...HIV commodities supply chain management in Resource Limited Settings: Strategies for its improvement Authors: William Mutabaazi, Rogers Sekabira, Herbert Kiberu, Julius Paalo, Joseph Ddamulira and Adeodata Kekitiinwa. Background: As countries scale up access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), there is increasing demand for ARVs, Testkits and related supplies. However, challenges in supply of commodities have made it hard for PLHAs to have guaranteed access to optimal care. Baylor-Uganda has supported improvement of the supply chain management (SCM) of HIV commodities in facilities in three regions of Uganda. We evaluate the effectiveness of implemented SCM strategies in supported facilities. Method: Three Medical logistics officers for Rwenzori, West Nile and Eastern regions wee recruited to provide technical support to health workers to forecast, quantify and order for supplies. A 3-day didactic training followed by mentorships with (3 rounds; each a minimum of 24 contact hours) Laboratory & Pharmacy staff to transfer logistics/inventory management knowledge and skills were conducted. An SMS system to report SCM issues was instituted. Regional stores stocked with HIV commodities were established to reduce emergency order lead times. Results: Evaluation done between April and October 2011 in 29 health facilities in Eastern Uganda, 26 in Rwenzori, 3 in Kampala and 21 in West-Nile showed strengthened capacity of health workers to make accurate orders for ARVs/Test...
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...Vision and approach Transformational solutions Environment Operating responsibly Responsible supply chain – Our approach We work with our suppliers to help them meet our ethical, health and safety, social and environmental standards and improve their performance through monitoring, assessments and engagement. We spend billions of pounds each year on equipment and services that enable us to operate our network and on products such as mobile phones, SIM cards and other devices that we sell to our customers. We demand high ethical, health and safety, social and environmental standards of all our suppliers. These are set out in our Code of Ethical Purchasing (http://vodafone.com/ content/dam/group/suppliers/downloads/VPC_Supplier Policy_A2_Code_of_ Ethical_Purchasing_(V3.0).pdf) and integrated from the initial qualification process all the way through to managing our suppliers’ performance. We conduct regular site assessments to ensure compliance with the Code and we work directly with our suppliers to help improve their sustainability performance. To target improvements further down the supply chain, we require our suppliers to demand similar standards of their own suppliers and check this through audits and performance management processes. We participate in industry initiatives to raise standards across the sector. Read on to find out more about our approach to this issue. Or go to the Performance section to read about our progress in 2014/15...
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...responsibility gradually rise in the past decades for corporate. Organizations use corporate social responsibility (CSR) to set up activities in order to achieve and respond these expectations. Jamali and Mirshak (2007) state that CSR approach helps to attract global attention and acquire a new resonance in the worldwide economy. However, Frankental (2001) claims “Do CSR is a public relations (PR) invention?” and company focus on promoting itself, getting an edge on its revivals rather than being ethic to protect the environment or maintain human welfare. Therefore, in this essay, author is going to discuss about the different between CSR as well as PR. Moreover, it will apply an example of IKEA to examine the effectiveness of its CSR in supply chain and analyze CSR as a business strategy to maintain the sustainability of business, financial control and risk management. Afterwards, author will highlight the limitations of CSR policy and finally provide some recommendations to improve the CSR strategy for corporates in order to maintain the sustainable resources and increase the brand value as well as profit. Definition of PR According to Clark (2000) points out that public relation (PR) as a communication field from public information to reputation management to relationship management, it is emphasized on the promoting corporate image or two-way communication to gather audience feedback....
