Edward N Beaver

During class, the Zappos.com case taught me how customer satisfaction can truly drive the business. Since Zappos.com wanted to replicate the feeling of being in the store buying shoes, they created a supply chain based off of their customer’s feelings and appreciation, which drove success. It was also interesting how the CEO of Zappos.com programmed their initial software to run the supply chain dealing with Zappos orders, as most CEO’s shy away from developing interfaces. I also noted that e-marketplaces struggle in similar ways to classic marketplaces. They both have issues with communication and the collaboration of vital systems throughout the organization. E-marketplaces are in abundance and they will not go away due to how profitable they are, once they are organized and managed correctly.

In our last class, I learned more about Zappos and how great their customer service is. I learned that they pour more money into customer service then they do marketing, and that their supply chain is pretty cool. Having an airplane so close to their manufacturing warehouse has been very helpful for Zappos. I have also learned how important e-marketplaces are. Although there may be some difficulties to them, overall the are now embedded in our society and will change the future of markets.

In our last class, I learned more about Zappos and how great their customer service is. I learned that they pour more money into customer service then they do marketing, and that their supply chain is pretty cool. Having an airplane so close to their manufacturing warehouse has been very helpful for Zappos. I have also learned how important e-marketplaces are. Although there may be some difficulties to them, overall the are now embedded in our society and will change the future of markets..

In our Week 3 class, I learned what a successful company Zappos has become and how emarketplaces are changing the way we do supply chain. The creator of Zappos founded the company in 1999 when he was frustrated with the selection of shoes in physical stores and wanted to create a place where people could buy exactly what they are looking for. Zappos was created off customer service and viewed customer service as an investment rather than an expense. They spent time and effort in their customer service efforts by having the 24/7 call center that monitored how long it took for an employee to answer the phone, and by closely monitoring customer’s return rates and satisfaction. We learned how emarketplaces are changing supply chain by serving as a platform that allows more organizations to be connected. Some difficulty comes with this technological advance in supply chain, such as issues with synchronization.

In our last class, I learned a surprising amount about how success goes hand in hand with great customer satisfaction, and a good supply chain. Their efficent supply chain managed to get their customers their product quickly, sometimes they would even “surprise” them with next day shipping. On top of that they offered free refunds greatly increasing customer satisfaction. The relationships they had with their suppliers also strong benefitted them, first when they were directly having the the supplier send the customer the shoe, and eventually when they stocked the shoes themselves.

In week 3 we discussed the Zappos case in detail and learned how a company can be driven by customer satisfaction and be successful in the supply chain process. We learned how Zappos is a push and pull supply chain. In the push supply chain Zappos would send customers orders to outside vendors/shoe companies who would deliver the shoes directly to customers. In the Drop-Ship model, the orders were pulled up the supply chain. Zappos mission to satisfy its customers led it to housing all of its inventory in-house in order to increase inventory accuracy and track shipment. This process increased productivity and efficiency. Next in the lecture we discussed the success factors for an electronic marketplace. Electronic marketplaces serve as platforms. These platforms connect organizations to one another and transact in areas with little distinctive power in relationships. There are 3 types of eMarketplaces: Vertical (focused on one industry, trade, profession), Horizontal (provides related services) and Branded private marketplaces. One of the main challenges facing eMarketplaces is managing high levels of complexity. Each participant in an eMarketplace brings his or her own set of problems, values, business processes and practices. It is important to integrate each participant of the marketplace.

In class lecture, we have discussed about the market environment in e-commerce compares to the physical market. One thing that really stood out to me is that on the e-commerce market, there is about equal power distribution between buyers and sellers, which is different in physical market places. And all of those entities are connected directly through the network, whereas the physical market, people have to go through so many hubs, or sub groups to finish the businesses. I feel like e-commerce is more equal and fair game for the buyers and sellers since both entities hold the power in the market, and that is why I think this area is keep growing over the time.

In week 3 class, we talked about Zappos case and how great their supply chain was. Zappos’ customer service was the key factor that made them successful. When people purchase shoes online, the biggest issue was if the shoes didn’t fit, they had to exchange it. Zappos provided free exchange service for their customers and encouraged them to order more shoes at one time and return those that they didn’t want. The service went very well and built Zappos’ reputation. They also had a call center which provide 24 hours service. In addition, every workers need to go to call center for training purpose in order to understand their customers better. We also learned how important eMarketplace is in today’s world. There are three types of them: Vertical which focused on one industry, trade, profession; horizontal which provided related services and branded private marketplaces.

