Global Integrated Supply Chain Management Essay

I enjoyed the Global Supply Chain Management Simulation (GSCM). It was exciting to be a Manager of the supply chain of a mobile phone manufacturer. I learned very quickly the pressures of running such a large operation. In this review, I will discuss lessons learned regarding conceptions shown in the simulation. I will explain how if completing the simulation again, what I would complete differently. In conclusion, I will talk about my key overall takeaways from this exercise.

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

However, our assumptions come from industry case studies, primary and secondary market research, and thorough discussions with people in different functional areas throughout B&K. Hence, the figures will be achievable with appropriate marketing plans. It is also important to conduct training sessions to franchises, as all the variables will be affected by the number of customers who use web portal. Although there will be a certain number of customers who continue to use traditional methods of ordering, given the current trend of increased IT usage, we believe it is reasonable to expect 20% of customers will be either newly added or switched to the web channel within 5 years.

By grafting its system of custom direct sales onto the Internet infrastructure, Dell has transformed these activities, creating an innovative and efficient procurement, production, and distribution network. The innovative advance made by Dell in deploying Internet communication as the foundation of its production network, is a process innovation. Although to some extent, the Internet has enabled Dell to create a new product -- a PC custom-configured through Internet communication -- it is the process of organizing flows of materials and information within its network, from customer order to procurement, production and delivery, by means of Internet communication, that defines the innovation at the Firm. The case supports this notion by stating “While most other PCs were sold preconfigured and pre-assembled in retail stores, Dell offered superior customer choice in system configuration at a deeply discounted price, due to the cost-savings associated with cutting out the retail middleman. Additionally, an important side-benefit of the Internet-based direct sales model was that it generated a wealth of market data the company used to efficiently forecast demand trends and carry out effective segmentation strategies. This data drove the company’s product development efforts and allowed Dell to profit from information on the value drivers in each of its key customer

To be even more responsiveness to the customers demand the orders can be made online by the

Over the years, the U. S. auto industry's market has been experiencing fluctuations due to many reasons including: price, quality and foreign competition. General Motors Corporation (GM) which had been the leading car and truck manufacturer had been experiencing declining market share and facing stiff competition from both U.S manufacturers and foreign imports such as the Asian auto producers that included Toyota, Honda and Nissan. The main reason for increased foreign competition was that foreign cars were more fuel efficient, smaller, less expensive, and often more reliable than their American counterparts.

Evolution of SCM started with manufacturing industry and retailers with construction industry been unable to adapt quickly but Akintoye et al, (2000); Vrijhoef and Koskela, (2000); Dainty et al (2001a) opine that many construction organizations have now realized and increase their interest in SCM concept. This approach is been used in tackling various problems associated with basic construction operations like: inadequate flow of information from the consultants to the contractor; inability to properly evaluate the risk associated with construction task; rise in price competition due to adversarial approach in material sourcing; dishonesty, environmental fear and frustration.

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 term Information Technology’s (IT) tools usage in Supply Chain Management (SCM) is defined as IT involved in improving SCM practice (Li, 2002b). Here in this study, usage of IT is especially defined as use of IT to enable activities within the organization, since this study aims to concentrate on the relationship between buyer and supplier. There are many researchers have expansively analyzed the impact of any particular types of IT tools in the SCM field (Walton & Gupta, 1999; Lee & Whang, 2001; Tarn, Yen, & Beaumont, 2002; Chalasani & Sounderpandian, 2004; Chou, Tan, & Yen, 2004; Siau & Tian, 2004; Lankford, 2004; Sanders, 2005; Sanders & Premus, 2005).

We live in interesting times. Powerful forces are re-shaping the global business scene : financial and economic upheaval in the Far East, Latin America and Russia is creating a tidal-wave of change in the competitive environment. Organisations that once felt insulated from overseas low-priced competitors now find that they too must not only continue to constantly create new value for customers, but must do so at a lower price. To meet the challenge of simultaneously reducing cost and enhancing customer value, requires a radically different approach to the way the business responds to marketplace demand. One of the keys to success is the creation of an agile supply chain on a worldwide scale.

Many complex and more diverse decisions confront supply chain managers on a regular basis: what would be more efficient to manufacture in-house or to outsource; what new channels to implement that it would benefit their customers and suppliers, or how all new technologies, platforms, and practices have to be aligned to enable real-time supply chains. Current information technology reduced outsourcing transaction costs drastically, enabled companies to an increased supervision and control over offsite work, and outsourcing services can deliver faster and more convenient, but technology alone is not the solution. If a company decides to embrace changes in business processes and business culture, those changes can support a long way toward delivering a better product for less money. Complex sphere of activities in many countries is not relevant anymore because a massive number of activities outsourced became commonplace, a new normal.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become such an integral and essential part of every day business that entire fields of major are dedicated solely to it. SCM, pioneered by Wal-Mart, has grown in the last few years to include not only the management of the physical aspects of SCM, but also the electronic components, such as the Internet and many SCM tools, for instance SAP. Inventory being held across the retail supply chain at any one time amounts to $1 trillion, according to a report by Benchmarking Partners, based on U.S. Dept. of Commerce data. The Cambridge, Mass.-based consulting firm estimates 15 percent to 20 percent of those inventories ($150 billion to $200 billion worldwide; $40

Consumers have many choices when deciding where to purchase their goods. While retailer managers are deciding how to win the consumer’s business and increase revenue, they are also constantly trying to figure out ways to reduce costs. Technology helps retail managers improve areas of inventory and supply chain management as well as customer satisfaction and loss prevention (Green, 2002). This paper explains how technology

EXISTING PROBLEMS AND WEAKNESSES IN THE CURRENT PROCESSES AND ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO BE DEVELOPED: