...biggest challenge and their biggest opportunity. Retailers who can adapt to change can make intelligent, fast decisions; find new markets to exploit; and constantly improve their products, services, and operations. But retailers don’t have a switch to flip that turns them into supersmart, super-adaptable businesses. Hoping to find that switch, they often turn to technology, looking for some magic to help them navigate a changing business environment. However, technology by itself is not the solution. Any discussion about generating a positive impact for the business should first center on how to empower people with effective solutions that deliver results. A “connected retailer” not only leverages a flexible, economical technology platform that drives results, but also focuses primarily on its greatest asset: people empowered by the right solutions to act on the right information at the right time. To enable your organization’s people assets to extend their potential through the use of software, Microsoft delivers agile and adaptive solutions for business process automation (BPA). BPA solutions provide the tools, technologies, and infrastructure to automate complex business processes end to end in order to help increase competitive advantage and deliver tremendous value and visibility to your business, customers, and trading partners. This enables you to: • Increase personal and organizational productivity. By automating business policies and best practices, removing manual tasks,...
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...International Energy Agency’s ambitious BLUE MAP scenario published in Energy Technology Perspectives 2008. Under this scenario, world greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are halved. By the end of the century, it is conceivable that global energy needs could be supplied mainly from renewable sources, although their contribution would vary from one region to another. Research and development (R&D) has a vital role to play if the potential of renewable energy is to be fully exploited. Policy measures, such as taxes, cap and trade schemes, obligations and feed-in tariffs, which take into account environmental impacts and, in particular, the social cost of carbon dioxide emissions, will contribute to faster deployment. However, investment in R&D will not be delivered by market signals alone; extensive support at the national and international levels is needed to accelerate the development of renewable technologies. R&D targeted at different stages of the innovation chain will yield benefits in the short-term (up to five years), medium-term (5–15 years); and in the longer term (15 years plus). R&D with a short-term focus is needed to improve technologies that are already technically proven. More mature technologies include wind energy and the standard silicon-based conversion of solar energy to electricity in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Strong industries are already associated with these technologies and government deployment measures in several...
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...Student: Instructor: Class: Date: New Technology Enterprise Resource Planning In a bid to grow in the next five years, GBI manufacturing company can benefit by implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. ERP is management software that is compatible with any business need. ERP is essentially software that integrates all the facets of an organization in terms of receiving, processing, storage and management of data from every stage of a business operation. This business management software enables the assimilation of all the functions of an organization such as planning, manufacturing, sales, marketing, procurement, human resource and finance (Practices, Implementation Best 38-45). Advantages of ERP ERP business management software offers a myriad of benefits. These include: Integration of business operations The basic advantage of enterprise resource planning software is the integration of various business processes in a single platform thereby saving the company millions of money. This software saves money to the company as all the company’s transactions are linked in a single system. As such, fewer computers and their appliances are used. Again, the software utilizes a single server. As a result, the company saves a lot of money through reduced energy operational costs (Yang, Song & Seddon n.p.). As this software utilizes a limited number of machines perhaps one or two per department, the company saves a lot in terms of staff needed to operate the computers...
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...equipments, color printers and video and networking products. * In 1993, it was a $1.3 billion manufacturer and a worldwide leader in oscilloscopes with a more than twice the market share of its largest competitor. * It was the number one manufacturer of televisions, measuring and monitoring equipment and color printers. * multiplicity of application systems and no uniformity in technologies in its offices around the world. The Inefficient shipping schedule was inefficient because of problems with inventory. * Errors in order management. * NOo system to measure performance metrics and obtain customer information. * The technologies used were old and redundant technologies. * Inefficient financial administration, operations and profitability analysis was inefficient. 2. The Key Business Objectives: * Replace the legacy systems, do away with the need of manual coordination, * Implement improved information technology for fast and error free customer and organizational information, * Achieve integration in functioning across divisions and countries by creating a common template for various services, * Standardize processes, streamline their financial system, and create a functional order management system 3. Challenges and Solutions during Implementation Challenges Solutions Evaluating the different alternatives available and assessing their needs | Team of 2 people spent 2 months...