During week 3’s lecture, we discussed the Zappos case. I actually found this case extremely interesting because of the transformation of the company’s supply chain as well as its dedication to customer service. Before this case, and class discussion while I had heard of a drop-ship model I did not really understand how it worked. In practice, it seems like a really good idea to save money for the company who only handles the website (or order placement), however I now know that it is favored in a lot of situations because takes away a large element of control. Specifically, the drop-ship did not fit with Zappos because the company wanted to be known for its superb customer service. For that be attainable, Zappos needed more control over the products it was selling than a drop-ship model could ever produce. Zappos commitment to customer service also interested me because to seem to a be major reason as to why the company began so successful. It is a really good example to show that caring about your customer, and not just your profit can go a long way.

Week 3 reinforced my understanding of the Zappo’s case and the tremendous effect their drop ship model had on their business model. I never knew what a drop ship model was but in theory it sounds like a decent supply chain model. Specifically, it did not fit in Zappos’ business model because Zappos had to rely on the multiple warehouses and shipping alternatives to get shoes to their customers. With many parties in warehousing and shipping, Zappos encountered many problems with on time delivery which took away from their business model of superior customer service. In this case, the use of the drop ship model did not work.

In week 3, we discussed saw and discussed a presentation on the Zappos case. We learned how Zappos manages an effective supply chain and business model. Zappos’ goal is to make sure the customer is satisfied as possible by offering great customer service and exchanges of the shoes they sell. eMarketplaces are changing the way businesses manage their supply chains and create connectivity, especially on a B2B level. There is 3 different types of eMarketplaces Vertical, Horizontal, and Branded. Sustainable business models and realistic expectations are critical in determining a company’s success. There are also challenges in dealing with competition, managing high levels of complexity, sunk costs and lower margins.

In week three we spoke about Zappos and what their company does to gain a competitive advantage. Something I found interesting was how Zappos moved through a variety of distribution methods before they realized which one fit best. They started out using a drop ship method this failed to economical and increased lead times to the customer, next they moved to UPS and worked with them to fulfill the orders, after this did not work out, Zappos decided to bring the distribution in house. This proved to be the most efficient method for distribution for Zappos. Another point I found interesting was how Zappos prides themselves on customer satisfaction, they invest heavily in customer agents who have the final decision when speaking with customers. Zappos wanted to make a more personable experience and this let them gain market share.

In week 3 we discussed the Zappos case and eMarketplaces. It was interesting to see how Zappos had their supply chain set up. I think that the key to their success was primarily their customer service policies that brought back returning customers and then some. In class we discussed eMarketplaces. One thing that stood out to me were the three different types of marketplaces, which was something that I did not know about before. The types: Vertical (industry specific), Horizontal (service-based), and Branded (company specific) all have unique features and role in industry, but it’s interesting to see how firms have gravitated towards utilizing them and realizing the benefit in doing so. As we learned in class, eMarketplaces can empower business and enhance these relationships. The more users that join the marketplace, the more powerful in terms of value-added it becomes. Even so, it allows firms that use a Branded approach like GE to focus solely on the products and/or services they provide to their customers/partners.

Beer Game Group:

Dan Matronia
Colleen Sturdevant
Eric Eccleston

Group for Beer Game:

Dan Matronia
Colleen Sturdevant
Eric Eccleston
Brian Wallace

Beer Game Group:
Jon Kerin
Danielle Buerger
Conor Laterza
Matthew McHale

Beer Game Group:
Kristen Rost
Harrison Anastasio
Nick Stamboolian
Joel James

Beer Game Group

Jin-Sil Park
Brandon DiCastelnuovo
Clyde Akrofi Fayorsey
Daniel R. Sadwick

Beer Game Group
Mengxue Ni
Megan Gallagher
Steven Guan
Angelica Cionci

Gabrielle Bernstein (gabrielle.bernstein@temple.edu)
Navya Reddy (tuf60214@temple.edu)
Mark Cylinder (tuf37980@temple.edu
Ethan Mandel (ethanmandel@temple.edu

I am pretty sure that MIS professional definitely need to understand the supply chains, because as you can see from the diagram in ppt, it shows that all the functions (not even majority) are required to understand the planning that is heavily related to the supply chain activities. In order to achieve its long term goal of Supply chain Design / Strategic Network Planning, it needs to understand the sub-required planning like Supply Network Planning, and Demand planning. I know and have experienced with SAP before in MIS course, but in this case especially in SAP SCM module, MIS professional should have understand what it needs to take each function to work to make better planning and scheduling for each of activity.

