Wednesday, June 4, 2014
TWIF Flattener #7 - Supply-Chaining
Use one of the current events sources linked at http://svhs-hwc-fall2015.blogspot.com/2014/06/approved-sources-for-twif-current.html to find a recent news article that relates to, supports, or refutes Friedman's assertion that supply-chaining was a "flattener." Your comment should include the title of the news article, a link to the article, and a summary of the article including an explanation of how the article relates to this point. Don't forget to check your rubric for evaluation criteria!
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Box Chief Invests in Supply Chain Software Company
ReplyDeletehttp://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/box-chief-invests-in-supply-chain-software-company/?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A7%22%7D
Thomas Friedman describes supply chaining as horizontal integration among suppliers, retailers, and customers. He uses the example of Wal-Mart throughout the section. Wal-Mart is constantly improving its chain by moving the products as efficiently and seamlessly as possible between manufacturers, distribution centers, stores, and consumers. In this article written by William Alden, he explains that Elementum is making a new cloud-based software for supply-chain management that can be utilized by any company. This is an extremely beneficial advancement in the supply-chain business and is similar to the product, “Workday,” which was created for human resource management. Executives at Elementum believe that their new software will increase efficiencies for supply-chain companies and decrease the costs of products for consumers. Users will be able to have a visual representation of their supply chain, which will help them identify areas for improvement and distribute products in a more timely manner. This software may help more companies be as successful as Wal-Mart in managing all aspects of their business, from manufacturing plant to the consumer.
Wal-Mart Unveils Plan to Make Supply Chain Greener
ReplyDeleteBy STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/energy-environment/26walmart.html?_r=0
Throughout Friedman’s explanation of supply-chaining in chapter 2 of The World is Flat he focused on Wal-Mart throughout most of the text due to their impressive procedure. He said that Wal-Mart revolutionized computer tracking systems through the creation of the RFID which is a small microchip that can interact with the items and send reports of the item’s condition. Now, as shown in the article above, Wal-Mart proposes a plan to cut around 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain by the end of 2015 which is equivalent to taking away 3.8 million cars off the road. Wal-Mart plans to carry out this plan by asking their suppliers rethink their strategy for how they source, manufacture, package, and transport their goods with the highest embedded carbon. Any modifications done to help improve the supply chain will be done by the supplier, but Wal-Mart’s sustainability executives are there for guidance. Not only is Wal-Mart planning for their future, they also see this as an opportunity to cut even more costs out of their supply chain to keep their low prices. Just as Friedman mentioned, Wal-Mart is known for knocking out the competition due to their highly efficient supply chain which no one can seem to mimic, leading to these extremely affordable prices. Also, Wal-Mart is sure that their suppliers’ products will stay high quality because they are also in a situation to make more money by reducing their own packaging. This article corresponds with Friedman’s section on Wal-Mart’s supply chain by adding new information on a recent mission for cutting emissions and cost on their already profitable supply chain.
Wal-Mart Hopes To Boost Sales By Opening Convenience Stores
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/2014/06/04/318733361/wal-mart-hopes-to-boost-sales-by-opening-convenience-stores
In chapter 2 of The World Is Flat, Friedman writes about supply-chaining, specifically of the biggest retail company in the world, which is also a hyper efficient supply chain, Wal-Mart. In this article, it states that Wal-Mart is downsizing its supercenters and trying out a new type of supply-chain, a convenience store. Wal-Mart is doing this not only to be more efficient, but to try to boost their sagging sales. These Wal-Mart convenience stores are trying to sell as much as they can in a small area, but at the same time not making anything but still turning a profit. Wal-Mart is currently one of the biggest supply-chains, and relates to TWIF's flattener #7 because of the way it can get goods to companies and consumers cheap and efficiently.
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ReplyDelete"The Challenges of Running Responsible Supply Chains" by: Laura D'Andrea Tyson
ReplyDeletehttp://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/the-challenges-of-running-responsible-supply-chains/?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A16%22%7D
In The World Is Flat, Friedman describes supply-chaining as horizontal collaboration between suppliers, retailers, and customers. He goes on to further explain the intricacies of running an efficient and effective supply-chain. After reading Friedman's explanation on why supply-chaining was a flattener, I was interested in the difficulties a company might have while trying to run a successful supply-chain. This article describes the challenges that occur while running a responsible supply-chain. The main focus in this article is the extremely low wages and little to no benefits workers receive in developing countries where the company does some manufacturing. It has gotten so bad at times that the workers have protested, not always peacefully, which is extremely disruptive to the supply-chain. The companies that wish to run an efficient and effective supply chain need to support their off-shore employees just as much they do their domestic ones.
"Exclusive: Apple iPhone 6 screen snag leaves supply chain scrambling"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/22/us-apple-iphone-idUSKBN0GM0N620140822
In chapter 2 of The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman discusses the impact of supply-chaining. This article looks at how a problem with the new iPhone 6 screen has a huge impact on the suppliers that are shipping tom Apple. This article also shows how much more serious supply-chaining has gotten. It states that Apple is a company that has huge demand on their suppliers, and creates a huge amount of stress and chaos to get the product working and shipped. This article talks a lot about modern supply-chaining and shows how important it is to companies today, which is a big reason that it is a flattener of the world.
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ReplyDeleteNestle Nudges Its Suppliers To Improve Animal Welfare
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/22/342224197/nestle-nudges-its-suppliers-to-improve-animal-welfare
In Flattener 7, Friedman discusses supply-chaining. He states that Wal-Mart has used its supply chain for good, but it has done some questionable actions, including locking workers in the stores. This article describes how Nestle is making its milk suppliers stop tail docking. Dairy cows will often get their tails docked to keep the utters clean, but the process is painful and stops the cows from being able to swat away flies. For the sake of the animals’ well-being, Nestle is banning this practice. This relates to Friedman’s statement because this is an example of another large company that has a downside in its supply chain.
"Wal-Mart Slashes Price on iPhones; 5C for Less Than a Dollar" by Jiaxi Lu
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/news/technology/wp/2014/08/21/wal-mart-slashes-price-on-iphones-5c-for-less-than-a-dollar/
This article explains how Wal-Mart is cutting their prices even lower than before. It was recently accounted that the iPhone 5s were being sold for $99 and iPhone 5c for $29, and now with the price drop it comes that the iPhone 5s are going for $79 and the IPhone 5c's are going for only 97 cents. Wal-Mart continues to amaze the people and competing chain stores in its ability to cut prices so low. Wal-Mart even sells these electronic devices for less than official electronic phone stores such as AT&T and or Verizon because those retailors sell the phone with a two year contract. Friedman explains in flattener seven about global optimization to try to drop the final price of the product to its lowest possible price. In addition as Wal-Mart aspires to be the next "China" of supply chain stores, with these unbeatable prices there is not much holding them back. Along with these unbeatable prices, Wal-Mart does sell simply junk. They continue to sell the latest technology as well as food, clothing and other human necessities to keep them in business.