...the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan in spring 2011 was to bring to the forefront the issues of supply chain venerability. Use the article from the Congressional Research Service for an article review. In your review, discuss how the specific situation could have implications in a broader sense. This article was a great detailed as well as a depressing topic covering the events of the earthquake and hurricane occurrence on March of 2011 at the northeast coast of Japan. This happening was the most powerful natural disaster in Japan’s modern history. Affecting the challenge for Japanese government, businesses, and societies was the resulting ruining of several nuclear reactors in the region which supplied electricity for homes and industry. Located in the disaster expanse are a number of manufacturing facilities which are vital to the global motor vehicle supply chain. These areas took a big hit which was seemed to be preventive in resolution based off the imagery and cost factors of how the end result of the hurricane and earthquake effected those critical locations. These facilities include warehouses that assemble automobiles and many suppliers which build parts and sub-components for vehicles. The effects of these disasters has been first and foremost accepted by Japanese automakers, which closed many of their assembly plants for several weeks as they evaluated their supply chain issues and impact on their essential sub-tier suppliers. Japanese motor vehicle plants in other...
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...retailers. The resources for rent include its many square feet of warehouse spaces worldwide to spare computer capacity, data storage on its disk drives and software codes written to coordinate all of the operations (Cravens& Piercy). Even though skeptics have claimed that Amazon is on the path to destruction, the organizations is focused to the big price, that one day all the investments and planning will pay off. Bezo’s’ reassures, that the company has in the past been misunderstood, which is something it is comfortable with. Amazon’s ability to innovate and to stay aware of its customers’ needs and preferences will keep them at the forefront of other competitors and retailers worldwide. Amazon is re-inventing the wheel by offering value chain options to consumers, retailers and even competitors. Its strategy is that, by offering a wide range of services, and turning itself inside out to suppliers, retailers and even competitors, it will be able to access a large customer, consumer and...
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...Abstract The paper examines the key factors influencing the adoption of e-business technology by SMEs. To this end, the paper draws on a range of literatures on the diffusion of new information and communication technologies (ICTs), many of which have hitherto been treated as separate. The reasons for this are two-fold. First, e-business technologies are the latest in a line of new ICT technologies. When exploited successfully, ICTs have increased firm competitiveness either by raising the efficiency of internal communication and organisation and/or supply chain relationships, or by facilitating the development of new/improved products and services. Second, it is hypothesised that many of the factors affecting the successful adoption of new technologies are generic in nature. With regards to SMEs specifically, consideration of earlier research may assist us in identifying a set of enablers and barriers to e-business adoption. Hence, by explicitly acknowledging the context and prior history of research in the area, we are able to map out the dimensions of future theoretical and empirical research in e-business adoption by SMEs. In addition to drawing together factors identified by existing research, the paper highlights the implications of network externalities for the timing of technology investments and the returns that accrue to early and late adopters. It also draws attention to a number of problems associated with the analytical concept of ‘the SME’ when it...
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...Inbound freight takes center stage | Page 1 Inbound freight takes center stage Ford Motor Company Case Study Inbound freight takes center stage Inbound freight takes center stage Contents Snapshot The challenge The solution The rollout Issues encountered Results Logistics finally catches up with ‘lean’ 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 Share this case study Tweet about this case study Follow Viewlocity on Twitter Share this on Linkedin Connect to Viewlocity on Linkedin Share via email Inbound freight takes center stage | Page 1 Snapshot Ford Motor Company Key challenge To balance inbound freight costs for thousands of parts across hundreds of suppliers with the high frequency of deliveries needed to support just-in-time (JIT) automobile manufacturing. Solution Ford deployed the Inbound Planning Engine from Viewlocity Technologies that considers multiple factors and constraints necessary to meet lean manufacturing requirements at the lowest possible cost. Factors considered included: • • • • • • • • Load sequencing across suppliers Quantities per load Trailer capacity Load configuration Dock schedules and capacities Production schedules Target plant inventory levels Return of part containers to suppliers Upon consideration of all of these factors, the Viewlocity Inbound Planning Engine was used to determine the plan for the right quantity and delivery frequency for every part at the lowest possible cost. The Viewlocity Inbound Planning Engine was first...
