Analyzing Supply Chain Management and Innovation

Analyzing Supply Chain Management and Innovation

The topic I chose to talk about was Apple for the report…. During the semester, we will discuss and learn many concepts of supply chain management and purchasing. This can be overwhelming and it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture of what supply chain management/purchasing is all about. To further help you understand the overall supply chain, you will complete a course project. You will choose a company that is a recognized leader in supply chain management and begin assembling a final paper describing many facets of this organization’s supply chain. From that paper, you will create a short presentation for the class. The objective of this project is to apply the knowledge we have learned throughout the semester. For this project, please identify a company or industry that has implemented World Class Supply Chain Management concepts and processes. It is recommended that you chose a company that is a recognized leader in its industry. Objective: To apply the purchasing/supply chain management concepts from the entire term and how the interrelate with best-in-class business models, including: Supply chain management design and structure Supply chain efficiency Identification of distribution strategies Developments in technology in order to drive efficiencies Improving supply chain performance and innovation Assignment: Prepare a course project that identifies a company that is considered a market leader in supply chain/purchasing strategies. Your company can either be a privately or publicly held company. You will provide me the company name in week two. Examples include Home Depot, Wall-Mart, Dell, and General Motors. Your course project must include an in-depth discussion of the following areas: I. Executive Summary · Overview of your chosen company · What type of products or services does this company market · Type of markets served · Brief overview of the marketplace II. Customer Focus Discuss in detail the customers that are served by the supply chain. III. Supply Chain Design Describe in detail types of distribution strategies that are implemented to serve its target market. IV. Strategic Alliances/Channel Partnerships Explain the types of strategic alliances that have been formed or that are being developed. Do these strategic alliances obtain competitive differentiation in the specific market(s) that are being served? V. Supply Chain Performance What are some of the concepts that have been implemented to improve supply chain efficiency and performance (e.g., reducing inventory, quality programs, relationship management, strategic cost management, and the implementation of technology? VI. Innovation Explain how the implementation of an e-business strategy can improve supply chain performance. Discuss how the supply chain stands to gain from the implementation of technology in order to gain economies of scale. Who in the supply chain will gain from an e-business strategy?