...Collana Working Paper n. 1/2009 ENTREPRENEURIAL COUNTERINTUITIVE STRATEGIES FOR OPERATIONS AND GLOBAL SUPPLY CHIAN MANAGEMENT. A STUDY OF THE BENETTON GROUP by Daniele M. Ghezzi Entrepreneurial counterintuitivestrategies for Operations and Global Supply Chain Management. A study of the Benetton Group by Daniele M. Ghezzi CONTENTS 1 – Introduction 2 – Benetton’s operations strategy 2.1 Review of the literature 2.2 Focus on the Benetton case 3 – Benetton’s position in the supply network and a critical review of its supply chain strategy 3.1 Review of the literature 3.2 Focus on the Benetton case 4 – Conclusions References Anneexes Annex 1: Benetton Group organizational structure Annex 2: Forein production poles Annex 3: Benetton Group financial highlights Annex 4: Benetton’s Revenues brealdown Annex 5: Images of Benetton’s sorting system and distribution center 3 3 3 4 9 9 10 13 14 16 16 16 17 18 19 Il testo di questo working paper è coperto dai diritti d’autore e non può essere riprodotto, in alcuna forma, senza l’autorizzazione scritta dell’autore. In caso di citazione in altri lavori, si prega di indicarlo in bibliografia nel seguente formato: Daniele M. Ghezzi, Entrepreneurial counterintuitive strategies for Operations and Global Supply Chain Management . A study of the Benetton Group, Collana Working Paper del Centro di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo Imprenditoriale dell’Università Cattolica, n. 1/2009. Il CERSI (Centro di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo Imprenditoriale)...
Words: 5604 - Pages: 23
...PROJECT QUESTION THREE: “Develop a supply chain operations plan for a hypothetical new enterprise, based on information about real-world resources, vendors and customers. Justify the design”. COMPANY’S NAME: FLETCHER DELIVERY SERVICES (FDS) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Problems 3.0 Purpose of Supply Chain Strategy 4.0 Goals of the Company (FDS) 5.0 Strategic Vision 6.0 Strategic Mission 7.0 Corporate or Company’s Vision 8.0 Abstract 9.0 Developing a Strategic Supply Chain Operations Plan 10.0 Components of the Plan 11.0 Implementations of Defined Strategies 12.0 Avoiding Business Failures 13.0 Recognizing Organization Challenges 14.0 Conclusions 15.0 References 1.0 INTRODUCTION FLETCHER DELIVERY SERVICES (FDS) has just gone into business of parcel and package courier delivery service. Before the coming of FDS, deliveries are not on time, parcels and packages are poorly handled without proper care and the security of packages. The company needs a Supply Chain Operations Plan so as to be able to compete and even have a competitive advantage over the existing delivery companies. There is a need for putting in place, a Supply Chain Strategy that will be interactive enough as to be able to constantly evaluate all the operational components including the costs, the benefits and the trade-offs (Happek, 2005). There is going to be in place a Business Strategy (BS) for FDS that among other things, will prompt its core competencies into achieving...
Words: 2791 - Pages: 12
...The supply chain’s significance in developing an operations strategy: To get an insight in what operations strategy is all about, it is defined as "a set of competitive priorities coupled with supply chain structural and infrastructural design choices intended to create capabilities that support a set of value propositions targeted to address the needs of critical customers." (Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, 2009). A supply chain consists of multiple organizations linked together in a partnership and their overall goal is to satisfy the needs of the end customer. As the lecture notes (n.d.) points out, operations manage the activities of the entire supply chain from start to end. Because of the operations management's nature of spanning across the functional level and being integrative, it is involved in many other strategic areas. (Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, 2009). This means that strategic decisions regarding operations must reflect and involve these areas. Increasingly fierce competition and challenges like fast changing market demands and needs, demand uncertainty and decreasing product life cycle means organizations have to do things differently to stay in the game. In today’s competitive environment there is a need to excel in multiple performance objectives like flexibility, speed, cost, dependability and quality (Slack and Lewis, 2011, p.16). To cope with these challenges, an integrated approach to the supply chain is required to create a competitive...
