PBS series America Revealed - Research Paper Example

Inserts His/her Inserts Inserts Grade (05, 03, PBS Series America Revealed The episode on ‘Food Machine’ enlightens viewers regarding farming and supply of different food items in the country (PBS, 1). The extensive supply chain through which farmed food items go through is elaborated and challenges are discussed. The episode is certainly an eye opener with regards to the overall food industry of the country. Most people while consuming food items don’t consider the effort that goes into the farming and distribution of vegetables, fruits, and other food items. The overall process is highly sophisticated and includes many valuable lessons with respect to supply chain management. The episode revealed a very important fact that efficiency of supply chain depends upon the effective work of all units working in the supply chain. Another important thing that one can learn from the episode is the strong association between planning and successful operations management. The third important thing that one can pick from the episode is that production can be increased through infusing technology in the supply chain effectively. Efficiency of Supply Chain and Role of Individual Working Units The sophisticated food supply chain of United States is working effectively and efficiently just because all the individual working units in the supply chain are perfectly synchronized. The most important thing in supply chain management is to make sure that all the players involved in the chain are working effectively because time lag at any level can disrupt the whole change and can reduce efficiency. This is what the episode on food production teaches the audience. A pizza is enjoyed by a consumer because farmers grow the required vegetables in time and supply them to the markets from where they go to pizza stores. The whole process involves many small players upon whom the efficiency of supply chain is dependent. Even if one of them do not work hard enough then the end consumer will suffer. Supply chain management is only efficient when no extra time is consumed on any individual unit in the supply chain. This is only possible when all individual players do their job on time flawlessly. The episode tells us how farmers are working day and night in producing food items that find place in markets all over the country. The synchronization between all players is the most important thing because without it nothing can work in the food industry. Synchronization of all players in the supply chain is most significant as it is the only thing that can increase efficiency of a supply chain (Khouja, 984). Link between Planning and Effective Supply Chain Management The episode revealed that long term planning is essential in order to develop an effective supply chain. It was all because of extensive planning in 1940s that California was able to get the necessary water required for farming. Without this long term planning of the government, farmers of the area would never have been able to develop so much. It is essential in supply chain management to plan many years ahead of time and anticipate future needs and demands. Government made dams and developed irrigation system in order to support farmers and this is how production increased significantly. All this was possible due to extensive long term planning of the government. Long term planning in supply chain management is important today because demands are ever changing and consumers are demanding news thing every day. The trick is to anticipate this demand and develop an effective supply chain that can fulfill the demands of the consumers. Long term planning is an important part of effective supply chain management (Spekman, Kamauff, & Myhr, 53).This is one of the most significant things one can learn from the episode because all the production of food items became possible through dams and canals planned by the government many years ago. People of today are bearing the fruits of this long term planning of the government in developing an efficient supply chain. Water is the most significant element in the food supply chain because it is essential for crops. The episode told us that California was short on water which is why government had to take steps and irrigate the land. Planning played a great role in developing an effective food supply chain. Supply Chain and Use of High Tech Machinery High tech machinery is shown in the episode that is assisting farmers at all levels and this use of technology is facilitating the overall efficiency of supply chain and plays a role in increasing productivity. Farmers can use a small machine and can collect grown tomatoes from the field fairly quickly through using high tech machinery. This use of machinery helps farmers at many levels. It reduces wastage to a minimum as food items are taken when they are fresh. It also allows farmers to transport large number of food items without any mobility issue. The machinery also helps in increasing per acre yield as water irrigation is done effectively. This is why machinery plays an important role in improving productivity and increasing efficiency of the supply chain. The use of machinery also allows farmers to cultivate vast amount of land and keep track of their planted area. The episode shows vast farmed land which is being irrigated and cultivated through high tech machineries. This is the most significant thing one can learn from the episode because machine do not take mistakes and they do not get tired like humans. This is why use of machines can drastically improve efficiency of a supply chain as shown in the episode. Conclusion The episode of PBS series American Revealed teaches the audience a lot about supply chain management. The food chain episode is particularly interesting because it sheds light on the extremely sophisticated supply chain mechanism of American food industry. The level of planning and work involved in food production and delivery is shocking for a common person. Many important supply chain management concepts and ideas can be learned from the episode. The most important of them are that efficiency is dependent on working of all parties in the supply chain, planning is an essential part of supply chain management, and use of high tech machinery can increase productivity and efficiency of the supply chain. Works Cited Page Food Machine. PBS Series ‘America Revealed’, 2013. Web. Accessed on July 05, 2013 < http://www.pbs.org/america-revealed/episode/1/> Khouja, M. Synchronization in Supply Chains: Implications for Design and Management. The Journal of the Operational Research Society, 54, 9, 2003 Spekman, Robert, Kamauff, John & Myhr, Niklas. An empirical investigation into supply chain management: a perspective on partnerships. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 3, 2, 53 – 67, 1998 Read More