1. Briefly describe the business processes supported by a Supply Chain Management (SCM) information system. In a global business like Emerson what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a SCM information system? With Emerson’s many divisions using different suppliers, what would be the benefits of using a single SCM information system for all of its divisions?
2. Global companies like Emerson have suppliers, manufacturing, distribution, and retail operations. List and briefly describe the technologies and devices (used for input, output, and communication) that are used with SCM information systems. Choose two different input devices and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each. Discuss the benefits that they provide to the business?
3. Consider that you have to implement a new SCM information system for Emerson. Describe each of the different implementation options. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different implementation options. Make a recommendation and justify?
4. Modern SCM information systems and with the use of other technologies have supported businesses in improving environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions. Research and find an example. Briefly describe the system and how it works and how carbon emissions where reduced. Discuss what decision making is performed and how does the SCM information system contribute to the decision making. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to the business?
1) Supply chain management is said to support several processes like that of inventory management, order management, logistics, procurement, forecasting as well as planning, and that of return management. This is helpful for the companies operating in the current business environment to achieve as well as maintain competitive edge by enhancing their streamline as well as facilitating all operations (Special Topic Forum on Resources and Supply Chain Management, 2013). A firm may maximize cost effectiveness, enhance productivity, and provide them with increased competences in the most competitive business environment.
For modern business firms like that of the Emerson, supply chain management may prove to be immensely beneficial in numerous ways. It provides the business with a competitive advantage within the marketplace that helps in mitigating the risks related to the acquiring of raw materials as well as deliver of products or services (Bhakoo and Chan, 2011). With successful implementation of supply chain management system, the firm may reduce waste, shipping delays, and even overhead costs greatly. Some of the advantages of supply chain management upon the business firm may be enlisted as: quality assurance where the firm may improve its operation by means of effective quality techniques; inventory buffers where the supply chain management system include the level of the inventory buffer with care analysis of previous trends (Sparling, 2002). Often the concept of variability within customer spending demands for management of inventories in way which minimizes initial holding cost during generating adequate flexibility to satisfy client demands. Another advantage the system may render is risk mitigation. The system helps in organizing risks as well as assessing the potential for various failures whether internal or external. Without such a system, this mentioned firm may suffer from legal risks as well as liabilities.
Implementation of such a supply chain management system bears some disadvantages as well. The most concerning demerit is that of the heavy investment of finance, resources, and time that are required to implement as well as maintain the system (Shaikh, 2014). The decision of outsourcing of a product or service reduces the expense of business of a firm by means of supply chain management, but it can result in customer backlash. It is not enough just to consider price as well as quality, but a firm needs to make sure that every organization cooperates for benefiting the firm.
Emerson is a huge company and it has several divisions having different suppliers. If it uses a single supply chain management system for all its divisions, then the advantage is that there would be single effective information source where information would be stored in a proper manner without any commotion (Khorheh, Eslami and Davarzani, 2012). This would give the higher authority an effective control over all operations of the firm.
2) Some of the associated technologies with that of the supply chain management are Electronic Data Interchange, Workstation Collaboration, and Portals. The basic foundation for supplier collaboration refers to the capability of communication in an effective manner with all individuals as well as organizations that provide the firm with raw materials for manufacturing final products or services (Scholten, Sharkey Scott and Fynes, 2014). With increasing technological advancements within business environment, the demand for computer technologies have gone up that supports communication. Supply chain management is dependent upon the real time data flows at various levels for ensuring optimum decision process effectiveness as well as customer satisfaction. Communication at various levels at the same time needs a thorough understanding of all required decisions by specific authorities.
