Monday, June 1, 2015
TWIF Flattener #7 - Supply-Chaining
Use one of the current events sources linked at http://svhs-hwc-fall2015.blogspot.com/2015/06/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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Title: Amazon Testing Drones for Deliveries
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-25180906
Summary: Amazon is the world's largest online retailer. In order to proliferate efficiency in it's delivery system, it has proposed and tested the use of unmanned flying drones, carrying products weighing up to 5 pounds, or 85% of the items they handle. Customers can expect a package only 30 minutes after placing their order, Amazon says. Prime Air will most certainly reduce transportation costs, picking the product from Amazon's many warehouses and dropping at a customer's doorstep. However, Amazon will have to overcome many regulatory hurdles before seeing this dream of science fiction-turned-nonfiction come true. "One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today."
Much like Freidman describes Wal-Mart, Amazon does not practically "produce" anything. Instead, such products come from all around the world, from manufacturers, other retailers, and even individuals. As an online retailer, it requires a complex system of management, organization, and efficiency to get it's "products" where they need to be, on time, and safely. The introduction of drones as delivery systems, much like Wal-Mart's trucks, will enhance the integration of technology for efficiency, a critical aspect in a supply chain. Amazon's efficiency in distributing it's millions of packages has enabled it to become the number one online retailer. Wal-Mart may control the ground, but Amazon will most likely dominate the skies.
Title: Why Wal-Mart’s Labor Issues Run Deeper Than Too Much Justin Bieber
ReplyDeleteLink: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/05/411978638/why-wal-marts-labor-issues-run-deeper-than-too-much-justin-bieber
Summary:
Wal-Mart recently improved working conditions for its employees by varying the music selections and turning up the heat in the store locations, but the supply chain did not fix its more urgent problems. For example, Wal-Mart stated that it would cut back on the usage of greenhouse gases for the benefit of the environment, and buy produce from local farmers. However, the company did not complete half of the cut-backs that it planned to by March of 2015, with gas or with food purchases, and ended up leaving local farmers at a disadvantage. Essentially, Wal-Mart is not meeting the requirements that were put in place by the code of ethics.
In TWIF, Friedman discussed Wal-Mart as an example of a supply chain. He outlined Wal-Mart’s business practices and its ability to lower prices further than most other companies, and therefore steal all of the customers. However, Friedman discussed Wal-Mart’s faults as well, similarly to the article. Both sources discussed the fact that Wal-Mart does not meet specific requirements, despite its popularity.
Title: Walmart to stop selling AR-15 rifles due to 'decreased demand'
ReplyDeleteLink: www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/26/walmart-discontinue-ar-15-rifles
Summary: Walmart has stopped carrying semi-automatic firearms because support for them has declined from recent shootings. These firearms will be replaced with other firearms such as shotguns for hunting. Walmart and the AR-15 rifle have become part of the gun control debates. The decision for removal of sale for firearms is because of loss of customer interest.