生命是永恒不断的创造，因为在它内部蕴含着过剩的精力，它不断流溢，越出时间和空间的界限，它不停地追求，以形形色色的自我表现的形式表现出来。－－泰戈尔中国经济管理大学MBA课件《供应链管理》学员问题探讨与案例分析（苏尼尔•乔普拉著教材）CHAPTERONEDiscussionQuestions1Considerthepurchaseofacanofsodaataconveniencestore.Describethevariousstagesinthesupplychainandthedifferentflowsinvolved.Whenacustomerpurchasesacanofsodaataconveniencestore,hispurchaserepresentstheendofasupplychain’sdeliveryofanitemandthebeginningofinformationregardinghispurchaseflowingintheoppositedirection.Thesupplychainstagesincludecustomers,retailers,wholesalers/distributors,manufacturers,andcomponent/rawmaterialsuppliers.Acustomer’spurchasemovesproducttowardsthecustomeranddollarsandinformationtowardstheretailer.Theretailerplacesanorderfromthewholesaler/distributortoreplenishstock,therebymovinginformationbackupthesupplychainwhilemovingproductdownthesupplychain.Astheorderisfilled,theretailerwillmovedollarsbackupthesupplychain.Thewholesaler/distributortransmitsinformationanddollarstothemanufacturerwhoproducesproductandshipsitdownthesupplychaintothewholesaler.Finally(orinitially,dependingonyourperspective)themanufacturermovesorders(information)anddollarstowardssuppliersinexchangeformaterialflowintotheirproductionprocesses.2WhyshouldafirmlikeDelltakeintoaccounttotalsupplychainprofitabilitywhenmakingdecisions?Dellrealizesthattheirultimatesuccesslieswiththesuccessoftheirsupplychainanditsabilitytogeneratesupplychainsurplus.IfDellwastoviewsupplychainoperationsasazerosumgame,theywouldlosetheircompetitiveedgeastheirsuppliers’businessesstruggled.Dell’sprofitgainedattheexpenseoftheirsupplychainpartnerswouldbeshortlived.Justasaphysicalchainisonlyasstrongasitsweakestlink,thesupplychaincanbesuccessfulonlyifallmemberscooperateandfocusonaglobaloptimumratherthanmanylocaloptima.3WhataresomestrategicplanningandoperationaldecisionsthatmustbemadebyanapparelretailerlikeTheGap?AsTheGapplanssupplychainstrategyitmustfirstconsiderthemarketingfunction’spricingplansinordertostructureasupplychainconsonantwiththeseplans.Strategicconsiderationssuchasthecapacityofeachsupplierandassemblyoperations,sourcingdecisionsandhowlogisticsaretobehandledareallpartofthedesign.Thesupplychainmustalsosettleoncommunicationchannelsandfrequencies.Supplychainplanningtakesthestrategicdecisionsasagivenandseekstoexploitefficienciesinthechaintomaximizesupplychainsurplus.Theentirechainshouldcollaborateinforecastingandplanningproductionastoachieveaglobaloptimum.Theforecastsshouldtakeintoaccountplannedpromotionsandknownseasonalfluctuationsindemand.Theoperationaldecisiontaketheplansasagivenandmakeday-to-daydecisionstoprocesscustomerorders,allocateresourcestocertaincustomers,triggerordersfromsupplychainmembers,anddeliverproduct.4Considerthesupplychaininvolvedwhenacustomerpurchasesabookatabookstore.Identifycyclesinthissupplychainandthelocationofthepush/pullboundary.Allsupplychainprocessescanbebrokendownintofourprocesscyclesthatconnectthefivestagesofthesupplychain;thecustomerordercycle,thereplenishmentcycle,themanufacturingcycle,andtheprocurementcycle.Thecustomerordercycleconnectsthecustomerwiththeretailer;thisconnectionismadeasthebook,perhapsSupplyChainManagementbyChopraandMeindl,isselectedandpaidforbythecustomer.Thereplenishmentcycleconnectstheretailerandthedistributor...
