Essay about Supply Chain and Information System

Supply chain management is essential to align the E-business information system applications that provide to incorporate the systems of commerce to streamline its value chain. The streamlining of the internal value chain combined with the external supply chain is essential for strategy of e-business that allows businesses to respond promptly to the gradually more severe demands of customers online. Tools that assist in aligning the corporate strategy are using the integration of intranets within the corporation that also extend outside the company which are called extranets. Additionally,

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

Perhaps most importantly, the Internet offers a new way of doing business. A virtual market-place where customers can, at the push of a button, select goods, place an order and pay using a secure electronic transaction.

Objectives: 1. View and record data from sample MM, 2) Create new MM for finished and semi-finished part, and raw materials.

Finally, there are those costs that are common to both global and domestic sourcing. Direct labor and materials costs, lead-time costs, transportation costs and inventory costs are a part of both domestic and offshore sourcing. Transportation costs, inventory costs, and lead-time costs tend to be higher when sourcing globally. On the

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.

Advancement of technology and globalization has changed the way companies are undertaking their business operations in the current dynamic and competitive business environment. Internet access as led to usage of technology for myriad of reasons including communication, business and education (Chaffey, 2014). The business community has been changed completely by internet. Recently, internet has become an integral part of companies as a means of carrying out business. This has led to emergence of electronic business where organizations are using internet to conduct business externally or internally. E-business makes use of internet technology to entice, satisfy and keep consumers who purchase its services and products. E-business also uses internet technology to streamline its supply chain, procurement system and manufacturing in order to deliver efficiently the right services and products to the consumers. For an e-business to be a success, various internet-enabled applications such as portals, e-commerce websites, online marketplaces, customer relationship and supply chain management (Meier and Stormer, 2009).

Question #2-Define the supply chains for the following products from the first source of raw materials to the first customer. A) Big Mac, B) Gasoline, C) Automobile repair, D) A Text book.

The Internet has been key in opening the global economy of the United States and many other developed and underdeveloped countries. Many companies are relying more on having an online presence to reach communities and individuals outside of their national scope. The internet allows for access to more information that allows different markets and business of all sizes to increase productivity, be innovative and function more efficiently. From the basics like B2B for needed materials, products and services allows for a faster collaboration to help boost sales and help the overall economic growth of varying markets. The creation of

Electronic business (e-business), the use of Internet-based computing and communications to execute both front-end and back-end business processes – has emerge as a key enabler to drive supply chain integration. As an overarching business concept, e-business has received increasing attention from academics and practitioners alike. E-business solutions in general are seeking to enhance supply chain effectiveness and efficiency through the automation of business processes. The adoption of e-business can result in benefits such as higher transparency, reduced transaction, manufacturing and other cost, reduced

Supply chain management is increasing in importance because “In today’s hypercompetitive environments in which competition is among supply chain networks rather than individual firms, firms are confronted with the need to effectively manage increasingly extending supply chain activities beyond the boundary of the firm,” (Lee, B.C., et al., 2010, p. 657). As stated previously, the broader the supply chain the more risks the company is open to. The second line of protecting the supply chain is creating strong relationships with the suppliers. The longer a company has a supplier, the stronger the relationship (Bayraktar, 2010), but to get to that point there needs to be similar: corporate and national cultures, vision, technology rate change, and quality information to share (Lee, B.C., et al., 2010). When all of these characteristics align, there is trust and open communication. Since supply chain management can be considered information sharing (Lee, B.C., et al., 2010), trust and open communication are necessary for information sharing to take place. Without trust and open communication, there is a very weak supply chain and even more vulnerability to risks. Trust and open communication are extremely important in global supply chains. Extra effort from the operations manager is needed when languages and time zones complicate communication.

Information technology (IT) has had a substantial impact on supply chains (Cachon & Fisher, 2000). IT consists of the tools used to gain awareness, analyse information and execute activities to increase supply chain efficiency (Kotzab, et al., 2003). These tools are the ‘lifeblood’ of SCM (Slack, et al., 2013). Organisations increasingly rely upon IT to improve their supply chain, however there is conflicting research that suggests it does not guarantee enhanced performance (Wu, et al., 2006).

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)

This is an in-depth study of Elemica’s existing B2B online business and the report contains the findings and its business potential of achieving a larger market share of the online supply chain management in the world. Several key factors have been considered and analyzed and a strategic plan developed to achieve Elemica’s e-Business initiative of global expansion.