Based on the diagram, I think it is crucial for MIS professionals to understand supply chains, because they need to understand the flow of goods in the process. The diagram is based on the flow of goods process so if they do not understand supply chain processes they will not be able to understand the software module chart. An MIS professional would have to understand what happens at each step of the flow of goods process in order to set up a software system, because how would anything get done in the supply chain system if they did not understand what goes into it?

It’s important for MIS professionals to fully understand supply chains because SCM entails a chain of networks working together. MIS professionals use information systems to provide information to its users throughout the supply chain. During the SCM process, information flows first from procurement to production then distribution and finally sales. There is a lot of panning and details that go into SCM, so It’s important that the information is correctly evaluated and analyzed by MIS professionals. It’s important that MIS professionals understand the SCM process in order to make right decisions to ensure future growth of the organization.

I believe MIS professionals need to understand supply chain because I believe the main objective of Management Information Systems is to create value for firms with technology. From the diagram, SAP provides different software modules for different parts of the supply chain. SAP is to help firms improve their supply chains. In order to create value for firms, MIS professionals must understand how firms operate through their supply chains before implementing technology that could help firms’ supply chains.

According to the diagram, I believe that MIS professionals need to understand supply chains, because they have to know the flow of the supply chain before starting developing. Since all the activities are related to supply chain, it will be extremely difficult even impossible for MIS professionals to continue working on the SAP SCM if they are not able to learn the supply chain process first. It will be helpful if they take a close look at the supply chain chart of the organization when they are using this model to add value to the organization.

I do believe that MIS professionals need to understand the concept of supply chain because they need to understand how all business processes are related in order to provide value to an organization. Looking at the diagram, one can see how many processes are affected by SAP. If an MIS professional understands how supply chains work, they will have a better understanding of why certain things need to happen, and how they can improve this process.

I absolutely thing that it is necessary for MIS professionals to understand supply chains. Supply Chain is a tricky, but important process. There is a lot of movement, and all the processes are interrelated. You can see this from the diagram. As a core function of a business, it would be silly if MIS professionals didnt understand how it works. Also, some MIS processes and Supply chain processes are very similar. For example Entity Relationship Diagrams, making one is a process, in which you have to understand how all these different pieces are interrelated and how they flow, which is similar to how supply chain managers have to manage their supply chains. If MIS professionals understand the supply chain process, they can use technology to better this process and make it even more efficient.

MIS professionals definitely need to understand the operations of the supply chain. Why, because MIS professionals are going to managing the technology and data that drives the supply chain. Whether it be the software program a business used to run its inventory, or developing program to determine proper transportation routes. MIS is the information and systems that help to keep the supply chain moving efficiently and effectively.

As an MIS major, it is critical to understand supply chains and how they operate. As the world becomes more digital, more processes are being taken over by automation. Supply chains are generally based off of digital information through enterprise systems implemented in companies. In order to understand how information flows through the organization, you need to understand the technologies behind it as well. MIS professionals need to take both the supply chain environment and the technology environment into consideration to understand how the flow of information through organizations operate, whether it be a sale or a system implementation.

It is of an upmost importance that a MIS professional understands all aspects of SCM. The more knowledge an MIS professional has in SCM the further they will progress in their career because with this knowledge and know how they will have the exact tools needed/required to handle the jobs they are working. If you lack a proper understanding of SCM as an MIS professional you will lack the ability to make the appropriate decisions needed when managing information systems. It’s that type of “out of the box thinking” that will separate the the unsuccessful from the successful.

MIS professionals need to understand supply the supply chain of their business. In order to building information systems for an organization the developer and others involved must understand the goals and how the org shares information. Technology is what brings a whole organization together to help make the business efficient. The better a MIS professional understands the business the better the technology solution.

