SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS INTRODUCTION

8.11 SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS INTRODUCTION

A d d i n g v a l u e a l o n g t h e s u p p l y c h a i n i s e s s e n t i a l f o r c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s o r e v e n survival. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , s u c h a d d i t i o n s are l i m i t e d b y m a n y p r o b l e m s a l o n g t h e c h a i n . S u p p l y c h a i n p r o b l e m s h a v e b e e n r e c o g n i z e d b o t h i n t h e military a n d i n b u s i n e s s o p e r a t i o n s for g e n e r a t i o n s . S o m e o f t h e m h a v e c a u s e d a r m i e s t o l o s e w a r s a n d c o m p a - n i e s t o g o o u t o f business. T h e s e p r o b l e m s are m o s t e v i d e n t i n a c o m p l e x o r l o n g s u p - ply c h a i n a n d i n c a s e s w h e r e m a n y b u s i n e s s partners are i n v o l v e d .

T h e r e are h u n d r e d s o f e x a m p l e s o f c o m p a n i e s that w e r e u n a b l e t o m e e t d e m a n d s o r h a d i n v e n t o r i e s t o o large a n d t o o e x p e n s i v e t o m a i n t a i n . S e v e r a l o t h e r p r o b l e m s are typical in a s u p p l y chain; f o r e x a m p l e , lack of o v e r a l l s u p p l y c h a i n s t r a t e g y a n d f a i l u r e to recognize the full range of organizational implications. Many companies erro- neously think that good SCM can be attained only through an ERP (ERM is also used for ERP) system.

C o m p a n i e s that e x p e r i e n c e s u c h p r o b l e m s s o m e t i m e s p a y s u b s t a n t i a l p e n a l t i e s o r even end up going out of business. On the other hand, some world-class companies, such as Wal-Mart, Federal Express, and Dell, have superb supply chains with innova- tive applications.

An interesting supply chain decision-making problem involved the difficulty of fulfilling orders received electronically for toys during the holiday season of 1 9 9 9 - 2 0 0 0 . D u r i n g t h e last m o n t h s o f 1 9 9 9 , o n l i n e t o y r e t a i l e r s , i n c l u d i n g e T o y s , A m a z o n . c o m , a n d Toys.'R'Us, c o n d u c t e d a m a s s i v e a d v e r t i s i n g c a m p a i g n f o r I n t e r n e t orders featuring $20- to $30-discount vouchers. Customer response was overwhelming, but some retailers had underestimated the demand and asa result made incorrect ordering, inventory, and shipment decisions. In consequence they were unable to obtain the necessary toys from manufacturing plants and warehouses and deliver them t o c u s t o m e r s b y C h r i s t m a s E v e . H e r s h e y ' s C h o c o l a t e e x p e r i e n c e d a similar p r o b l e m

C H A P T E R 8 ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

D S S I N A C T I O N 8 .1 9