In your opinion, do you think it is a good idea to sell goods to consumers and  receive payment before they pay suppliers? Justify your stance by discussing at  least 2 key points.

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
6th Edition
ISBN:9781285869681
Author:Robert M. Monczka, Robert B. Handfield, Larry C. Giunipero, James L. Patterson
Publisher:Robert M. Monczka, Robert B. Handfield, Larry C. Giunipero, James L. Patterson
ChapterC: Cases
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 5.1SC: Scenario 3 Ben Gibson, the purchasing manager at Coastal Products, was reviewing purchasing...
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Costco also employs a just-in-time inventory management system, which includes sharing data 
directly with many of its largest suppliers. Companies like Kimberly-Clark calculate re-order points 
in real time and send new inventory, as needed, to replenish store shelves. Costco also works to 
redesign product packaging to squeeze more bulky goods onto trucks and shelves, reducing the 
number of orders Costco needs to place with suppliers.
Occasionally, the company leverages its 75 million square feet of warehouse space to reduce 
purchasing costs. For example, when Procter & Gamble recently announced a 6% price increase for 
its paper goods, Costco bought 258 truckloads of paper towels at the old rate and stored them 
using available capacity in its distribution centers and warehouses.
These inventory management techniques have allowed Costco to succeed in tough times while 
others have failed. Costco turns its inventory nearly 12 times a year, far more often than other 
retailers. With many suppliers agreeing to be paid 30 days after delivery, Costco often sells many 
of its goods before it even has to pay for them!
Inventory management is important because materials costs often account for more than 40% of 
total costs of manufacturing companies and more than 70% of total costs in merchandising 
companies.


In your opinion, do you think it is a good idea to sell goods to consumers and 
receive payment before they pay suppliers? Justify your stance by discussing at 
least 2 key points.

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