...Practicum Strategic Sourcing at Whirlpool China Q1. Whirlpool’s Global Sourcing Strategy (GSS) in China had many advantages as well as disadvantages. As the case explains, China had become one of the world’s largest household appliance makers, and relocation of Whirlpool’s Asian HQ to Shanghai helped the company’s products gain acceptance within the market. Furthermore, setting up an international procurement office in Shanghai helped to eliminate various factors that could make global sourcing a difficult process. Whirlpools Shanghai HQ decreased transportation delays and cultural and language differences and supported the company’s own manufacturing operations in Asia. Other advantages to global sourcing in China include: reducing capital investments, gaining market share, focusing on core competencies, and increasing flexibility in production. Although China may provide a cost advantage in regards to raw materials, disadvantages occurred in areas such as quality, reliability, a lack of capable service providers, and inadequacies in transportation and IT infrastructures. Q2. When it came to potential suppliers, Whirlpool set their standards high. In order to be considered a supplier of Whirlpool, quality requirements set forth by the Whirlpool Supplier Quality System had to be met. Most suppliers in China, however, found difficulty in reaching the minimum required score of 60/100 during the first round of audits. Whirlpool used the Sourcing Strategy Development (SSD)...
Words: 770 - Pages: 4
...Marks and later joined by Thomas Spencer in 1894 to create Marks & Spencer. The main product which produced by Marks & Spencer is clothing line and then expand to food industries. Marks & Spencer are successful because of they know how to apply the sourcing strategies within their supplier around the world. There are two types of strategies implemented by Marks & Spencer, combination of in-house and third party manufacturing for food s line and third party contracting or sourcing for clothing section. Tesco is the choice from us to compete with Marks &Spencer; Tesco had their own sourcing strategy to compete with their rival within the same industries line such as group food sourcing (GSF) and regional supply base making the right product at affordable pricing. Tesco do developed its own brand which is cheaper in price and better qualities control. The last sourcing Strategies is Sourcing global, which they have contract with the supplier around the world. The sourcing strategy for Marks and Spencer has disadvantages and advantages which affect the company performance. Lastly, we recommended enhancement in their sourcing strategy by comply with China supplier in Clothing line or green field investment in China. Company Background (Mark & Spencer) The years of Marks & Spencer established was in 1958, and it has since become an icon of quality and style. At the beginning, Marks & Spencer were trading under the St.Michael name, John Little Store was...
Words: 4197 - Pages: 17
...CHINA SOURCING GROUP: DELIVERING ON TIME China Sourcing Group (CSG) una empresa fundada en 1912 en la ciudad de Nueva York, especializada en productos de primera calidad y de regalo, y cuya base de operación se encuentra en Estados Unidos; en 2004 decide abrir una oficina de abastecimiento en Shanghai, a la cual se le dio la responsabilidad de suministrar proveedores en China y en Asia del Sur. La oficina de Shanghai estaba encargada del abastecimiento, del desarrollo de productos, auditoría y manejo de proveedores, control de calidad, y envío de productos. La mayor proporción de sus clientes eran tiendas de cadena, para las cuales usaban dos tipos de envío: importación directa (“DI”), mediante la cual los productos le llegaban directamente al cliente y se vendían apenas llegaban a EEUU; y envío interno (“DOM”), mediante el cual se enviaban los productos a los almacenes de China Sourcing Group en EEUU, y se mantenían en inventario hasta que las tiendas de cadena los requirieran. Los tiempos de entrega de la importación directa eran críticos para CSG, pues un retraso en las entregas significaba que los clientes tendrían un espacio vacío en su almacén; mientras que las entregas de envíos internos, al ser productos enviados para inventario, resultaban menos críticos. La decisión de abrir la nueva oficina permitió que China Sourcing Group, en los siguientes cuatro años, incrementara en cuatro veces sus ingresos. Sin embargo, y a pesar del gran beneficio que la oficina de Shanghai...
Words: 1344 - Pages: 6
...Latin American and Asia. Currently, Carrefour has opened over 12,500 stores all over the world, with sales in 2006 of $114.9 billion and 456,000 employees. Store Formats. Carrefour operates three store formats in China: Carrefour hypermarkets, Champion supermarkets, and Dia discounted convenience stores. Since Carrefour entered China in 1995, hypermarkets were the principal format for Carrefour expansion. Carrefour opened 150 Dia discounted convenience stores in Shanghai and 100 in Beijing in 2003 (www.carrefour.com.cn), but faces fierce competition from 7-Eleven stores from Taiwan. Carrefour would more likely to learn from and follow 7-Eleven in the convenience store niche . Store Location. China is still a country with a relative low income level and hence the mainstream power of consumption remains in large and prosperous cities and city centers. Therefore, Carrefour establishes their stores in first tier cities and also in more prosperous and business areas . Yan (2003) argues that Carrefour’s strategy of store location enables its leading position among foreign retailers. He continued to argue that the decision of selecting Shanghai as the headquarter location enabled Carrefour’s rapid strategic expansion in China, due to a better sourcing environment, transportation...