Words: 1211 - Pages: 5
...integrating your global supply chain by recognizing the cross-functional links throughout the supply chain, from supplier to customer relationships. Integrating supply chain processes allow companies to manage relationships more effectively, which reduces cost, increases the overall internal efficiency and improves customer relationships and service. &txt2=The program's faculty include Thoma Prof. Hau Lee of Stanford University and professors Marc Sachon, Brian Subirana, and Paddy Miller of IESE Business School. The faculty will provide a holistic vision of global business operations around the world and the necessary tools to face the challenges that globalization is exerting over the supply chain. &txt3=During this three-day program you will learn about the benefits of integrating your global supply chain by recognizing the cross-functional links throughout the supply chain, from supplier to customer relationships. Integrating supply chain processes allow companies manage relationships more effectively, which reduces costs, increases overall internal efficiency and improves customer relationship and service. Customers' demands are the final drivers of your business supply chain activities. This program will give you vision for demand driven supply chains and will address the key hurdles to be overcome to effectively put into action your strategies. As Information Technology is revolutionizing the supply chain, information driven strategies provide you with greater...
Words: 1033 - Pages: 5
...‘logistics management’ and ‘supply chain management’ have the same meaning in operations and why logistics management might be of strategic importance to a manufacturing or service organisation. During last two decades, the importance of logistics has been noticed around the world. In global markets, the effects and further developments of logistics and supply chain management for corporate success has increased significantly that result in a large amount of companies have taken actual benefits in logistics, such as reducing costs, enhancing customers' satisfaction and increasing sales. However, some people are confused with the relationship between logistics and supply chain management, what logistics or logistics management is and what supply chain management is, weather or not that they are the same meaning in operations. Therefore, this essay will argue that logistics management and supply chain management are not exactly the same in operations because of the scope where utilized and some specific activities are similar, but some are different. In the end, this essay will also talk about the reasons for logistics management is a important strategy to manufacturing or service companies. The first argument is that they are not completely the same terms in operations because of the scope where utilized are different. Firstly, according to Murphy & Wood (2008), CSCMP states that the supply chain management includes all activities about planning and management, such as procurement...
Words: 1177 - Pages: 5
...Defining value chain architectures: Linking strategic value creation to operational supply chain design Matthias Holweg a, Petri Helo b,n a b Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK Department of Production, Faculty of Technology, University of Vaasa, Finland art ic l e i nf o Article history: Received 31 May 2012 Accepted 13 June 2013 Available online 28 June 2013 Keywords: Value chain Supply chain management Operations strategy a b s t r a c t Over the past three decades scholars have developed comprehensive insights into the operational and strategic aspect of designing and managing the supply chain. Reviewing this ample body of knowledge however one cannot help but notice a persistent disunion between the “value chain” view that considers aspects of value creation and appropriation, and the operational “supply chain” view that considers strategies and tools for designing and operating efficient inter-firm networks. Commonly these views do not interact: value creation has the aim of capturing the maximum value-added in financial terms, the supply chain view aims for designing operationally efficient supply chains. In contrast to their treatise within the academic literature, from a practical point of view these two aspects are both necessary (and thus in their own right insufficient) components to a firm's supply chain strategy. In this paper we thus turn to an exploratory case study to identify what such a combined view of the value and supply chain would entail...
Words: 8254 - Pages: 34
...Journal of Management and Sustainability; Vol. 4, No. 4; 2014 ISSN 1925-4725 E-ISSN 1925-4733 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Analyzing and Evaluating Critically Tesco’s Current Operations Management Shuang Zhao1 1 Business School, University of Kent, UK Correspondence: Shuang Zhao, School of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities, Tongliao, China. E-mail: honeyzhaoshuang@126.com Received: August 31, 2014 Accepted: September 20, 2014 Online Published: November 26, 2014 doi:10.5539/jms.v4n4p184 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jms.v4n4p184 Abstract This essay analyses and evaluates critically Tesco’s current operations management. The essay discusses from 3 major perspectives namely, operations strategy, operations design and operations management. Firstly, it will show an introduction. The second section will analyze Tesco’s formats and international expansion at corporate strategy level. And then, based on the customer-centric conception, it will discuss the low price policy, cost control, loyalty card strategy, supply chain management, delivery system management and inventory management at the business unit strategy level and functional strategy level. Following this, it will make a comprehensive conclusion and show the strengths and weakness of Tesco’ operations management. Finally, the article will give some appropriate recommendations to Tesco’s sustainable development. Keywords: operations strategy, operations design...