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...For years Barilla was successful in selling their brand of fine pastas but when a shift in demand for products resulted in items being sold out, Barilla tried to operate like a responsive supply chain which did not work for this functional product. Based on Fisher’s 2x2 model Barilla’s supply chain should be run as a functional product with an efficient supply chain. Barilla should run a more efficient supply chain which can be achieved through the use of the Just-In-Time-Distribution (JITD) program; effective communication with the distributor will allow Barilla to retailers with proper stock of goods through more accurate forecasting and sales data. The critical elements of the JITD program employ the use of distributors’ shipment data to send only what is needed to the retailer. Each day the distributor will provide information on what is shipped to retailers and current stock levels of each location; essentially the manufacturer would co-manage the inventory with the distributor. By implementing the JITD program the suppliers would receive the right amount of product due to Barilla’s ability to improve their forecasting through current sales data and provide the necessary product to the distributor. They would also be able to manage the shelf-space and material distribution through the use of vendor-created delivery schedules. This program takes the pressure off the distributor to hold inventory they didn’t carry and increase the stock of items they already had. The JITD...
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...Market research showed that only 24% of women were completely satisfied with their jeans purchase, at $50 a pair they were becoming a tough sell. Levi’s responded by recognizing a need to be in closer touch with their customers. They began to open stores to sell directly to their customers (rather then trough another retailer). They also implemented new technology such as EDI to help their supply chain. Unfortunately the lag time for their products was still 8 months. Levi’s was a company that needed a way to strengthen their business. Using the value chain analysis Levi’s was a prime textbook case of a company that needed to improve its value chain in order to sustain a competitive advantage. The results of their value chain analysis are as follows: 1. Value: only 24% satisfaction rate. 2. Value stream: ROE average more then 38% lead to little improvement in their cumbersome value chain. 3. Continuous flow: 8 month lag time. 4. Pull: The customer initiated nothing, activity was driven by sales forecasts. 5. Perfection: A good ROE led management to miss opportunities in improvement. In addition, use a pull driven distribution strategy Levi’s lost big profits when retailers had to markdown their products in order to make them more appealing. Levi’s often made good on these markdowns to their retailers. Although the opening of Original Levi’s stores helped eliminate some of these losses, it was clear Levi’s need a “better fit” with their customer. In 1994 they...
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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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...Business as Usual is Not an Option Supply Chains and Sourcing after Rana Plaza Sarah Labowitz and Dorothée Baumann-Pauly April 2014 About the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University Stern School of Business “At NYU Stern, we develop people and ideas that transform the challenges of the 21st century into opportunities to create value for business and society. Our Center for Business and Human Rights is the embodiment of that mission. By creating a safe haven for open dialogue and convening relevant voices for discussion around practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, the Center, and by extension this report, demonstrate that profit and principle can co-exist. ” –Peter Henry, Dean NYU Stern School of Business Dean Henry launched the Center for Business and Human Rights in March 2013 with a strong belief in the power of business to create positive change in society. In that spirit, the Center’s mission is to challenge and empower businesses to make practical progress on human rights in their own operations. It is the first center to focus on human rights as an integral part of a business school. We start from the premise that business can and does work for the good of society. We support the goal of business to create value while emphasizing high standards for human rights performance. Each year, we take on a major project around a set of human rights challenges in a sector that is of foremost concern for companies, consumers...
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...The Role of the Engineer in the Value Chain Executive Summary In the recent past, value chain management has undergone radical transformation through various stages of automation, optimization and integration. This is based on a variety of reasons such as shortened technology and product development lifecycles, globalization, and pressures of competitive forces. This has forced organizations to review their value chain systems in order to survive and grow in such dynamic economic environments. In the field of engineering, value chains have become vital aspects of operations management when it comes to the application of engineering systems to the industrial and commercial processes. The main purpose of this paper is to disentangle the role of the engineer in the value chain. In this context, it will go further in analyzing the key elements of value chain and any accrued benefits that come with use of engineers in the value chain management. Value Chain Analysis The inception of Value Chain is associated with Michael Porter. He gives his understanding to this concept using a model he referred to as; “Porter’s value chain model” (Sekhar, 2009: 115). This model evaluates the strategically vital activities in a firm that boost its competitive advantage. Such competitive advantage is usually achieved through the core competencies of the firm. According to Porter, a firm is defined by a set of processes and functions which he classified into five main activities; the inbound...