In class lecture, we have discussed about how the internet changes the supply chain, and what has not changed. In terms of how the internet changes the supply chain, we have covered four key impact areas. (eDesing, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, eFulfillment) What stood out to me the most in lecture was, when we discussed about what has not changed especially about the ‘total cost’. I believe it is the biggest matter of all business activity in everywhere. If the total cost of getting product is higher through e-business (I meant online), people would most likely not use ebusiness although it is much easy to deal with. I also have experienced about this recently. I was trying to purchase a textbook for class, and what matters to me the most is the total cost of getting the text book. Although I could get textbook on spot at the book store the total cost of getting is much higher than getting the same book through online. I never thought of it or realized that such factor like total cost would matter, but through lecture, I realized that is the most important factor to me, and it has not changed because of the e-business.

In the last lecture, we learned about a number of things, involving crocs and their supply chain, also about how the internet has changed so many things with edesigns, emediaries, web-based collaborative planning, and efufillment. I learned that crocs is a high margin company that should keep a high amount of inventory, but also that there are some reasons why they should keep a low amount of inventory. I have also learned that companies like Freight Wise do close, even though they have great ideas. Calculating the total cost of everything is very important, and there are ways to manage tradeoffs.

In the class’s previous lecture, we covered the main topics about the internet and it’s supply chain parts along with covering the main ideas of Crocs and how their supply chain began to flourish. The thing I found most interesting regarding the lectures had to do with always evaluating the total cost of a product while balancing trade-offs. As a business major, I always tend to evaluate the final cost of a good or a product before a transaction. I also enjoyed the fact that business has not really changed since the introduction of online services, as final cost is still a factor that everyone incorporates into their budget. I have also taken away that although a supply chain can be very successful at first from adapting ideas from different markets, they have to adapt and accept changes in the macro-environment of the business in order to keep succeeding. Crocs had an intuitive supply chain that they have implemented, exposing different market segments and niche segments by introducing new supply chain management techniques. However, such techniques must be flexible in the adaptation of newer, and more well thought out processes.

In the last lecture we learned a good amount of new information. The first half of the class, we spent talking about the Croc’s case study. One of the main areas we looked at were Croc’s core competencies, and how that affected them as an organization, and how that could affect their business goals. The two main competencies that I took away were their super flexible supply chain, and their croslite material. Both of these items gave Croc’s a strong competitive advantage against their competitors. We also discussed how this would go with vertical acquisition, growth by acquisition, and growth by product development. I decided that of the 3, vertical acquisition would be the best.

In the last lecture, we learned about Crocs and their supply chain system, and how the internet is changing and speeding up the process of supply chain systems. We learned about electronic marketplaces and how they are acting as platforms that can help link organizations easier than before. What I found most interesting was eDesign and how they are changing the supply chain industry by offering real time collaboration with users. I think this can save organizations a lot of money and time. We learned even that with the internet advances in supply chain, tradeoffs and uncertainty still exists. We learned that Crocs is “back from the dead” and has a strong competitive advantage against its competitors in their industry. They survived with a strong brand image and diversity with their products.

In week 2, we discuss about how Crocs flexible supply chain gain them a competitive advantage over the traditional shoe companies. Crocs supply chain is able to response the change in demand. Crocs has a unique and low cost material called croslite to make their products. Crocs specialize in focusing on niche markets like health care and boating. We also discuss how the internet enable eDesign, eMediairies, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment. I also learned there things that has not change due to e-business such as trade-offs, total cost, and uncertainty.

This past week in class we discussed the Crocs Case and how they survived the recession after losses in 2008 and 2009. We learned that Crocs highly flexible supply chain contributed to its success. In addition, the Croslite marterial used to make Crocs differentiates them from competitors because of its comfort and durability. Crocs also has a strong brand and diverse product line. Later in class we talked about the importance of supply chains and how the internet changes the flow of supply chains. The lecture continued with details regarding the four main impact areas and the importance/benefits of each– eDesign, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment. Lastly we learned the importance of minimizing the total cost by optimizing across the chain.

Last week, we talked about the Crocs case. The flexible supply chain strategy was the most impressive part for me. Instead of having a specific amount of inventory each season, they produced product based on customer’s need. If people love this style of shoes, they would produce more to fulfill the market. They broke the traditional supply chain strategy at that time. Today’s Crocs was declining since they are not fashionable anymore. They need come up some new ideas to save the company in the future. We also talked about how internet impacts on supply chain which includes eDesign, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment. There are things that didn’t change in e-business as well like total cost matters, trade-offs, uncertainty, continuous change.

