Ecommerce

The following research paper is based on The Home Depot Company, one of the largest home improvement specialty retailers in the United States. In addition, the analysis also includes supporting feedback obtained through an interview session with the Home Depot’s Operations Manager, Jaime. Jaime has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has been employed by the company for eleven years. He possesses the knowledge and skills that are necessary to administer the supply chain management process for the 605 W. Morrison Rd. location store. The Home Depot has utilized several IT technologies that have helped the company gain core competencies in supply chain management processes. They have adopted the Omni-Channel Supply

Supply chains must be managed to coordinate the inputs with the outputs in a firm to achieve the appropriate competitive priorities of the firm’s enterprise processes. The Internet offers firms an alternative to traditional methods for managing supply chains. A supply chain strategy is essential

Supply chain management is a practice that involves the planning, supervision, and implementation of strategies and controls to direct the movement of goods and services provided to customers. The intent of this essay is to incorporate a synopsis of existing literature and to provide the reader with a general understanding of how supply chain management correlates with the organizational design and structure of modern firms. The essay comprehensively reviews the components of supply chain management and their integration with functional areas within an organization. The information presented in this essay

Supply Chain Management (SCM) aims at integrating all corporate activities to improve relationships at all levels (internal operations, supplier networks, and distribution channel) to meet the competitive edge and satisfy the customer. In order to build an effective and complete business process that supports SCM, information among all business partners need to be shared. Information sharing through the Internet reduces the gap for business-to-business (B2B) commerce by enabling seamless integration with enterprise processes among partner corporations.

In this project, we will be studying Canadian Tire Auto Services’ main supply chain strategies. Canadian Tire provides many automotive services for their clients with many locations across the countries. Our goal for this project will also be to look into Canadian Tire’s logistics operations, their process of supplier selection, and evaluation. We will also look to study their use of the latest IS/IT innovations. We will then conclude our project by realizing the importance of supply chain management integration, as well as, the challenges and practices within a global supply chain.

Effective supply chain management can provide an important competitive advantage for a business marketer, resulting in improved communication and involvement among members of the chain, increased motivation, and decreased costs. Tracking the movement of and demand for components used to manufacture a product across a variety of potential and actual suppliers, provides insight and the ability to respond instantly to shortages, surpluses, and changes in market conditions. It seeks to optimize production, decrease manufacturing time, minimize inventory, streamline order fulfillment, and reduce cost.

This article is about several trends in the supply chain in the year 2012.Throughout 2012 there were evolutions in the supply chain technology due to companies' realization that a supply chain that is highly visible is necessary for success in the business climate today. Generally, IT trends like big data; cloud and mobile have greatly impacted the supply chain industry. Apart from these IT trends there are specific trends which were in the forefront in 2012.All these trends are related to various aspects of the supply chain.

With the rapid emergence and massive growth in IT sector, there is a need for the IT industry to change itself according to the upcoming challenges in the near future. When it comes to IT sector investments in supply chain management, it is considered as spring board in removing the difficulties in the industry. It is essential for the executives dealing with supply chain to reconsider the IT investment strategies, when technologies such as Cloud Computing, Web, and social media are being used widely.

While researching on line I came across an article that described the affect that the Internet is having on supply chains today. “E-enabled supply chain management is fast emerging as a core strategy that organizations worldwide are adopting for sustainable business advantage”. (4)

The concept of Supply Chain Management is based on two core ideas. The first is that practically every product that reaches an end user represents the cumulative effort of multiple organizations. These organizations are referred to collectively as the supply chain. Supply chain management, then, is the active management of supply chain activities to maximize customer value and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. It represents a conscious effort by the supply chain firms to develop and run supply chains in the most effective & efficient ways possible. Supply chain activities cover everything from product development, sourcing, production, and logistics, as well as the information systems needed to coordinate these activities.

It also highlights the contribution of IT in helping to restructure the entire distribution set up to achieve higher service levels and lower inventory and lower supply chain costs. An overview and tangible benefits of the existing IT tools that are widely deployed is also provided with focus on existing configurations considerations, available applications. The role of existing communication technologies in making IT an enabler of SCM is highlighted by addressing a range of different point and enterprise solutions in a variety of supply chain settings. Critical IT demonstrations and implementations in SCM are discussed. Fundamental changes have occurred in today 's economy. These changes alter the relationship we have with our customers, our suppliers, our business partners and our colleagues. Reflection on the evolving and

Referring to Flynn, Huo and Zhao (2008) research, they suggested supply chain integration is the process of organizations strategically collaborates with their supply chain partners and managing inter and intra organization?s processes. In addition, Prabir K. Bagchi and others (2005), claimed that ?supply chain integration is the comprehensive collaboration among supply chain network members in strategic, tactical and operational decision-making?. (Prabir L. Bagchi et al.) By reviewing these definitions, supply chain integration can be known as the collaboration of the organization and their supply chain partners by using strategic, tactical and operational management. The main purpose of applying supply chain integration is to have an efficient and effective production process of products in different, aspects, such as cost, information, and decision-making (Bowersox et al., 1999; Frohlich and Westbrook, 2001; Naylor et al., 1999 as cited in Flynn, Huo and Zhao, 2008) and aim to improve service capabilities at lower supply chain cost. (Ragatz et al, 1997, as cited in Fylnn, Huo and Zhao, 2008) Based on their papers, it suggested that firms with highly supply chain integration can be more reactive to unstable demand by higher information visibility and knowledge between organisations. Also, it also pointed out that the net costs can also be reduced through interlocking the supply chain.

3) Tata Motors had to revise many of its manufacturing processes to support digital manufacturing.

The lifeblood of any organization is its information. Suppliers, service providers, selling partners and key stakeholders all rely on an organization to execute strategies based on the latest available and best data they have. Supply chain specifically are very reliant on real-time information including supplier performance levels and quality audit results (Forslund, 2010). Enterprise-wide information systems are the backbone of any successful global enterprise (Haug, Pedersen, Arlbjørn, 2010). The ability to implement coordinated information technology across a multitude of suppliers, distributors, dealers, and sales representative organizations as is the case with General Electric for example, can make the difference between achieving profitability and product introduction dates or not (Jones, Young, 2006). The intent of this analysis is to evaluate how the skill of implementing coordinated information technologies delivers significant competitive advantage in the short- and long-run.

Supply chain management is currently an important aspect in Management Information System. So much technology and brainpower have been used to improve the performance. In this decade electronic data interchange has made the process flexible, automatic warehousing and rapid logistics. Every organizations are trying to make their supply chain management more accurate using quick response, efficient customer response, mass customization, lean and agile manufacturing. (Fisher, 1997)