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...process and distribute sustainable fish, be it wild caught or certain farm raised varieties. As of the end of 2009, “Walmart’s wild seafood was 55% MSC certified… you can’t be 100% certified when you can’t be certified on a number of products. We’re working with MSC to encourage them to build these other certifications standards.” While Walmart is making the necessary changes on the back end to improve the sustainability in their supply chains, they have not truly begun advertising the value of sustainable seafood to their customers. As a result, customers are less likely to pay the higher costs for these “sustainable” alternatives, when they do not recognize the value. In the article outlining Walmart’s Sustainability Strategy specific to inventory management within their seafood supply chain, The Fishin’ Company is one supplier that has embraced Walmart’s asks, spending more time, effort and money to adhere to their sustainability standards. One of the main issues that Walmart faces is the length of time in which it takes for a fishery or supply-company to become MSC certified; the process can take up to two years. Given the increased demand, Walmart cannot afford this lapse in time. Walmart needs to work with the MSC to expedite the process. In order to meet demand, Walmart must also utilize more suppliers who have adopted sustainable methods of catching and processing seafood. The cost to become MSC certified can be up to $500,000. For smaller fisheries, this cost is...
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...International Food and Agribusiness Management Review Volume 14, Issue 2, 2011 Agricultural Value Chains in Developing Countries A Framework for Analysis Jacques H. Trienekens Associate Professor, Wageningen University-Management Studies and Maastricht School of Management Hollandseweg 1, Wageningen, The Netherlands Abstract The paper presents a framework for developing country value chain analysis made up of three components. The first consists of identifying major constraints for value chain upgrading: market access restrictions, weak infrastructures, lacking resources and institutional voids. In the second component three elements of a value chain are defined: value addition, horizontal and vertical chain-network structure and value chain governance mechanisms. Finally, upgrading options are defined in the area of value addition, including the search for markets, the value chain- network structure and the governance form of the chain. Part of this component is the identification of the most suitable partnerships for upgrading the value chain. The three components of the framework are derived from major theoretical streams on inter-company relationships and from the literature on developing country value chains. The framework is applied in a case example of a developing country value chain. Keywords: Developing country value chains, research framework, upgrading Corresponding author: Tel: + 31 317 484160 Email: Jacques.Trienekens@wur.nl 51 2011 International Food...
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...Steel, Global Wires, Dattapara Road, Borivali (E), Mumbai 400066, India Abstract: The steel hardware retail supply chains in India are in ordinary state. Longer lead time, large inventories, non availability of stocks; poor retail network, poor infrastructure, and poor customer service are some of the issues faced by this industry. The different work entities in this industry are operating in silos. It requires integration to beat bloodthirsty pressures to remain competitive. In spite of advances in Telecom/ Information Technology, there is hardly any change in the operations of hardware shop supply chain owners due to various reasons. The advances in operations management, communications and information technology, as well as a rapidly growing array of logistics options, leaves good opportunity for hardware suppliers to reduce operating costs and improve overall efficiency. This paper highlights the practical issues faced by retail hardware suppliers / channel partners and proposes solutions to address the issues. It also highlights some of the best practices of the organised retail which could be useful to retail hardware channel members. The right Supply Chain solution can create a strategic competitive advantage by streamlining the distribution network, leveraging industry best practices tailored to the steel hardware business. Keywords: Retail supply chain, steel hardware channel, retail challenges, retailers, distributors, retailers. Introduction The steel...
