Barilla SpA: Recommendations to Reduce Demand Variability and to Improve Overall Supply Chain Performance
Report Submitted By:
Aditya Talwar
Gaganjit Sandhu
Gautham Puliyanda
IEE 598 Spring 2003
Submitted on :05/01/2003
Executive Summary
Barilla SpA, an Italian pasta manufacturer, is experiencing amplified levels of inefficiencies and rising costs due to variability in demand from its distributors. In order to bring things back in order and to improve margins, Giorgio Magialli, the Director of Logistics at Barilla wants to implement a Just-In-Time Distribution (JITD) system that was proposed by his predecessor Brando Vitali. This system is entirely different from the existing setup and is being opposed by both the distributors and Barilla’s Sales and Marketing Department.
In this report we have studied the reasons for this opposition by various quarters and have suggested recommendations, which will allay this lack of support. We consider that in order to condense the Bullwhip effect being experienced by Barilla, their supply chain would have to be Centralized. We have given our rationale for the JITD system to work and have suggested recommendations to resolve all existing issues. We think that a centralized supply chain with Barilla controlling the orders will result in better margins for all the partners.
We believe that by following our recommendations, Barilla will succeed in influencing its distributors and Sales personnel to work together and implement the JITD program. This will not only result in better performance in terms of time and money but also promote trust and good relations among all the partners in the supply chain.
Introduction
Barilla SpA, an Italy based com ...