Words: 3140 - Pages: 13
...2 Value Chain Management The theoretical background is defined around the central term value chain. Chapter 2 presents research concepts to manage the value chain structured by their area of specialization either on supply, demand or values. Secondly, within an integrated framework, the results of the specialized disciplines are combined with the objective to manage sales and supply by values and volume. Value chain management is defined and positioned with respect to other authors’ definitions. A value chain management framework is established with a strategy process on the strategic level, a planning process on the tactical level and operations processes on the operational level. These management levels are detailed and interfaces between the levels are defined. Since the considered problem is a planning problem, the framework serves for structuring planning requirements as well as the model development in the following chapters. 2.1 Value Chain Value chain as a term was created by Porter (1985), pp. 33-40. A value chain “disaggregates a firm into its strategically relevant activities in order to understand the behavior of costs and the existing and potential sources of differentiation”. Porter’s value chain consists of a “set of activities that are performed to design, produce and market, deliver and support its product”. Porter distinguishes between • primary activities: inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, service in the core value...
Words: 16329 - Pages: 66
...Why study operations management? The study of operations management allows management to understand the design, managing, controlling, and improvement of business activities that provide details to the overall performance of products and services that are produced. Operations management is one of the three primary functions of a business. The other primary functions, noted by the text, are marketing and finance. 2. What is the difference between the terms “production management” and “operations management”? The production management has a focus on the physical goods produced. For example, a manager over production would be concerned if orders were not meeting customer’s quotas. Operations management has a focus on how goods and services are produced and delivered to customers. Operation managers will be concerned of adding customer value while decreasing waste or increasing costs. 3. What is the difference between operations management and supply chain management? Operations management is primary focused on the inputs and processes required to produce a service or product for a customer. On the other hand, managers over supply chains are tasked with the responsibility of getting the goods or materials to the place of production. A high emphasis on the supply chain managers is getting those raw materials to the operation at the precise time that the materials will be converted by the operation. If the delivery timing is off, an operation will face either...
Words: 2218 - Pages: 9
...In today’s competitive SCM market, it’s not so much about having the best company anymore, but more importantly who has the supply chain, and who can get the product out to meet standards of the customer? Supply chain managers are continuously faced with this major challenge from the top of their supply chain operations to the bottom. Effective supply chain management of an enterprise reduces costs, lead times, and inventories throughout the entire supply chain. Customers want the ‘perfect orders’ and expectations to reduce manufacturing costs put corporate supply chains under immense pressure. As a result, supply-chain management and infrastructure plays a significant role in organizational strategy and how a facility chooses to set up their operation. A. Analyze whether a Keiretsu network (Keiretsu: a Japanese term that describes suppliers who become part of a company coalition), a virtual company, a vertical integration, or a different supply chain strategy should be adopted. A virtual company strategy would not work for this type of operation because “vertical integration is counter to the benefits of specialization” (Heizer and Render, 2010). In this model of supply chain, the demands of more specialized products exist and there is more flexibility to waiver from centralized suppliers than Keiretsu or vertical integration offers. Much of This “fluidity” may allow for too much variability within and there is no sustainability as contracts can be short lived...
Words: 1235 - Pages: 5
...Introduction Operations management can be described as the practice of managing the operating core of a company: the activities related to creation, production, distribution, as well as delivery of the products or service of the company. It focus on controlling and managing the process to manufacture and distribute goods or services, and concern about the responsibility of ensuring operations in business process are effective in the terms of meeting customers’ satisfaction, as well as efficient in terms of consuming as little resources as necessary. The definition of operations management (OM) is the set of activities that creates value in the form of goods and services by transforming inputs to outputs (Jay Heizer & Barry Render, 2008). It is the function of managing the operating core of an organization: the activities associated with creation, production, distribution, and delivery of the organizations’ goods and service (Kashi Naresh Singh & Rajiy Kumar Srivastava, 2007). In this report, I would like to focus on three strategic decision areas of operations management: Quality, Supply chain management, as well as Inventory. 2 Problem Statement Tesco is one of the most successful retailer companies in the world, and Tesco’s operations strategy has contributed greatly to Tesco’s business processes. It is widely acknowledged Tesco’s operation management is effective and efficient in facilitating Tesco’s business strategy, however, how exactly Tesco’s operations management...
