Running head: SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY
Supply Chain Efficiency Paper
Researched Companies
Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Dell, Eastman Kodak, SC Johnson, ArcelorMittal, Cisco and FedEx
MBA550
University of Phoenix
Supply Chain Efficiency: Overview
The power of having an efficient supply chain is more important now than ever. As companies strive for competitive advantage, they look to the efficacy of their supply chain management in order to move ahead of their competition. “Inventory management involves planning and controlling inventory from the raw material stage to the final delivery at the customer's end” (University of Phoenix, 2008). Companies can identify domestic and global best practices by assessing existing efficient supply chain management strategies. Evaluating opportunities for improving operations becomes imperative and analyzing ethical issues among supply chain stakeholders a must. “It is important for managers to realize that how they run items using inventory control logic relates directly to the financial performance of the firm” (Chase et al, 2005, p. 605).
One of the most efficient tools in evaluating opportunities for improvement is benchmarking. “Benchmarking, when used properly, can lead to significant increases in supply-chain efficiency,” according to Leonard Sahling, first vice president of research for ProLogis (ElAmin, 2007). In short, effective benchmarking can provide a huge competitive advantage in the marketplace. The following companies have been benchmarked in an effort to provide a best practice overview of their supply chain capabilities: Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Dell, Eastman Kodak, SC Johnson, ArcelorMittal, Cisco and FedEx.&nbs ...