WEEK 1 DISCUSSION PART 1 - Assignment Example

Designing your global supply chain A supply chain defines the path that resources follow up to delivery of a final product to a consumer and identifies roles of resources, personnel, technology, and information to the link between producers and consumers. I, in this paper, explore Dell’s supply chain and propose a design for improvement in a globalized set up.Dell is a multinational computer technology company that is based in the United States. It assembles and sells computers and computer related appliances and does repairs.

The corporation exhibits both forward and reverse supply chains. Its forward supply chain involves transfer of products to consumers while reverse supply chain involves transfer of products from consumers to the organization for recycling or as return inwards. The forward supply chain involves ordering of products via mail or electronic methods. A first in first out inventory management follows in processing and delivery of the orders, though the organization observers some flexibility. In cases of lack of inventory, a supplier is sought through an online system.

The supply chain involves “postponement,” and “modularity” (Kumar and Graig, 2007, p. 200, 201). The organization’s suppliers and consumers who determine the volumes of required inventory manage inventory, and products are transported through shipments. The supply chain also involves a series of partnerships with “suppliers, service providers, shipping companies, and customers” (Kumar and Graig, 2007, p. 203).I could redesign the company’s supply chain through application of the six-sigma approach.

The new design would involve a monitoring and evaluation department that would identify ideal supply chain processes and actual deviations from the ideals. The department would also explore periodic changes in supply chain processes and identify significance of those changes with respect to consumers’ expectations in order to eliminate inefficiencies and facilitate cohesion among involved processes and stakeholders. The design will also evaluate suppliers’ efficiency levels to identify the most reliable suppliers for long-term partnerships, contrary to the current short-term partnership approach.

This is because long-term partnerships increase commitments towards efficiencies. Inputs and outputs will however remain the same since they are determined by demand (Bandyopadhyay and Jenicke, 2007). The design will involve both domestic and global operations. The need for global operations will extend the analytical approach to the corporation’s diversified customer locations and therefore increase required resources for implemention (Bandyopadhyay and Jenicke, 2007). Consumer, supplier, and logistics partner bases will however remain the same with potential increased rates of deliveries.

I would approach different stakeholders in order to gain support for the design. The first stakeholder would be Dell’s chief executive to whom I would explain the potential advantages of the design to the organization’s supply chain. I would also approach Dell’s production department and executives of suppliers and shipment companies to explain the need and benefits of the design for better and longer lasting partnerships. I would organize my presentation to identify the needs for, and potential benefits of a six-sigma approach to supply chain management.

The presentation would be made through power point slides together with oral elaborations. I would apply mails for receiving and responding to feedbacks because of its convenience and reliability. My approach to presenting the redesign and gaining buy in will be persuasive because I have successfully applied the approach to gain team support for my organization’s internal projects.Dell is a global corporation that deals in supplies of computers and computer applications. Its supply chain involves its production department, suppliers, shipment companies and consumers, and is driven by consumers’ orders.

I would however redesign the supply chain to include the six-sigma management approach towards higher level of efficiency. The design would be communicated to the organization’s executive and production department and executives of supplier and shipment companies through power point presentations and feedback obtained through mails. ReferencesBandyopadhyay, J. and Jenicke, L. (2007). Six Sigma approach to quality assurance in global supply chains: A study of United States automakers. International Journal of Management,24(1), 101–107.

Kumar, S. and Graig, S. (2007). Dell, Inc.’s closed loop supply chain for computer assembly plants. Information Knowledge System Management (6.2007): 197- 214.