Running Head: Effective and Efficient Control Systems of Wal-Mart

In addition, Metro estimated that with the increased accuracy of the cases shipped to the stores it would greatly reduce if not eliminate the need to send product back to the DC or worse, throw it out. Another beneficiary of the RFID tagging at the case level would be restocking at the stores. Due to the lag between products being received in the stock room in the mornings and the sales floor being restocked at night, the chances that the store would be under stocked were great. Using an RFID reader in conjunction with point of sale data, the store personnel would easily track inventory levels and restock more efficiently. The restocking efficiency was estimated to boost gross sales by .05% which would result in an increase in gross profit of €.05 per additional product sold.

In 2004, Target announced to their suppliers that they were going to perform a trial on the effects of radio frequency identification (which is also used at Wal-Mart) on the efficiency of supply chain management. This trial included a distribution center and ten nearby Target stores. The RFID tags were placed on the bar codes of pallets and cartons to track the goods from the suppliers to the distribution center, and from the distribution center to the stores. This system was used for five years

Without the effectiveness of control, the successes of most companies would be easily faltered. Wal-Mart, being one of the World's largest retail chains, has established itself as a global leader, and not without having a defined plan of action. Through varying efforts and countless control regulation, this retail giant has secured itself within the industry. Throughout this paper, an address will be made to the control mechanisms that Wal-Mart uses within its normal business practices. In addition, a reflection will be made on how the control functions are utilized and what measures are taken to monitor such measures within management.

RFID systems are currently being used in manufacturing plants to track parts, stay informed of work in progress, reduce product defects, increase throughput, and manage production of given products. Big name retailers such as Best Buy, Metro, Target, Albertson’s, Hewlett Packard, and Wal-Mart are leading the way in implementing RFID systems. These retailers recognize the need to improve inventory efficiency, ensure products are available to customers as needed, decrease theft, and cut down on costs associated with tracking and processing inventory.

The RFID is considered a significant improvement over the conventional barcode, which needs to be read by scanners in "line-of-sight" fashion and can be stripped away if the paper product labels get ripped or damaged. RFID can also facilitate inter-organizational E-commerce initiatives such as continuous replenishment or vendor-managed inventories (Smaros and Holmstrom, 2000).

Wal-Mart began operations in 1962 which quickly dominated the American market and then internationally by 1991 opening Sam’s Club a subsidiary company in Mexico. Within the next 10 years Wal-Mart expanded its global reach to China, Uniting Kingdom and Europe creating its global empire. Wal-Mart currently employs 2.2 million associates around the world and has over 5000 stores in America which is the

RFID data is visible and trackable across the supply chain and reduces scanning error, stockouts and the labour required to move inventory (Shin & Eksioglu 2014, p. 633). Importantly, as Concept2creation (n.d.) shows picking and scanning cartons from the cages is labour intensive and requiring audits. Alternatively, RFID transmitters on pallets and cages, can automatically be scanned upon receipt. Cartons without RFID can be placed in totes to be tracked internally (Michel 2014,

Weaknesses involve high cost per unit and high RFID system integration costs, as well as low level of RFID technology understanding in the market. Opportunities for the RFID incorporate potential for replace of the bar code, increasing end-user demand for RFID systems and market potential in various businesses. Finally, treats involve customers concerns of privacy violation. After all, using of RFID system Drugco Discount Pharmacy improves overall efficiency of the company and on the same time customers’

Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) have been used in the retail industry for more than fifty years as an inventory assessment application tracking product sales and distribution data for goods and services. Current trends of RFID for this industry have been favorable for hi-tech state-of-the-art industries, yet in the past years to 2014 device prices have fallen at an estimated average annual 5.3% primarily due to its characteristic as a "throwaway" inventory or control device. This market segment uses tags or labels, which are scanned and ultimately leave the store with the consumer, eventually disposing of the empty carton or used product. Retailer’s using this application method require multiple components and suppliers are

Wal-Mart Corporation, founded by Sam Walton, opened its doors in 1950 in Bentonville, Arkansas as Walton’s 5&10. Sam want to take advantage of the different hunting seasons that living at the corner of four states had to offer (Wal-Mart 2017). Inspired by the early success of his dime store, and driven to bring even greater opportunity and value to his customers, Sam opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962 at the age of 44 in Rogers, Arkansas (Wal-Mart 2017).

The overarching fear as it relates to RFID technology is privacy. Quite often, the RFID trackers in retail goods remain active from manufacture to the time they are disposed of or recycled. This means that if the proper

When Sam Walton founded the first Wal-Mart in 1962, the idea of bringing in a discount-shopping store into rural America was almost unheard of, except for the local five and dime stores. When Walton noticed that he had a lot of competition from regional discount chains, him and his wife Helen traveled the country to study other new retailing concepts, and were convinced that it was the wave of the future. With Walton's vision, Wal-Mart grew to be a multi-billion dollar, international company, operating about 4,600 stores around the world.

Tracking inventory is obviously one use for RFID; it 's also useful for tracking library books, and many sources discussed this aspect of the technology. On the plus side, RFID can improve user "self check-in and check out" because it 's much faster than bar code readers and can scan a lot of items simultaneously (Smart 2004, p. SS4). It 's also proven to be extremely helpful in finding lost books: California State University in Long Beach found 500 "lost" volumes that would have cost $40,000 to replace (Smart 2004, p. SS4).

RFID technology is not only used at gas stations, restaurants, and department but also at

• 1. Become familiar with RFID technology and its potential uses in Harley-Davidson’s supply chain using the information presented in this chapter and information you obtain through the Online Companion links, your favorite search engine, and your library. In about 400 words, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for Harley-Davidson of replacing its bar codes and scanners technology with RFID.