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...Global Conference Connect Once – Connect To All 2 Objectives • Industry Context • Channel Management • Channel Strategy Development • Lessons Learned August 2003 Elemica Global Conference Connect Once – Connect To All 3 Chemical Industry Valuations: Three evolutions of relative performance 2.0 High Growth Expectations Structural Revaluation Post Oil-shock Cyclical Performance Within S&P 500 Basis Discount to S&P 500 1.5 P/E Index 1.0 0.5 0.0 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 Overall Commodity Specialty S&P 500 August 2003 Elemica Global Conference Connect Once – Connect To All 4 Source: Value Line®; S&P Analyst Handbook Chemical Industry Valuations: Three evolutions of relative performance 2.0 High Growth Expectations Structural Revaluation Post Oil-shock Cyclical Performance Within S&P 500 Basis Discount to S&P 500 1.5 P/E Index 1.0 0.5 0.0 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 Overall Commodities Average Annual Sales Growth 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s Commodity Specialty Specialties Average Annual Sales Growth S&P 500 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 13% 5% -1% Trend Line (0.4%/yr) 19% 11% 7% Trend Line (0.4%/yr) August 2003 Elemica Global Conference Connect Once – Connect To All...
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...A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF A FACILITY SUPPLY DISTRIBUTOR IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by Derek Brooks B.A., Simon Fraser University, 1993 PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION In the Executive Masters of Business Program of the Faculty of Business Administration ©Derek Brooks, 2014 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2014 All rights reserved. However in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work, may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for Fair Dealing. Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, Particularly if cited appropriately. APPROVAL Name: Degree: Title of Project: Derek Brooks Master of Business Administration A Strategic Analysis of a Facility Supply Distributor in British Columbia Supervisory Committee: _____________________________________ Dr. Aidan Vining Senior Supervisor CNABS Professor of Business and Government Relations & Area Coordinator, Strategy. _______________________________________ Dr. Andrew von Nordenflycht Second Reader Associate Professor Date Approved: _______________________________________ i ABSTRACT This paper presents a business level strategic analysis of RST Corporation’s facility supply division, in British Columbia Canada. The facility supply industry is in decline. Firms find it increasingly...
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...Michael S. Dell has returned to the company as CEO and has devised a plan to bring back Dell as a market leader in this industry and to improve its stock price. Company’s Current Strategy Vision: To be the world’s leading supplier of computer systems Mission: To enable millions of businesses and consumers to get online for the first time Objectives: Improving Dell’s stock price Corporate/Business Strategy: • Outsource full system manufacturing facilities in China for retail business. • Split product design departments into commercial and consumer teams. • Listening & reaching customers, expanding and customizing their product and service portfolio • Low cost structure - drive costs out of the company’s supply chain and expand into foreign markets • Grow company in consumer, enterprise and emerging markets 1. EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 1.1. General External Environment Demographic: Global commercial and consumer markets; Wide range of income distribution among customers from individual consumers to governments and large corporations. Socio-cultural: Customers value aesthetic designs. Technological: Business liked process of having computers pre-configured to their specifications. Previously customized components have now become the standard in the consumer market. Global: Commercial and consumer markets world-wide, increasing as countries continue to industrialize....
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...decision-making than information. D) Data and information are the same. Answer: B Page Ref: 4 Objective: Learning Objective 1 Difficulty : Easy AACSB: Analytic 2) Information is A) basically the same as data. B) raw facts about transactions. C) potentially useful facts when processed in a timely manner. D) data that has been organized and processed so that it's meaningful. Answer: D Page Ref: 4 Objective: Learning Objective 1 Difficulty : Easy AACSB: Analytic 3) The value of information can best be defined as A) how useful it is to decision makers. B) the benefits produced by possessing and using the information minus the cost of producing it. C) how relevant it is. D) the extent to which it maximizes the value chain. Answer: B Page Ref: 4 Objective: Learning Objective 1 Difficulty : Moderate AACSB: Analytic 4) An accounting information system (AIS) processes ________ to provide users with ________. A) data; information B) data; transactions C) information; data D) data; benefits Answer: A Page Ref: 10 Objective: Learning Objective 1 Difficulty : Easy AACSB: Analytic 5) Information that reduces uncertainty, improves decision makers' ability to make predictions, or confirms or corrects their prior expectations, is said to be A) complete. B) relevant. C) reliable. D) timely. Answer: B Page Ref: 5 Objective: Learning Objective 1 Difficulty : Easy AACSB: Analytic 6) Information that is free from error or bias and...