In week 2, we had a class discussion on the Crocs case. We talked about how they were an expanding company pre-2008 and then how the 2008 economic really hurt them as a business. However, through their strong brand, efficient distribution, and diverse product line Crocs were able to stay afloat. They have an incredibly flexible supply chain. The unique material, Croslite, that Crocs manufactures their products with helps them separate themselves from competition. In the second half of the class we talked about how internet has changed the business world, as well as how it has stayed the same.

In our week 2, we had a class discussion on the Crocs case. We talked about how they were an expanding company pre-2008 and then how the 2008 economic really hurt them as a business. However, through their strong brand, efficient distribution, and diverse product line Crocs were able to stay afloat. They have an incredibly flexible supply chain. The unique material, Croslite, that Crocs manufactures their products with helps them separate themselves from competition. In the second half of the class we talked about how internet has changed the business world, as well as how it has stayed the same.

In our week 2 class, we had a discussion on the Crocs case. We talked about how they were an expanding company pre-2008 and then how the 2008 economic really hurt them as a business. However, through their strong brand, efficient distribution, and diverse product line Crocs were able to stay afloat. They have an incredibly flexible supply chain. The unique material, Croslite, that Crocs manufactures their products with helps them separate themselves from competition. In the second half of the class we talked about how internet has changed the business world, as well as how it has stayed the same.

Whoops! Didn’t mean to post that 3 different times!

Last week in class we went over the internet supply chains of Crocs. What I learned from our class conversation is that Crocs strengths is there large profit margin. They have a large profit margin because they are flexible and have cheap materials. Due to their cheap costs and their large margins it is more beneficial to have more inventory than it is to have less. This is because the loss in profit out weighs the cost to make the product. In addition to our conversation about Crocs we also talked about benefits of each eDesign, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment.

Last class we discussed our ideas about Crocs’ situation at the end of 2007. We explored what went well for them in the beginning and how their supply chain processes could be altered in order to do better business in the future. I liked the in depth discussion about the core competencies of Crocs and how they could use those to better work their supply chain. We explored what went wrong and what their best solution would be to regain some of that success. One of the ways to do this was to vertically integrate and buy the entire process which is what I believe they should do. We also talked about different types of e-mediaries and how the supply process works in different e-mediary processes.

Last week we learned about the four key impact areas of the internet on supply chain, which were eDesign, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment. These areas make supply chain more innovative and efficient. If these areas did not exist, orders placed would not be fulfilled effectively. We also looked at the Crocs case. We learned about the 2008-09 recession how Crocs decided to restructure their supply chain, and how they survived because of a strong brand. We also discussed the probability of Crocs surviving as a brand.

In the second class, we talked about different ways that Croc could integrate into its supply chain. Some of the ways that we discussed was to have growth by vertical integration, acquisition, and product expansion. We also discussed some of the benefits of having low vs high inventory. Some of the benefits of having a high inventory is that Crocs will never sell out, supplies are always available, and they can afford the inventory. Some benefits of having a low inventory is that Crocs is selling to a new market, may not have accurate forecasts, and Crocs has a flexible supply chain so that they can meet the demand when needed.

Last class we learned about the rise and fall of Crocs shoes and how the internet changes supply chain dynamics. We discussed how supply chains played a major role in the rise of Crocs as well as their fall caused by the recession of 2008. High powered supply chains gave Crocs a strong advantage against competitors because Crocs could offer higher quality products at a better price. But supply chains played a role in the fall of Crocs because of costly supply chain restructuring, inventory write-downs, and asset impairment. We also learned about how the internet changes supply chain dynamics and the four key impact areas; eDesign, eMediaries, Web-based collaborative planning, and eFulfillment.

In our second class, we talked about Crocs shoes and the effect the internet has on supply chains. We went over the first case analysis of the semester on Crocs shoes. We went over the questions as a class to fully understand the company and its supply chain. We were then able to critique their supply chain and discuss possible decisions that could be made in order to benefit their company in the future. We also talked about the internet and how it can benefit supply chains with real time interaction. The internet allows users to view a dashboard of their supply chain and the logistics behind the process of their products.

