Supply Chain

Riordan Manufacturing 's current process is not very efficient. It calls for multiple suppliers to ship parts to Riordan 's raw material storage area at regular intervals. These intervals have been set up in advance using production history as a guideline. This process causes a huge inventory spike during slow production times thus requiring a large amount of storage space and upfront costs. There is not a standardized method for the individual assembly areas to communicate parts shortages back to the raw material storage area. Also, as indicated during our analysis, the network infrastructure and current systems at the plant are very outdated causing system slowdowns and reducing plant efficiency.

The main elements of a supply chain include purchasing, operations, distribution, and integration. The supply chain begins with purchasing. Purchasing managers or buyers are typically responsible for determining which products their company will sell, sourcing product suppliers and vendors, and procuring products from vendors at prices and terms that meets profitability goals.

Recognized as one of the leading computer manufacturers, Dell uses an astonishing supply chain through pull-to-order procurement and just-in-time inventory management. Their strategy is highly efficient and drives costs to a minimum while allowing for minimal lead times and production times of under 4 hours for each order as their suppliers maintain levels of inventory based on forecasts within Dell warehouses near Dell assembly

1. Identify key production planning considerations (which, when and how much of each to produce, methods of dealing with short/long term changes in capacity demand).

Initially, the trucks were only loaded with 150 drums, which did not maximize the truck’s capacity. The initial set up of 150 drums were shipped by truck at a cost of $100/drum ($15,000/150). However, if each truck leaves the factory full, each drum will only cost $75 ($15,000/200) to ship opposed to mailing each drum individually for $150. We wanted two full trucks shipping 400 drums to the warehouse.

And a transportation model is used to minimize the cost of shipping from the production plants to the distribution centers.

For over 50 years, Target has provided American consumers with quality products delivered with “a unique shopping experience” (“About Us”, 2015). The retailing giant, second only to Walmart Corporation, secured a Fortune 500 ranking of 36 this year making them one the Top 100 companies in the U.S. (“Target”, 2015). 2014 was a tough year for the company marked with many pivotal moments including the installment of a new chief executive officer.

Supply-chain management consists of developing a strategy to organize, control, and motivate the resources involved in the flow of services and materials within the supply chain. A supply chain strategy, an essential aspect of supply chain management, seeks to design a firm’s supply chain to meet the competitive priorities of the firm’s operations strategy.

Question #2-Define the supply chains for the following products from the first source of raw materials to the first customer. A) Big Mac, B) Gasoline, C) Automobile repair, D) A Text book.

Reorders are placed at the time of review (T), and the safety stock that must be reordered is:

When implementing project 1, you face technical and market risk. How would you assess the risks embedded in Project 1?

For example, in the first through third quarters, I was paying my employees $45,000 per year, with only expanded health coverage. After the third quarter, I realized my competitors were offering more, and that they would be recruiting the best salespeople if I didn’t change my offering. I checked my budget, and saw that I could pay my employees more and offer better health coverage, which would help me to recruit and retain the best employees with the most potential to increase sales. That in turn lead to better sales the fourth quarter.

4. In a service supply chain, the (explicit) cost of information is higher than in a product

Richard Dana Associates (RDA) was brought in by the owners of a family-owned business with complex relationship issues at a time preceding an anticipated leadership transition. Following individual and group coaching sessions, RDA was able to help the leadership separate personal issues, and codify practices through formal policies to allow the leadership group to focus on business issues without personal complications. At the end of RDA's engagement, the client was well-positioned to begin developing a transition plan.

E. After aging, the tobacco is often combined with different flavorings, such as menthol, licorice, maple syrup, or cocoa.