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...Chapter 2 Case Study 1. Corporate Social Responsibility challenges that companies in the apparel industry face in its supply chains around the world: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a subject of increasing significance. Companies are usually faced with the benefits versus harm created by their operations around the world. In spite of the benefits a company may enjoy in their business venture, there are several social downfalls that they need to take responsibility for. Such downfalls include but are not limited to, lack of equality, employee safety & welfare, both of the home countries and the host countries. The opening profile highlighted the subcontracting of child labor by Primark. The case study highlighted the issue of work treatment & conditions by Nike. In addition, workers were underpaid & punished for refusing overtime. At this level, the ethicality of the companies are being challenged, with varying legal and cultural limits across borders. The main question a company should answer is how should their ethical standard be based? Should it based on the home country or the host country or can it be reconciled? If the company ignores its ethical responsibility to workers, how will that affect production and sales? Association in unethical business operations can be quite disastrous to companies. Another ethically challenging aspect is that companies are also limited by jurisdiction. In the instance of the host country, legislations may...
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...POMS Abstract Number: 011-0371 Title: Managing Global Food Supply Chain Risks: A Scenario Planning Perspective A. Deep Business School, Loughborough University Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK Email: a.deep@lboro.ac.uk || Phone: +44.1509 223176 S. Dani Business School, Loughborough University Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK Email: s.dani@lboro.ac.uk || Phone: +44.1509228830 POMS 20th Annual Conference Orlando, Florida U.S.A. May 1 to May 4, 2009 Introduction Food is a fundamental requisite for human existence. An agrarian society shows the simplistic form of existence where agriculture forms the core of the society and is the prime means of support and sustenance. That, however, no longer remains the foundation of most of today’s developed economies where food chains are increasingly becoming complex and multi tiered. The chains start with agriculture and ends ultimately, with household consumption. But the numbers of entities between these ends encompass geographical, economic, political and social extremes. This compounded over uncertainty occurring from natural disasters, climate changes, epidemics and terrorist threats place the food supply chain in a particularly vulnerable position. The recent Chinese milk scare which left thousands of Chinese babies ill after consuming melamine tainted milk powder produced by the Chinese Sanlu Group required urgent action by New Zealand, United States and the European Union to issue product warnings to contain the spread of melamine related...
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...* Discuss how supply chain system can be strategic in Global Operation through achieving “resilience”. Resiliency is the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds–trauma, tragedy, personal crises, life problems–and bounce back stronger, wiser, and more personally powerful. It’s important because this is what we need to do when faced with life’s inevitable difficulties. And it’s important because there is a growing body of social science research that explains how: How can we bounce back, even from a lifetime of “risk factors” or very painful tragedy, and how can you help those we care about bounce back. The organization must understand its internal and external supply chain system. So, the organization must understand the modern supply chain practice to achieve functional stability in the business. Organizational changing culture with globalization and develop their resources. Need to good relation with suppliers. Because they are the external factor who can easily effects the product as well the price with quality. They have to develop a good inventory system. Then the organization must have practice total quality management, six sigma. Total quality management-a process that stresses customer satisfaction, employee involvement, and continuous improvement of quality. Its goal is to eliminate all defects. If management accounting system are focused strictly on cost, they will preclude that could lead to higher quality. The key is to understand the company’s...
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...CHAPTER ONE 1. Introduction to the study The purpose of study is to evaluate the effects of strategic buyer-supplier alliances and partnerships in the South African clothing stores, sector and industry. Strategic Alliances, Partnerships and Joint Ventures involve the establishment of informal and formal relationships with other individuals or businesses to share resources, ideas or capital (Hugo, Badenhorst-Weiss & Biljon 2007). The research indicates that during the past decade, companies in all types of industries and all parts of the world have elected to form strategic alliances and partnerships to complement their own strategic initiatives and strengthen their competitiveness in domestic and international markets (Thompson Jr, Gamble & Strickland, 2006), the statement confirms that some of the companies realize the importance of strategic alliances and partnerships. The current situation in South Africa indicates that the government is imposing Quotas on Chinese imports with intent to influence the South Africa retailers to buy from local suppliers (Sandrey & Fundra, 2008). The quotas have encouraged the major retailers in South Africa to procure more from local suppliers than ever before given the growth in their collective businesses over the last four years. Preliminary investigation between the retailers and clothing manufacturers confirm the retailers’ expectations that local companies will be unable to make up the expected shortfall the quotas will inflict...
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