Words: 5249 - Pages: 21
...LOGISTICS is the function responsible for the flow of materials from suppliers into an organisation, through operations within the organisation, and then out to customers. Supply chain management, however, is about managing the flow of materials, components and information throughout the total pipeline from raw materials to end user, and is based on effective customer/supplier relationships to ensure quality, delivery, cost and flexibility can be improved throughout the supply chain. This integration will result in a reduction in the total cost of logistics rather than the cost of each activity. This is due to the improved flow of material and information, improved transport and warehouse asset utilisation and elimination of duplicated department efforts. Consequently this results in an improved capability to respond to customers ―Quick Response‖ needs. The goal is to improve customer service, save cost and increase revenues. to satisfy the end customer whilst achieving competitive advantage over any competitors through ensuring maximum efficiency and return. To respond more accurately to actual customer demand and keep inventory to a minimum (Pull System), leading companies have adopted a number of speed-to-market management techniques that help them to build a comprehensive supply chain structure, such as just in time (JIT), quick response (QR), efficient consumer response (ECR) and vendor managed inventory (VMI). There is a need to develop collaborative relationships...
Words: 4484 - Pages: 18
...Supply Chain Management Dr. Jayashree Dubey IPE Topics For Discussion: Defining the SCM Objective of supply Chain Functions of supply Chain Supply Chain partners Drivers Types What is SCM? SCM is a set of approaches utilized to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses and stores, so that merchandise is produced and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, at the right time, in order to minimize system wide costs while satisfying service level requirements. Chain management deals with the control of materials, information, and financial flows in a network consisting of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers” distribution centers, and retailers through which raw materials are acquired, transformed, and delivered to customers. “Supply The supply chain is a worldwide network of suppliers, factories, warehouses, What is Supply Chain Management? Cooperation between producers, processors, wholesalers, &/or retailers, to guarantee high quality &/or minimize costs Vertical Coordination includes: Strategic Alliances an agreement mutually entered into by two independent firms to serve a common strategic objective eg. Strategic alliance between pork processor and pork producer to produce pigs via certain method at certain quality (Niman Ranch) formal written contracts vertical integration Requirements for Effective SP Advanced information systems Top management...
Words: 1432 - Pages: 6
...market a line of power hand tools to guide their decisions around the supply-chain, the first order of business would be to recommend adoption of an overall supply-chain strategy. There are many different strategies to choose from. One such strategy would be to use the Many Suppliers strategy where “a supplier responds to the demands and specifications of a ‘request for quotation’, with the order usually going to the low bidder” (Heizer, J. & Render, B. 2010, p. 425). This strategy forces the suppliers into competition with one another and is not very conducive to forming long-term partnerships. Another is the Few Suppliers strategy where the goal is to form long-term relationships with suppliers. “Long-term suppliers are more likely to understand the broad objectives of the procuring firm and the end customer” (Heizer, J. & Render, B. 2010, p. 425). The potential downside for this strategy is huge cost for changing suppliers if necessary and the purchaser also has to worry about supplier performance. The strategy I would recommend for the power tool company would be the Vertical Integration strategy. The goal in using this strategy would be to ‘develop the ability to produce goods or services previously purchased or to actually buy a supplier or a distributor’ (Heizer, J. & Render, B. 2010, p. 426). Vertical Integration can also offer different strategic opportunities for the operations manager, for example substantial cost reduction, quality adherence and...
Words: 3296 - Pages: 14
...SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Supply Chain Management University of Maryland University College ITEC610 Section 1142 Semester 0809 Abstract This paper defines the concept of technology in Supply Chain Management used to promote planning, analyze and account for the operations of a supply chain business with the goal being increased profits as well as a satisfied clients. This paper will discuss how to accomplish the benefits of cost, and profits through the use of a Supply Chain Management system. A thorough examination between buyers and sellers, along with the supply chain will be evaluated. This paper will investigate and analyze the ways in which the inventory management at Wal-Mart helps in its business processes. This paper will also look into the characteristics of supply chain management, including risk-management, inventory strategies and decision-making, and customer relationship aspects. Finally, it will look at the importance of sharing data by utilizing information systems. Supply chain is a network of retailers, distributors, transporters, storage facilities and suppliers that participate in the production, delivery and sale of a product to the consumer (Kietzman, 2008). Every effort involved in producing and delivering is looked at in supply chain, from the final product supplier's supplier to the customer's customer. A Business depends on supply chain to provide them with what they need in order...
Words: 4066 - Pages: 17