Software programs as well as cloud computing are useful in tracking materials as well as products with real time status updates. Computerized shipping as well as tracking, and that of electronic invoicing are integrated elements of a latest supply chain management system which is designed for keeping clients contented (Priem and Swink, 2012). It is important to involve product design coordination, creating information technological infrastructure for supporting various related operations by aligning effective strategies to enhance partnerships with suppliers. Besides, regular distribution planning is important to ensure thorough implementing steps have been followed. With successful implementation of supply chain management system, the firm may reduce waste, shipping delays, and even overhead costs greatly. Some of the advantages of supply chain management upon the business firm may be enlisted as: quality assurance where the firm may improve its operation by means of effective quality techniques; inventory buffers where the supply chain management system include the level of the inventory buffer with care analysis of previous trends.
3) There are various methods of implementation of supply chain management that are worth mentioning. These include: Assessing supply chain opportunities, customer service strategy, transaction survey, value chain mapping, communication, and train for change. Each of these ways has its own merits and demerits.
The ultimate basis to implement supply chain management system is to impart greater visibility of the supply chain process along with integrated parts. The utilization of this system gives an innovate strategy of doing business. When key objectives, project plans, and deliverables have been analyzed, the implementation process can be structured in four different phases (Special Topic Forum on Supply Chain Management in Emerging Markets: Critical Research Issues, 2013). These are build phase, test phase, training phase, and documentation phase. With successful implementation of supply chain management system, the firm may reduce waste, shipping delays, and even overhead costs greatly. Some of the advantages of supply chain management upon the business firm may be enlisted as: quality assurance where the firm may improve its operation by means of effective quality techniques; inventory buffers where the supply chain management system include the level of the inventory buffer with care analysis of previous trends.
For best recommended option for implementation of supply chain management, some of the key steps are: firstly to ensure that there is availability of potential partners within the process. This SCM concept is based on the idea of increased supply chain partners and reduced control. Hence lot of trust as well as collaboration is required for shifting the inventory in an effective manner. Secondly, constant follow up is necessary. This would keep one updated about the system so as to incorporate positive changes and control within it. Thirdly, the business need not be looked from internal view but from the external source. A business firm must perceive its internal processes from the perspective of customers. Lastly, all strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of the SCM must be considered. It is important to involve product design coordination, creating information technological infrastructure for supporting various related operations by aligning effective strategies to enhance partnerships with suppliers. Besides, regular distribution planning is important to ensure thorough implementing steps have been followed.
For ensuring all key stakeholders agree to the implementation plans, it is important for the project charter to be reviewed in detail as well as updated. A significant decision is the responsibilities of the application software vendor. He must provide consulting experts to assit the implementation.
4) Since environment concerned consumers continue to buy power for driving markets sustainably, increased number of business firms are now recognizing the increasing awareness to conduct business the most desirable yet competitive manner. An instance can be given that of Unilever and Walmart. Unilever aims at linking its product line to sustainability efforts directly which promote an increasingly healthy relationship with that of the environment as well as enhancing the communities that are normally affected by its supply chain (Lillrank, Groop and Venesmaa, 2011). On the other hand, Walmart aims are quite lofty along with several growing pains within the process. One of the greatest challenges of the company is that it needs to have a standardized manner of reporting as well as organizing data like waste management by means of network of stores. The company has been working on developing more effective tracking systems for monitoring sustainability associated objectives of supply chain that includes several retailers worldwide.
Supply chain management is dependent upon the real time data flows at various levels for ensuring optimum decision process effectiveness as well as customer satisfaction. Communication at various levels at the same time needs a thorough understanding of all required decisions by specific authorities. There are three sequenced levels of process of decision-making which are normally defined as per the planning time, strategic, operational, and tactical aspects. The strategic level, a firm sets objectives which are consistent with high level mission statement and also set strategies for achieving every objective. At this level, high level analysis is done upon how the company, business processes fit into the overall supply network (Mistry, 2005). At the tactical level, planning of supplies, forecast of demands, manufacture schedule are incorporated for ensuring effective operation of the supply chain. At the operational level, daily basis operations are managed along with short term supply chain decisions. Some instances are routing, scheduling, truck loading, etc.
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