Words: 948 - Pages: 4
...Abstract preview Global Sourcing Development at IKEA – a Case Study Paper prepared for the 25th IMP conference Jens Hultman1, Susanne Hertz1, Rhona Johnsen2, Thomas Johnsen2 1: Jönköping International Business School, P.O Box 1026, SE-551 11 SWEDEN E-mail: jens.hultman@ihh.hj.se, susanne.hertz@ihh.hj.se Tel: +46 0(36) 10 10 00 2: Audencia Nantes School of Management, 8 Route de la Joneliere, BP 31222 – 44312 Nantes Cedex 3, France. E-mail: tjohnsen@audencia.com; rjohnsen@audencia.com Tel: + 33 (0)240 37 46 25 Abstract This study explores the dynamic process of global sourcing development through a case study of the Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA and its supply network concerning the PAX wardrobe system. The paper provides a synthesis of the existing global sourcing literature by dividing this growing body of research into three major themes: globalization processes and stages, motives/drivers, and organizational design and management. Moreover, the paper integrates the global sourcing literature with the established literature on the internationalization process of firms. Comparing the existing research on global sourcing and internationalization, we propose two research questions focused on: (1) the ways in which the IKEA global sourcing and supply chain development process resembles a linear stages process, and (2) the principal drivers of the development of global sourcing within IKEA. Relating the findings of the global sourcing process in the case of IKEA, the paper...
Words: 11008 - Pages: 45
...Group Structure EXPORT SOURCING The Group’s export trading arm is Li & Fung Limited – one of the largest global supply chain management companies that manages the supply chain of high-volume, time-sensitive consumer goods through its office network in more than 40 economics DISTRIBUTION The Group’s distribution businesses are housed under the integrated Distribution Services Group which provides its customers with a menu of integrated Distribution Services in three core businesses across Asia: Manufacturing, Logistics and Distribution RETAILING The Group’s retailing businesses include the publicly listed Convenience Retail Asia Ltd, the Trinity Group and privately held Toys “R” Us, with store networks extending from the China markets to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, south Korea and the Philippines Li Fung Business Trading * 100 years of trading history since 1906 * Export trading arm handles the supply chain of high volume, time-sensitive consumer goods through its worldwide office network * Around 14,000 staff * Orchestrates nearly 15,000 international suppliers in over 40 economies to service approximately 2,000 customers * Member of Hang Seng Index, MSCI Index and FTSE4Good Index * 2009 Revenue: US$13.4 billion Li & Fung specializes in orchestrating a highly-customized path through the supply chain in order to deliver high-quality, low-cost products to its customers reliably and quickly. Over 80 offices in over...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
...Li & Fung Limited Press Conference August 12, 2010 Interim Results 2010 Interim Results Highlights • Record high growth of core operating profit over a half-year period • Record high margins due to strong onshore businesses and increasing involvement in value-added services • Delivered strong operating leverage with continued cost savings • Turnover modestly improved, reflecting the effects of early stage of the economic recovery together with contributions from previous acquisitions and outsourcing deals announced acquisition of 7 companies, and signed 4 licensing deals so far this year • Entered into a landmark sourcing deal with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2010 Interim Results Highlights (HK$m) Turnover (US$m*) Total Margin % of sales Core Operating Profit % of sales Profit Attributable to Shareholders % of sales 1H 2009 46,292 5,935 5,395 11.7% 1,697 3.7% 1,397 3.0% 1H 2010 51,792 6,640 6,998 13.5% 2,635 5.1% 2,171 4.2% *USD1 = HKD7.8 Change 12% 30% 55% 55% 2010 Interim Results Per Share Data (HK Cents) 1H 2009 1H 2010 Change EPS 38.3¢ 57.5¢ 50% Interim Dividend 26.0¢ 38.0¢ 46% 2010 Interim Results Analysis--Net Profit (HK$m) In HK$m Core Operating Profit % of sales Amortization of intangible assets from acquisitions Notional Interest Net Interest (excluding notional interest) Associates Tax Minority Interest Profit attributable to shareholders % of sales Actuals 1H 2009 1H 2010 1,697 2,635 3.7% 5.1% (48) (49) (127)...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...Ethical Issues that Wal-Mart faced in India and China. Wal-Mart’s ethical business management is related to the global environment, which consists of financial markets, cultures, technologies and government policies. The market also consists of hyper competition from different countries such as China and India and regional players in the global environment. China has low cost offshore labor in the “flat world”, so that Chinese imports are so inexpensive to enter in U.S. So many factors lead most US manufactories to close the doors and eventually jobs are lost accelerate. The United States’ economic outlooks vary with regard to the global economy. In my opinion, the labor force is one of technologies in a developing country and it supports the globalization process. China as a global manufacturer and U.S. partner is a great source of world-class offshore technology services. Wal-Mart has its own external and internal stakeholders. WAL-MART Ethically wrongs its Employees * Wal-Mart executives have failed to pay workers overtime and admitted to being trained and told by their superiors to do so. One of the Wal-Mart mgr claimed that he/she has seen every Wal-Mart mgr change the hours other than the General Mgr. the 31 state lawsuits, and $50 MM class action payment in CO convincingly indicate that Wal-Mart violated the law, and in TX it was estimated that Wal-Mart cheated workers out of $150 MM. Another figure cited is that they underpaid 87,000 workers in the US by $34 MM prior...