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...ERP Systems, Redefining Supply Chain Management Abstract In past years, ERP systems have been proven to be invaluable to manufacturers by reducing cost structures, improving transparency, and increasing the speed by which business processes get performed. These improvements have led to improved customer satisfactions and company profitability. With globalization of the supply chain, will ERP systems continue to help organizations maintain a competitive edge? ERP Systems Redefining Supply Chain Management Past As consumers, we are all playing, an active part in the end goal of the supply chain process. Every product that is purchased, either for business or personal use, has been subjected to supply chain process in one form or another. Some processes have worked better than others, and improvements are being made continuously in an effort to improve product development, manufacturing, delivery, and sales. Organizations who implement information systems benefit through improvements in increased revenue while consumers benefit through lower cost. The supply chains can become very complex. They encompass every company that contributes to every aspect of particular product or service before reaching the consumer. This includes, manufacturing parts for the products, assembly, delivery, and sales. In effect, practically every product that reaches the end users represents the combined effort of multiple organizations. Supply chain management actively manages the supply chain...
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...[pic] Working Paper on future RFID Research Needs September 2007 Participating EU-funded R&D Projects in CERP: |Acronym |Name of Project |Contact / email | |AMI-4-SME |Ambient Intelligence Technology for Systemic Innovation |Harald Sundmaeker, ATB, Germany | | |in Manufacturing SMEs |Sundmaeker@atb-bremmen.de | |BRIDGE |Building Radio Frequency Identification in the Global |Henri Barthel, GS1 | | |Environment |henri.barthel@gs1.org | |CE-RFID |Coordinating European Efforts for Promoting the European |Dr. Gerd Wolfram, METRO Group, Germany | | |Value Chain |gerd.wolfram@mgi.de | |CoBIs |Collaborative Business Items |Stephan Haller, SAP, Switzerland | | | |stephan.haller@sap.com | |Dynamite |Dynamic Decisions in Maintenance |Kenneth...
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...The emergence of personal computers and the internet has helped change the physician workplace and the ease in which information is stored and utilized (Beaver, 2003). The last two decades have been periods of significant change as the health systems have increased in efficiency, decreased costs, increased the quality of care and improved channels of communication. Comparison between a current physician office and 20 years ago The Obama administration placed health reforms in place that have neccesitateed change of physician operations today. Health organizations can now purchase health insurance over the internet. Many health care providers are diverting their attention towards concierge and urgent care services in order to serve the rising demand for health services. Concierge care and critical care organizations have led to the integration of HCIS and improved quality, patient-centered care, assurance standards, easier reimbursement and easier control of costs (Koutsouris & Lazakidou, 2014). Urgent care is defined as offering ambulatory services outside the confines of a hospital. 80% of health organizations in the country today use technology for clinical systems while the other 20% have placed measures in place to do in the coming years (Koutsouris & Lazakidou, 2014). Concierge health care providers have incorporated the use of telemedicine in their operations, and it has been able to increase patient participation and compliance because it is convenient and cheap in cost...
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...of lean supply chain management ESD.61J / 16.852J: Integrating the Lean Enterprise Page 2 © Deborah Nightingale, 2005 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Theory: Lean Represents a “Hybrid” Approach to Organizing Interfirm Relationships • “Markets” (Armʼs Length): Lower production costs, higher coordination costs • • • Firm buys (all) inputs from outside specialized suppliers Inputs are highly standardized; no transaction-specific assets Prices serve as sole coordination mechanism • “Hierarchies” (Vertical Integration): Higher production costs, lower coordination costs • • Firm produces required inputs in-house (in the extreme, all inputs) Inputs are highly customized, involve high transaction costs or dedicated investments, and require close coordination • “Lean” (Hybrid): Lowest production and coordination costs; economically most efficient choice-- new model • • • Firm buys both customized & standardized inputs Customized inputs often involve dedicated investments Partnerships & strategic alliances provide collaborative advantage Dominant conventional approach: Vertical integration, armʼs length relationships with suppliers ESD.61J / 16.852J: Integrating the Lean Enterprise Page 3 © Deborah Nightingale, 2005 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lean Supply...