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...to the store, where they’re prepared in the open kitchen behind the cashiers. You’ll see a few folks eating at the restaurant’s tables or tucking into their food outdoors on patio benches, but most customers come in with a handful of cash—no credit or debit cards, thank you—and head back out with their meals. Four is In-N-Out Burger’s innovation fulcrum—the point at which the number of products strikes the right balance between customer satisfaction and operating complexity. Four means simple purchasing, simple production, and simple service. And, it turns out, in a world where fast-food restaurants are forever adding formats and menu items, simple means harvard business review • november 2005 profitable growth. With its chain of about 200 restaurants...
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...l287/inte.l050.0187 ISSN 0092-21021 EissN 1526-551X1061360310194 @ 2006 INFORMS 3, May-June Strategic Planning Production Bernhard and Logistics, Germany, of BMW's Network Fleischmann University of Augsburg, Global of Production Department D-86135 Augsburg, Universit?tsstra?e 16, bernhard.fleischmann@wiwi.uni-augsburg.de BMW AG, D-80788 Sonja Ferber, Peter Henrich M?nchen, Germany (sonja.ferber@bmw.de, peter.henrich@bmw.de) We sites cars developed over a to the a strategic-planning planning markets. model horizon. It determines 12-year assembly, improved Key words: global and paint shop, the transparency to BMW's allocation of various optimize as well It includes the supply of materials the investments in...
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...Teva Strategy Overview February 21, 2008 Forward-Looking Statements TODAY S PRESENTATION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH EXPRESS THE CURRENT BELIEFS AND EXPECTATIONS OF MANAGEMENT. SUCH STATEMENTS INVOLVE A NUMBER OF KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE TEVA'S FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARDLOOKING STATEMENTS. IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE RISKS RELATING TO: TEVA'S ABILITY TO ACCURATELY PREDICT FUTURE MARKET CONDITIONS, TEVA'S ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE ADDITIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPETING GENERIC EQUIVALENTS, THE EXTENT TO WHICH TEVA MAY OBTAIN U.S. MARKET EXCLUSIVITY FOR CERTAIN OF ITS NEW GENERIC PRODUCTS AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT MAY PREVENT TEVA FROM UTILIZING EXCLUSIVITY PERIODS, COMPETITION FROM BRAND-NAME COMPANIES THAT ARE UNDER INCREASED PRESSURE TO COUNTER GENERIC PRODUCTS, OR COMPETITORS THAT SEEK TO DELAY THE INTRODUCTION OF GENERIC PRODUCTS, POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR SALES OF GENERIC PRODUCTS PRIOR TO A FINAL RESOLUTION OF OUTSTANDING PATENT LITIGATION, INCLUDING THAT RELATING TO THE GENERIC VERSIONS OF ALLEGRA , NEURONTIN , LOTREL , FAMVIR , AND PROTONIX , THE IMPACT OF CONSOLIDATION OF OUR DISTRIBUTORS AND CUSTOMERS, THE EFFECTS OF COMPETITION ON OUR INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY COPAXONE SALES, THE IMPACT...
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...ASSESSING METHANOL PRODUCTION IN CHINA FOR METHANEX by Gabriel Wong Bachelor in Business Administration, Simon Fraser University, 2000 PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION In the Faculty of Business Administration © Gabriel Wong, 2010 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2010 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Gabriel Wong Degree: Master of Business Administration Title of Project: Assessing Methanol Production in China for Methanex Supervisory Committee: __________________________________________ Dr. Pek-Hooi Soh Senior Supervisor Assistant Professor __________________________________________ Dr. Aidan Vining Second Reader CNABS Professor of Business and Government Relations Date Approved: __________________________________________ i ABSTRACT Methanex is the world leader in methanol production and marketing. China is an important market; by 2014 it is forecasted to account for 50% of global demand. The purpose of this project is to determine whether Methanex should invest in methanol production in China. The project approach uses a multi-goal analysis focusing on three goals: (1) Consistent with Corporate Vision, (2) Sustainment of Existing Competitive Advantages, and (3) Profitability. Based on the analysis, the...
