Competitive Advantages Paper
Erika Hamel
MGT/498
John Paul Warren
08-11-14

Riordan Manufacturing has a lot in common with the two companies I researched last week. Both Nike and A.O. Smith are trying to a find competitive edges to stay ahead of their competitors, and remain number one against their competition. Riorden is trying to do the same thing. They are trying to implement a tracking system that will track and manage raw material, and finished products across all plants. This will reduce their inventory costs, which in return can make their prices more attractive and cheaper for their customers. This could give them a competitive edge against their competitors. A.O. Smith is trying to create a world class supply chain that has the capability to deliver their boilers and heaters in a time efficient manner to the more than 60 countries in which they operate. This will give them the global advantage of being able to sell their products all across the world, which in return will make them a much bigger company, and increase profits. Nike also is constantly trying find ways to stay current and ahead of their competition. Nike has implemented a manufacturing index, which allows their organization to take a comprehensive look at their factories total performance, and the techniques those contract factories are using to achieve sustainability (Nike, 2012). Nike’s manufacturing index is a very effective assessment tool as it allow Nike to “elevates labor and environmental performance alongside traditional supply chain measures of quality, cost and on-time delivery” (Nike, 2012, para 4). All three of these organizations are using these strategies to cut down on costs, so they can offer more competitive prices and increase their profitability. These competitive strategies are designed to keep them ahead and more successful than their competitors.