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...Conclusion 16 Ford Motor Company Executive Summary As director of Supply Chain Systems, Teri Takai recommends implementing virtual integration strategies from companies like Dell to portions of Ford’s supply chain strategy. Although there are several key differences between the companies, the restructuring plans of Ford 2000 have set a viable foundation to implement Dell’s virtual integration strategy in inventory management, customer service and support and suppliers’ management. The redesign of the process must include design not only of the supply chain but also of fulfillment, forecasting, purchasing, and a variety of other functions that historically been considered independently within the Ford hierarchy. Teri believes that implementing virtual integration by building on Ford’s key initiatives and projects including Ford Production Systems (FPS), Order to Delivery (OTD) and Ford Retail Network (FRN) that are currently underway will make their supply chain run more smoothly with less bottlenecking, reduced inventory, and better overall performance. Managers could overcome the complex and inaccurate manual process of forecasting and procuring parts which would result in reduced OTD lessen costs and enhance customer satisfaction. Further improved Supply Chain management will improve Supply Chain responsiveness and increase shareholder value to keep investors interested in the company. Ford Motor Company...
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...Technology in Education Integration of technology into the educational system gives assurance of quality results and client satisfaction in the education sector. Technology provides the leeway to improved learning and teaching in schools. It is a tool that helps learners and educators to accomplish their goals at a reduced cost. Technology serves as an enabler in teaching and learning to simulate, visualize, and interact with scientific structures, models, and processes. It also facilitates and assists in the authentication and prioritization of internet materials, consequently providing a forum where teachers, parents and students can interact anytime and anywhere (Abuhmaih, 2011). Technology lies at the core of modern education system. Its roles in the sector are in tandem with the changes in the society. It provides a new definition of education, enabling stakeholders and participants to acquire quality and cost effective education system. In addition, technology creates a new platform for learning where students can easily access and manipulate learning resources. Nonetheless, technology in education may be destructive to the learners if not properly utilized. It can distract learners’ attention and focus. Learners should practice self-discipline and self-motivation, especially where one uses technology for distance learning. It can also be costly in terms of acquisition and installation costs. Technology does not confine learning to computers and computing environment...
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...Confidential 2 November 14, 2013 Agenda § Quick Overview of Banner XE § Planning for the Banner XE Applications § Plan Technology Upgrades § § § § Database Extension Identity Management Hardware and Deployment Extensibility § Plan Skill Set Development § How we can help § For More Information . . . Proprietary and Confidential 3 November 14, 2013 Quick Overview of Banner XE From Horizon to Banner XE 2009 2010 2011 2012 Selected Java stack Shared vision and built initial platform/ integration Shared roadmaps Delivered Course Catalog Class Schedule XE Roadmaps Proprietary and Confidential Faculty Grade Event Mgmt Attendance Alpha I 5 November 14, 2013 Key Benefits of Banner XE Part of a Broader Strategy Functionally Rich Improved Usability Standards-based Architecture Optimized Delivery Extensibility Architecture and Tools Proprietary and Confidential November 14, 2013 Part of a Broader Strategy Banner XE Adheres to Ellucian XE Principals § Evolutionary path from Banner 8 to new common architecture § Standards-based, Open, Modern and Flexible § Default patterns and design models: Model View Controller, Data Context and Interaction, REST § Client-side technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript § Server-side technologies: Groovy, Java, Grails § HE Domain specific: IMS LIS, PESC, SPEEDE § Trend away from proprietary...