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...IT TAKES A LEADER TO TAKE YOU PLACES. A n n u A l r e p o r t 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 Growth is… movinG from strenGth to strenGth Flamingos, known for their undeniable beauty, are also recognised as a species that stays strong by sticking together, no matter how trying the circumstances are. But for a flock to be strong, it needs an equally resilient leader to take them in the right direction. Just like Gati, the leader of the logistics industry in India. Gati Limited is India’s leader in providing Express Distribution services, Supply Chain Solutions, Cold Chain Transportation Solutions, Warehousing, International Freight Forwarding, Custom Clearance and e-Commerce Solutions. Founded in 1989 as a cargo management company, Gati pioneered Express Distribution Services in India. With a track record of 24 years, Gati is one of India’s most coveted companies, employing 3500 people, and serving over 5000 customers – including the top 10 brands in the Automotive, Healthcare, Engineering and Consumer Durables industry. Gati has a strong market presence in the Asia Pacific region and SAARC countries, with offices in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Nepal, and has plans to foray into other markets. In a Company where every employee demonstrates dedication and commitment to succeed, its little wonder that Gati is the leader, taking the industry places. values are… a force to be reckoned with Flamingos, as is ingrained in their DNAs for centuries, instinctively have values that...
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...H&M had become the global leader in the ‘fast-fashion’ segment with a distinctive business approach that challenged most competitors. The business model, commonly referred to as ‘cheap-and-chic’, emphasised high fashion at prices significantly below those of competitors, with the fundamental principle being ‘Fashion and quality at the best price’. ,H&M已经成为全球领先的“快速时尚”段与独特的业务方法,大多数竞争对手的挑战。商业模式,通常被称为“cheap-and-chic”,强调高级时装的价格明显低于竞争对手,基本原则是“时尚以最好的价格和质量”。 ‘In 2010 we stepped up our investments in order to strengthen the brand further and secure future expansion.’ “在2010年,我们加强了我们的投资是为了进一步加强品牌和安全的未来扩张。” However, Zara, the prime retail brand of Spain’s Inditex, opened 120 new outlets in China during that same year and later during the year Inditex overtook H&M to become the world’s biggest fashion retailer by market capitalisation. For the first time H&M was seriously challenged by Zara’s rapid expansion, not least because of its fast growth in emerging markets. The increased competition and the fact that margins had started to erode due to increased cotton prices and rising production costs in Asia put the H&M high-fashion/low-price formula and aggressive expansion under scrutiny. Investors had come to trust H&M’s model that relied on a set of unique resources and capabilities, but Zara’s success questioned the sustainability of the formula. 然而,Zara,西班牙的Inditex的主要零售品牌,在中国开设了120家新店在今年晚些时候在同年和Inditex取代H&M成为世界上市值最大的时装零售商。H&M首次被Zara的快速扩张严重挑战,不仅是因为其在新兴市场的快速增长。竞争加剧...
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...Nike I2 ERP Implementation Failure Case Study February 9, 2014 Shafer Minnick Morgan Correll Jeff Harvey Nike stands as the World’s leading producer of Athletic Footwear, Apparel and Equipment. As of 2013 they held complete ownership or joint venture in the following companies: Nike Brand Cole Haan Converse Hurley International Umbro Athletic Wear Nike Golf Jordan Brand This is a rather long and somewhat surprising list to many, based on some of these brands are portrayed as competitors in the daily consumer market. Nike products are sold in over 170 countries worldwide through their network of 700 retails stores. They have 38,00 Nike employees worldwide, based in those retail store, or one of 65 administrative offices or 10 plus Sales Offices or showrooms worldwide. Nike products are manufactured through a contract manufacturing partnership consisting of 900 contract plants worldwide using over 1 million contract employees. These same plants are managed by their local ownership, but Nike spends significant time and money coaching these plants in the Nike sustainable manufacturing plan. The Nike Strategy The Nike Business strategy focuses on Innovation. First the “Innovation to Serve the Athlete”-meaning they desire to design and produce the best products for athlete safety and performance. They want to be the leaders in new and improved products to advance athletic performance. Secondly, “Innovation to Grow the Company”- Nike wants...
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