[meteor_slideshow slideshow=”arp1″]
Supply chain management refers to the facilities, functions,
and activities in producing and delivering a product or ser-
vice from suppliers to customers. All this is done in an ef-
fort to provide customers with quality product or service at
the lowest possible cost. Companies that effectively man-
age the supply chain have found that they gain a competi-
tive advantage in the marketplace.
Retail copy and mailing centers have dotted both
suburban strip malls and inner-city locations for the past twenty years. The copy and mailing centers typically
offer services such as duplicating, collating, binding,
fax services, printing, packaging, mailing, supplies of all
sorts, Internet access, and design services, just to name a
few. Traditionally, the more successful centers have a
combination of service and location that suits a group of
customers. Pricing is generally important to the cus-
tomer, so center loyalty can be erased by promotion ad-
vertising. This is complicated by the fact that this is a small-margin business in which pennies on orders make
the difference.
Many chains of copy and mailing services offer fran-
chises that give owners the benefit of researched methods
and some quantity pricing to help the business succeed.
In addition scores of independent copy and mailing cen-
ters are started by entrepreneurs who believe they possess
a knack or formula for success. A common characteristic
of these two types is that most are not paying close at-
tention to the vertical-integration and reduction-of-
vendor strategies that are common to supply chain
management practice.
In the last few years we can see some prominent evi-
dence of supply chain management in the retail landscape
of copy and mailing centers. Federal Express and UPS,
competitors in the package delivery business, have pur-
chased Kinko?s and Mail Boxes USA, a copy center and a
mail center, respectively. These two large package delivery companies are well known for their attention to supply
chain management. Federal Express and UPS must also
provide substantial benefits to their existing customers
and find ways to attract new customers given the money
they are spending on these acquisitions.
RESPONDING TO THE CASE
1. What elements of supply chain management might
account for the combinations of Federal Express with
Kinko?s and UPS with Mail Boxes USA?
2. What other trends in the way work is performed
might have influenced Federal Express and UPS to
make these acquisitions?
3. Are there other examples of companies extending
their supply chain management style into traditional
industries?
Place your order of custom research paper With us NOW. The assignment will be written from scratch by our qualified and experienced writers.
[meteor_slideshow slideshow=”arp2″]
A-Research-Paper.com is committed to deliver a custom paper/essay which is 100% original and deliver it within the deadline. Place your custom order with us and experience the different; You are guaranteed; value for your money and a premium paper which meets your expectations, 24/7 customer support and communication with your writer. Order Now
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]