In our second class, we talked about Crocs shoes and the effect the internet has on supply chains. We went over the first case analysis of the semester on Crocs shoes. We went over the questions as a class to fully understand the company and its supply chain. We were then able to critique their supply chain and discuss possible decisions that could be made in order to benefit their company in the future. We also talked about the internet and how it can benefit supply chains with real time interaction. The internet allows users to view a dashboard of their supply chain and the logistics behind the process of their products.

During our second week of class we discussed the Crocs case. My group, in particular, presented on the case discussing mainly the company’s core competencies and what we believed they should do next to sustain growth. After we presented the class discussed the case and together we came up with some answers. The first main competence we came up with was Crocs’ flexible supply chain that made it able to respond to changes in demand. The second competence we came up with was the company’s ownership of the unique croslite material used to forms the shoes. It gave the company an advantage over the competition, and it appealed to many different markets. Some other competencies we came up with were the shoes lost cost structure, the marketing strategy, and the company’s focus on niches stores. Once we found out what Crocs’ was really good at, we came up with ideas to sustain growth for the company using those strengths. Three ideas were proposed: vertical acquisition, growth by acquisition, and growth by product expansion. When we dissected these proposals, we found that some of them matched with Crocs’ core competencies better then others. The one that matched the best should ideally be used.

In week two we discussed the Crocs cases. I think the one thing that stood out to me was that for a company to be successful and gain a competitive advantage a company needed to have a core competency. This can be a variety of things that helps them to gain that advantage. You can have a strong supply chain and distribution network that is able to handle increase in customer demand like Amazon. Or in the case with Crocs you can have a proprietary technology like Croslite that makes your product standout in the store and offers different capabilities to the end user.

In week 2 we went over the Crocs case and how the internet has impacted supply chains. With respect to the Crocs case, I learned that it’s important to have a flexible supply chain, whatever that might be (manufacturing, distribution locations, etc.). This is extremely important especially in the case of Crocs because it allows for a firm to capitalize/minimize losses because of shifting consumer demand. Due to the flexibility which also stemmed from their vertical integration, Crocs had an advantage over companies like Nike, because the competitors had to place order with the manufacturer months in advance. This puts them at a disadvantage if forecasts prove to be wrong in either direction. Being flexible also reduces the amount of capital being tied up in excess inventory. In the lecture, we learned about the benefits of the internet to supply chain. The internet really revolutionized how business is now conducted. In supply chain, they reduce costs, speed up communication between the company and the supplier and really, make the whole world smaller. This is because communication is almost instantaneous. Supplier can be selected from halfway across the globe, which in most cases, results in a cost-savings for the company. It also enhances collaboration between the company and the supplier through something like EDI, or even within the company internally.

This week, the class went over Crocs and how their supply chain gave them an extreme advantage over their competitors. This is one of the most memorable cases for me because of how well Crocs was able to take control of their supply chain. From materials to production and then to selling, Crocs had complete control over their product and could dictate where they needed it were able to deliver on that demand as fast as possible. While other companies needed to go place orders with other manufacturers in their supply chain, Crocs had complete control over their supply chain. So when their product became wildly (yet briefly) popular, they were able to get as much profit as possible in a short window.

brandon dicastelnuovo tuf65360

Angelica Cionci tue73799

Joel James tuf63809

Kristen Rost tue98591

Forrell Grant tuf60935

Daniel Sadwick tuf80277

Alyssa Lewis tue64772

Yu Su tuf68876

Jin Park tue74920

Clyde Fayorsey tud44658

Mengxue Ni tue78481

Dario Trabucco – tue54991

Megan Gallagher tue79135

James Zabel tue73929

Brian Wallace tuf76357

A few things that I have learned in the first class session was that supply chains for most products are very robust and are comprised of many, many different types of manufacturers that have to coordinate with one another for continued success. Another key item that I learned was that, like most chains… if one link is weak, the production and supply process will only be as strong as the weakest link. One last thing that I have learned in the first class is the strategic shifts regarding to supply chain management. Many companies now have more risks to assess and manage, while dealing with stress from the whole organization. Organizations and their internal functions have to be aligned with one another for future success, in all areas of business (logistics, gathering information across companies, procurement, etc…).

