What role do information systems play in supply chain management? Give some examples.
Information systems are critical for the majority of supply chains because they enhance partners’ ability to share different information. Operating successfully, they play an important role in the process of cooperation between organizations and manufacturers. Due to information systems, information visibility can be ensured. In this way, they also make it possible to enhance tracking capabilities so that it can be easily understood where the products are and when they will reach the firm. Of course, quick communication capabilities also improve from this perspective. Any information can be transferred easily so that such issues as overstock can be prevented.
What is logistics? What are the objectives of logistics?
Logistics is about doing business in the right way. It ensures that organizations deliver the right product of high quality to a client, ensuring that it is in the right place when needed and that it is priced appropriately. In this way, it deals with the movement and storage of materials and products. Its major objective is to ensure that the right product reaches a customer with no delays and issues associated with quality or volume. All in all, this process cannot be performed without great cooperation and planning.
What does process integration mean? Can supply chain management succeed without it? Why, or why not?
Process integration is vital for supply chain management because it deals with interactions and cooperation between suppliers and consumers. In this way, involved parties work together to make significant decisions that have a great influence on the supply chain, such as those associated with purchasing, production, and quality, logistics. If at least one of them turns out to be poorly performed, the whole process becomes disrupted. As a result, the effectiveness of the supply chain worsens, and it cannot be successful. Thus, it is important to make involved parties pay much attention to process integration and strategic planning.
Describe supply chain visibility and why supply chain managers like it
Supply chain visibility ensures that involved parties have an opportunity to find out where products are. This ability makes it easier for managers to realize at what point of the supply chain goods are and to shape their work on the basis of this information. Due to this advantage, managers like supply chain visibility. Currently, it is controlled with the help of technology, which minimalizes human involvement. Supply chain visibility turns out to be rather beneficial in case of unexpected events, such as natural disasters.
What are the advantages of using SRM solutions to manage suppliers?
The use of SRM solutions can benefit suppliers if it is maintained effectively and appropriate options are selected. It enhances supplier intelligence significantly, making it possible to presuppose how the value of supplier relations will alter. It allows developing a generalized view of an organization’s suppliers regarding provided goods or services. SRM solutions allow operating supplier data effectively, revealing vital information about the purchasing history. In this way, they enhance both internal and external communications, prolong relations, making them more strategic, ensure efficient measurements that improve resource allocation, and shape improvement strategies.
Why is early supplier involvement a good way to integrate the supply chain?
Early supplier involvement is rather advantageous for the success of the business. That is why it should be actively practiced within the supply chain. Having an opportunity to cooperate while working, involved parties can share important information with each other on a regular basis. In this way, they can establish trust-based relationships and increase the possibility of working together again in the future. Moreover, this practice makes it possible to save time and resources used during the development process. Thus, an organization can remain competitive for a long time.
What are the crucial inputs for material requirements planning?
The crucial inputs for material requirements planning are:
- parent-component relationship. It reveals the connection between a parent item and its components. This relationship is often considered when dealing with engineering change orders because it makes it easier to identify the needed item alteration.
- Independent demand information. It is information associated with a finished product (so that its parts are not considered separately).
- Inventory status. It deals with both a final product and its components, providing companies with an opportunity to differentiate various types of stock, including good/bad, available/unavailable, important for planning/unimportant.
- Planned order of releases. It reveals the quantity of a product that is going to be ordered within a particular period. All in all, it allows ensuring that the product will be obtained when needed.
Describe aggregate production planning, master production planning, material requirements planning, and distribution requirements planning. How are these plans related?
- Aggregate production planning. It makes it possible to turn business plans and demand forecasts into a production plan.
- Master production planning. Reveals the time for resource planning.
- Material requirements planning. Controls production planning, scheduling, and inventory, enhancing the manufacturing process.
- Distribution requirements planning. Enhances the delivery of products, making this process more effective.
All these plans turn out to be connected with each other because they deal with the accomplishment of production plans. Moreover, these business plans are significant for manufacturing organizations because they deal with materials planning and time factors.
Describe the types of customer service that come before, during, and after the sale. Why are they important to CRM?
Customer service is performed not only during the very sale but also before and after it. Pre-transaction elements make it possible to develop customer’s and organization’s service policies as well as their flexibility. Transaction elements deal with the order lead time, product distribution, and order processing. Post-transaction elements may include warranty repairs, work with customer complaints, and product returns. They are critical for CRM because they make it possible to provide high-quality services and increase customer loyalty.