting the review, the authors reviewed the Logistics Strategic Plan, compared elements in the plan with effective strategic planning strategies and met with other officials from DoD, the military services and other components of the DoD. The sample of the study was the current logistics plan of the DoD and the officials in the DoD and military. They analyzed the elements in the

The Distribution and Logistics segment is in-charge of determining the products retrieval and transportation from the storage to the retailers. These products may be transported to retailers directly, or may

(Bowersox, D.J., Closs, D.J., and Cooper, M.B. (2010). Supply Chain Logistics Management. (3rd Edition) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

The class text states that Supply chain management is frequently divided into supply chain planning applications, supply chain execution applications, logistics management, and warehouse management. Often when companies fail at implementing an efficient supply chain because of the planning section, or inaccurate demand forecasts. The text states electronic data interchange is one of the earliest uses of information technology for supply chain management, Electronic data interchange is the use of the Internet for everyday business transactions. “In this era of information a firm’s supply chain should operate at speed of thought and this is possible only by enhanced e-speed communications and information sharing with their critical partners.” (4)

We have several logistics and supply chain management practices that increase the competitive advantage of a business. They include among others lean thinking, information quality, customer relations, strategic alliance and information sharing (Elizabeth, p.14). This section discusses lean thinking and customer relations in the manufacturing and retail markets respectively. The discussion is also based on a critical analysis of recent literature review in logistics and supply chain management.