Words: 1041 - Pages: 5
...What Should US Tech’s Sourcing Strategy be? US Tech is considering discontinue the cooperation with its primary product supplier: TaiSource. The two main reasons that drive the company for doing so are (1) reducing cost and broaden the market by collaborating with a new Chinese supplier; (2) eliminating the threat of a future strong competitor who knows almost everything about US Tech’s products. After carefully examining the entire situation, we hold that US Tech should find an alternative Chinese supplier to cooperate while keeping the relationship with TaiSource. Several aspects that US Tech needs to take into consideration are as follows: First of all, the company should carefully deal with the trusting relationship that formed between US Tech and TaiSource. Although the trusting relationship with suppliers is important, as Bruce said, we think that the exclusive and trusting supply relationship with TaiSource is vulnerable. Bruce K. Riggs argues that Greg, the chief global sourcing officer at US Tech, needs to realize that an exclusive supply relationship with TaiSource is outdated and may no longer help US Tech competitively. With hiring a new CMO, TaiSource shows a clear signal that they are willing to launch their own product in the near future. Once it decides to do that, TaiSource would be one of USTech’s biggest rivals. As Barry C. Lynn mentioned, although the relationship with TaiSource looked great on the bottom line, the result was to empower a new...
Words: 1672 - Pages: 7
...1. Introduction Founded in 1906, Li & Fung is a Hong Kong based global supply chain management group that supplies high-volume and time-sensitive consumer goods to some of the world’s leading retailers and brands (Lam, 2013). Fundamentally, the company is an international supply chain manager operating primarily in three core business areas - trading, logistics and distribution. At present, their main source of income are derived from garments and apparels, followed by non-apparel products such as ‘toys, home furnishings, sporting goods, footwear, and health and beauty products’ (Li & Fung website, 2013). Once considered as a steady blue-chip company with high dividend yield and solid earnings, Li & Fung was among one of the best performers in the Hang Seng Index (HSI) from 2007 to 2011 (Kwok, 2013). But sadly, their shares have fallen over 30% to date and is currently the second-worst performing HSI stock in 2013 (Li, 2013). With doubts over the future and the effectiveness of the company, analysts and shareholders are demanding for some new changes from the management team. Hence, the purpose of this report seeks to examine the current issues that are related within their corporate strategy. In addition, we will present a number of recommendations or changes in view of steering the company back into the right direction. 2. Key Issues 2.1. Reliance on US market and devaluation of foreign currencies From 2007 to 2011, over 90% turnover of Li & Fung is coming from...
Words: 2121 - Pages: 9
...Chapter 8 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages or using licensing as a market entry tool? Give examples of companies from different countries that use licensing as a global marketing strategy. Licensing: Advantages: • Low cost entry alternative • Allows licensor to circumvent tariffs, quotas, or similar export barriers • Limits political risk and risk of expropriation • Provides additional profitability with little initial investment • Provides method of circumventing tariffs, quotas, and other export barriers • Attractive ROI • Low costs to implement Disadvantages: • A limited form of participation; licensor generally has no control on marketing program associated with product produced under license. • Financial upside limited by royalty rate. • Licensees can become competitors. 2. The president of XYZ Manufacturing Company of Buffalo, New York, comes to you with a license offer from a company in Osaka. In return for sharing the company's patents and know-how, the Japanese company will pay a license fee of 5 percent of the ex-factory price of all products sold based on the U.S. company’s license. The president wants your advice. What would you tell him? Assuming XYZ is a small manufacturer with limited international experience, and if the picture for both market and sales (market share) potential are promising, licensing can be an attractive entry mode. Possibly entry into the Japanese market could be expedited by following this approach, especially...