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...------------------------------------------------- Executive Summary As director of Supply Chain Systems, Teri Takai recommends implementing virtual integration strategies from companies like Dell to portions of Ford’s supply chain strategy. Although there are several key differences between the companies, the restructuring plans of Ford 2000 have set a viable foundation to implement Dell’s virtual integration strategy in inventory management, customer service and support and suppliers’ management. The redesign of the process must include design not only of the supply chain but also of fulfillment, forecasting, purchasing, and a variety of other functions that historically been considered independently within the Ford hierarchy. Teri believes that implementing virtual integration by building on Ford’s key initiatives and projects including Ford Production Systems (FPS), Order to Delivery (OTD) and Ford Retail Network (FRN) that are currently underway will make their supply chain run more smoothly with less bottlenecking, reduced inventory, and better overall performance. Managers could overcome the complex and inaccurate manual process of forecasting and procuring parts which would result in reduced OTD lessen costs and enhance customer satisfaction. Further improved Supply Chain management will improve Supply Chain responsiveness and increase shareholder value to keep investors interested in the company. ------------------------------------------------- Introduction ...
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...process to achieve reduced lead times and improved quality and cost by the integration of design and manufacturing activities and by maximizing parallelism in working practices’’. Another definition by Winner et al is “Concurrent engineering is a systematic approach to the integrated, concurrent design of products and their related processes, including manufacture and support. This approach is intended to cause the developers, from the outset, to consider all elements of the product life cycle from conception through disposal, including quality, cost, schedule, and user requirements’’. Within the last decade, response to change was one of the pressures facing manufacturers due to high competition and this required a presence of concurrent engineering. New materials, development in technology, innovation in products are involved in the used process. Quality and time are two of the most important elements people in the marketplace concentrate on. There is a pressure of completing the project with high quality with limit of time. To response to the demands of customers and in order to survive in the marketplace, it is very important to introduce concurrent engineering. In the context of the construction industry, the above definition, can be modified thus: ‘‘Concurrent engineering attempts to optimize the design of the project and its construction process to achieve reduced lead times, and improved quality and cost by the integration of design, fabrication, construction and erection...
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...1 INTRODUCTION PROTON BEHARD is a Malaysian car manufacturing company that was established by the government in 1983. The objective behind the creation of the car company was to aid the attainment of the country’s goal of becoming an industrialized nation through a fortified car manufacturing industries. The country also had the intention of acquiring improved technology and industrial skills through the new manufacturing field which in turn is believed will fortify the status of Malaysia as an industrial Nation Vision The vision of proton is stated thus “to become Asia’s premier automotive brand; a brand that connects with people and provides products which become life companions”. This will be achieved through; • Ensure quality as the Number One work ethics in all operations • Establish an effective and efficient Quality System based on the requirements of ISO9001:2008 standards • Provide adequate skills and knowledge to all levels of personnel through systematic and structured training programmes • Provide a culture and environment of continuous learning, improvement and innovation towards total quality excellence • Provide a conducive, safe and healthy working environment in which people like to work and prosper. 1.1 Performance and challenges For twenty five years Proton has provided Malaysians with a number of award winning models and presently they have the largest factory in the South East Asia region with respectable statute. The company which has grown...
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...Business Operations In My Organization: Strategies for Achieving Competitive Advantage Lionel Bryan Small Walden University Business Operations in Your Organization: Strategies for Achieving Competitive Advantage Introduction This Praxis paper focuses on four areas that can improve Royal Dutch Shell Group’s (Shell) ability to be more competitive with other integrated oil majors in the global supply chain. Shell’s goal is to be “the world’s most competitive and innovative energy company” (Shell 2013). First, the macro-processes involved in the supply chain of Shell are introduced. Forecasting techniques were researched to see how these can be applied to demand management in Shell. Third, business process integration was investigated to improve the supply chain in Shell. Finally, operations and production strategy was synthesized to respond to the changing demands in the modern global environment. Discussion The Macro-processes Involved in the Supply Chain of Shell Company Chosen and the Reason. The company I chose for this assignment is Shell. The key reason is I work for Shell. I have access to global supply chain managers who will help with this assignment. I contribute to the planning operations in the global supply chain. My contribution is the production of petroleum liquids for refinery processing. Gas produced is sold directly to customers as fuel. I believe a lot was learned during the review and analysis of Shell’s global supply chain. Shell’s...
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