SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGIES

Developing Market Specific Supply Chain Strategies

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

The Dimensions of the supply chain4

Conclusion6

Developing Market Specific Supply Chain Strategies

Introduction

The study is related to the supply chain strategies especially the product characteristics, the demand characteristics and the replenishment lead time which are considered as the crucial dimensions in the supply chain. The study will also entail the supply chain issues at Hewlett - Packard.

Discussion

The supply chain has built an enviable place in the news. The headlines have specialized praised the success of companies such as Hewlett - Packard, attributing it largely to the way these giants manage their supply chain. In fact, these companies have understood that better manage their supply chain allows them to better meet customer expectations in terms of availability and delivery of the product consumed.

In relation to the product characteristics, the demand characteristics and the replenishment lead time; the advent of electronic commerce has changed the expectations and how to respond. On the one hand, the expectations of customers using e-commerce totaled, the speed with which customers can now place orders over the Internet creates the perception that the delivery of the ordered product will be just as fast. On the other hand, the poor performance of the first e-commerce has attracted attention to the role of supply chain at this level. Before presenting the issues to be addressed by this column, let's see in more detail what the management of the supply chain involved (Christopher and Denis, 2002).

The product characteristics, the demand characteristics and the replenishment lead time ensures the integrity and optimization of flow between suppliers, the company and customers. These dimensions of the supply chain are primarily a coordinator, whose tasks are designed to synchronize and optimize all the various links in the chain of the company like in the case of the Hewlett - Packard. It shall operate the supply chain to satisfy the customer at the lowest overall cost. To do this, it is required to evaluate and plan demand, check the condition forecasts, orders and production plan, real-time control and manage inventory levels at the lowest, manage supplies that is material receipt, storage and warehousing, preparation, manage the distribution to customers and drive all of the logistics, including monitoring the implementation of production .

The Dimensions of the supply chain

In context of the demand characteristics, the supply chain of a company like Hewlett - Packard is defined as an organized network of partners exchanging materials and information as part of activities leading ultimately to the delivery of products / services to the customer.

This definition highlights three fundamental components of the supply chain or business partners, material flows and information flows. Much has been made for optimizing material flow in the 80's, when the concept of just - in - time was popularized like the lead time. It was for a company to produce only what was required by the customer, and this, with minimal inventory and waste. The importance of good management of the supply chain is ...