Words: 3386 - Pages: 14
...Ikea Strategy in China I. Ikea strategy in China II. Comparison Supor, ASD and Ikea (regarding to cookware) Sources I. Ikea in China IKEA has been in the Chinese market for more than 10 years. Ikea is used to be perceived as having low prices, this also one of the competitive cornerstones of the whole concept of Ikea. But this is not the case in China: here the perception is a fairly exclusive western retailer, a store for the higher middle class. The company realized this and started targeting the young middle class population, which are between 25 and 35 who have relatively higher incomes than the average and a higher education than the average. They are often more open to a Westernized lifestyle, and in most instances. Targeting this segment helped IKEA project itself as an inspirational western brand. This was a huge change in strategy, as IKEA was targeting the mass market in other parts of the world. Chinese see Ikea products as innovative and not traditional. Square tables are for example not traditional (round tables are tradition) and many of the colours used are not traditional to the Chinese. The Chinese Ikea stores have a special set of tea cups for the Chinese...
Words: 962 - Pages: 4
...CHAPTER 8 IMPORTING, EXPORTING, AND SOURCING SUMMARY A company’s first business dealings outside the home country often take the form of exporting or importing. Companies should recognize the difference between export marketing and export selling. By attending trade shows and participating in trade missions, company personnel can learn a great deal about new markets. Governments use a variety of programs to support exports, including tax incentives, subsidies, and export assistance. Governments also discourage imports with a combination of tariffs and nontariff barriers. A quota is one example of a nontariff barrier. Export-related policy issues include the status of foreign sales corporations (FSCs) in the United States, Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and subsidies. Governments establish free trade zones and special economic zones to encourage investment. The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) has been adopted by most countries that are actively involved in export-import trade. Single-column tariffs are the simplest; two-column tariffs include special rates such as those available to countries with normal trade relations (NTR) status. Governments can also impose special types of duties. These include antidumping duties imposed on products whose prices government officials deem too low and countervailing duties to offset government subsidies. Key participants in the export-import process include foreign purchasing agents, export brokers, export merchants...
Words: 8210 - Pages: 33
...NAME - INTRODUCTION TO LOGISTICS * ASSIGNMENT - EVOLUTION OF PURCHASING * GROUP NO - (04) * GROUP MEMBERS - SACHINTHA SIRIWARDENE (0021) UJITH PRAMODA (0022) SANDESHA KATIPEARACHCHI () HESHAN WIJETHILAKA () GIHAN FERNANDO () NILANKA DILSHANI () CONTENT (1.0) What is purchasing? (2.0) Purchasing Process. (3.1) Recognizing a need (3.2) Identifying a Supplier (3.3) Qualifying and Placing an order (3.4) Monitoring and managing the delivery process (3.5) Evaluating the purchase and the supplier (3.0) History of Purchasing. (4.6) Origins of purchasing/Procurement (4.7) Procurement developments in ancient history. (4.0) Purchasing Goals. (5.8) Broad purchasing goals (5.9) Different purchasing goals and their priorities (5.0) Importance of purchasing for an Organization. (6.0) New Trends in purchasing. (7.10) e-Purchasing (7.11) Values of e-Purchasing (7.12) Procurement outsourcing (7.13) Values of Procurement outsourcing (7.0) Conclusion. (1.0) What is Purchasing? For most organization purchasing means buying goods to resell or carry out operations or to manufacture products. “Purchasing (Procurement) aims at anticipating requirements, sourcing and obtaining supplies into the organization and monitoring the status of supplies as...
Words: 1395 - Pages: 6
...Question: How attractive is China a business opportunity? As a member of China Policy Group, what would you recommend regarding continued sourcing from China? If you recommend continued sourcing from China, would you attach any special requirements/ propose a development road map for the work force? 1. Analysis a. Strengths i. Brand Equity & long lasting products – Customer Perception ii. Levis Global Footprints b. Weaknesses iii. Labour abuse and sweatshop culture iv. Language barrier v. Objectionable work environment vi. Oppressive regime vii. Human Rights issue c. Opportunities viii. Reduce Cost of products to capture youth market ix. Focus on product design and marketing only x. Can better respond to changing fashion trends xi. Availability of cheap raw material in abundance at doorstep xii. Least transportation cost, Cheap skilled/ unskilled labor xiii. Good communication infrastructure xiv. China a big consumer market xv. d. Threats xvi. A forced strategy to lower cost for better competition xvii. Increased lead time for worldwide customers xviii. Criticism over downsizing or job loses is expected. xix. Poor Labor Laws implementation may harm the Brand Name 2. Recommendations Keeping in mind the above mentioned points it’s highly recommended...
Words: 403 - Pages: 2