In last week’s lecture we have discussed about the course materials in general, more specifically about what is a supply chain and what its consists of. Supply chain is known as the ‘Logistics Network’, and consists of suppliers, raw materials, warehouses and many others. The most important goal of supply chain is to provide and distribute finished goods at ‘right quantities’, to the ‘right locations’, and ‘right time’ while satisfying the system-level requirement. Most of the materials that we have covered in class was very familiar to me because I took the supply chain principle course in last semester. Although I have some of back ground knowledge to it, hope to learn more of it, and how the supply chain concept could be connected to the internet.

In last weeks class we discussed the formatting of the course and our main learning objectives. We then got into defining what supply chain is. The supply chain is known as the logistics network and consists of suppliers, manufacturers and raw materials just to name a few. We also talked about factors that drive supply chain and supply chain management. The portion of the class that I felt I learn a lot of new information was towards the end when we defined the list of terms with our own definition. I was surprised that I did not know many of the definitions that looked simple such as lead time, customization, etc. Going through those definitions in the class with each group was very helpful. I am not very familiar with information about supply chain but I am looking forward to learning a lot more about the topic this semester.

In last week lecture, we learned that supply chain is the management of the flow of materials and information. In the 21st century, firms are currently devoting most of their time and resource on their supply chains with the help of the internet and technology. We discuss the example of buying a shoe at Foot Locker. We as the customers went to one of the Footlocker retail store to purchase a pair of shoe. We discuss starting from the end of the supply chain (a pair of shoe bought from Foot Locker store) to the beginning of the supply chain (raw materials). I hope to learn how more how the internet and technology enable many firms to be successful today.

During last weeks class, we went over the basics concepts and terms used in supply chains. Supply chain management has become crucial to organizations that want to add value to their products through processes that improve efficiency and effectiveness within the company. Our daily actions relate to some aspect of the supply chain whether it is at work selling a product to the final consumer or buying bread from the food store, keeping the supply chain moving from consumer demands. Every business has some involvement in the supply chain and finding viable ways to make improvements in the process will become a competitive advantage against competition.

In the first week I learned that a supply chain is also known as a “logistics network” that consists of suppliers, manufacturing centers, raw materials, work-in-process inventory, finished products, etc. Supply chains include every company that comes into contact with a particular product. The supply chain includes the steps it takes to get a good or service from the supplier to the customer. Therefore, since we have all been customers, we have all been apart of a supply chain. I also learned that information technology is one of the main factors that drive the supply chain. Because of this trend “companies are born global” and as a result there are shorter product cycles as well as a need for collaboration. Many companies strive to have the most optimized supply chain because it usually translates to lower costs for the company. Current trends in supply chains include virtualization, collaboration, virtual sourcing, global information technology standards, and increased awareness.

In last week’s class, we discussed what supply chain is and how it applies in our daily life and business world. It is a concept that becomes more and more important which affects organizations in many different fields. It comprises of vendors that supply raw material, producers who convert the material into products, warehouse that store, distribution centers that deliver to the retailers, and retailers who bring the product to the ultimate user. We also talked about definitions that related to supply chain such as cycle times, sourcing and etc.

In week one’s class, we were introduced to what supply chain is and some terms that are used to describe what concepts are present in a typical supply chain. There were many terms discussed that I did not know before this class, and it gave more insight into what actually happens, and what is important, in a supply chain. I was not aware that there were so many pieces that make up a supply chain depending on the product or service being created. We also discussed the ways in which supply chains make a frequent appearance in our lives. It was interesting to see the different roles each person in the class has had in relation to a supply chain: customer, distributor…etc.

The last class reinforced some of my basic understandings of how supply chains operate. The material refreshed my understanding how products are delivered from the raw materials/procurement process all the way until they are delivered to the final customer. The terminology challenge we were approached with gave me some new knowledge on terms I was unfamiliar with. Some of the terms were just refreshers but it was good to go over them again. The thing I found most interesting and the thing I find most interesting about supply chains overall is the understanding of each individual role in the process. Some roles may seem small but without them the process would not work like it does.

During last week’s class, we learned about what exactly supply chain management entails, and the basic foundation for what the class will be focused on. I found it interesting reflecting on some of the supply chain systems that I was apart of; whether it was being an end consumer when purchasing school supplies from Walmart or being a supplier of services at my previous internship. I was mind blown at the amount of terms essential to supply chain management that weren’t discussed in my SCM and overall business courses that I’ve taken in the past.

Last weeks class I learned how many terms and parts are included in supply chain management. The information helped me open up to how many supply chain management processes I am involved in. I am interested to see how the internet and ERP systems have helped shape supply chains for many other businesses.

Last class I learned a lot about the complexity of supply chains and how difficult they can be to manage. This taught me that in cases, such as Walmart, having a properly managed supply chain can be a strong competitive advantage in many industries. I also learned that supply chains are evolving and becoming more complex. This is driven by information technology, globalization, and shorter product cycles, which are all heavily involved in driving the evolution of supply chains. Finally, the term exercise we had taught me a portion of the lingo used in supply chain management.

In Week 1, we learned what a Supply Chain consists of and how the Internet plays a role in efficiently integrating suppliers, manufacturers, and warehouses. We learned how we all interact and play a role in a Supply Chain system on a daily basis, such as making a purchase at a Fresh Grocer. The goal of a Supply Chain is to produce and distribute merchandise at the right quantities and at the right times to satisfy customers. Something I found interesting in the first lecture was how we all interact with a Supply Chain while completing the simplest tasks like going grocery shopping, and that there were so many levels of supply chain interaction in order to get the products you are purchasing.

I learned that supply chain management is a set of approaches utilized to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, and stores. It is a network of integrated components. SC design must always support strategic objectives because decision are usually long. There has been recent shift in supply chain integration from cross functional integration to cross enterprise integration. SCM has also went form a trend of physical efficiency to market mediation and from a supply focus to a demand focus.

I learned a number of things in our first class. Mainly, that there are many processes in which most products go through in order to reach its final stage, and that everything should work together with one another. I have also learned that there has been a shift from functional integration to cross enterprise within supply chain integration. One thing that I appreciated, was that we said that something as simple as shopping on amazon can include a person in the supply chain process.

In our first class we discussed what the semester would be like as well as what would be expected our us throughout the semester. We also briefly touched on key vocabulary that would be vital to our successful in the class throughout the year. We did this by breaking down into groups and telling the professor what we initially thought each term and then reviewed with the class the terms true meanings. After that, we talked about factors driving supply chain such as information technology and customized products and there importance, later moving onto trends in the supply chain field. It was a good first look at supply chains and it importance and I look forward to learning more about the technology involved in propelling the its future forward.

In our first class of the semester, there was an overview of the class and what to expect every week and we learned about supply chain and supply chain management. I learned the supply chain management is a set of steps that are needed to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, and customers. Having a solid supply chain and efficiently managing it can be a real asset to a company.

In our first class of the semester, there was an overview of the class and what to expect every week and we learned about supply chain and supply chain management. I learned the supply chain management is a set of steps that are needed to efficiently integrate suppliers, manufacturers, and customers. Having a solid supply chain and efficiently managing it can be a real asset to a company.

In week one we discussed how multiple businesses are associated through their supply chain network. We discussed how the supply chain starts with the raw materials, to the manufacturer, to the supplier or distributor, and ultimately reaching the customer (Right place and the right time). Throughout this course we will discuss how to manage the supply chain and those relationships within the network.

Week 1 focused on what supply chains actually are and what kind of advantages they can deliver. Supply chains are actually a very complicated and intertwined process that involves a lot of prediction software in order to fine tune the chain. Many different companies have to work with similar data in order to move a product from raw materials all the way to the customer. There are literally countless things that can affect the effectiveness of the supply chain, and minimizing those things is the priority of supply chain management. Managers must focus on delivering the product to the customer at the right place and the right time.

Week 1 served as an introductory course to the world of supply chain. Topics discussed the concept of supply chain, key players/components and importance in the business world. As we discussed, supply chains are very complex, but they’re vital the success of companies and help them compete in the marketplace. Supply chains that are setup correctly offer a firm the ability to deliver its customer base a high-quality product at competitive prices while allowing the company to cut costs in a manner that makes sense. Supply chains must be set up in a way that strategically aligns with the core competencies of a business and when done right, could prove to be very powerful and advantageous. The internet and technology have helped facilitate the efficiency and relationship-building aspect of supply chain management, as they’re now very much so in “real time” and help facilitate communication.