Role Of Logistics In Supply Chain Management Information Technology Essay

Role Of Logistics In Supply Chain Management Information Technology Essay Logistic is defined as a business planning framework for the management of material, service, information and capital flows. It involves the management of complex information flow, communication, distribution, and control systems that are required in todays business environment. It is a channel of the supply chain that adds value of time and place utility  [2]  . The role of logistics is to manage the balance that is between the little details and the key components that are involved in a product. Looking at my chosen organizations, here are some of the suitable information collected: HMV Group operates distribution centers that play a vital role in the supply chain and the delivery of stock to stores and customers from their suppliers. The role of logistics at HMV is especially important in its goal to transform from a one-dimensional retailer to a broader entertainment brand. HMVs management has embarked in a three-year transformational strategy to restructure their supply chain to achieve efficiencies that would bring about improvement in their operating profit. One of their key initiatives in the fiscal year of 2009 is the implementation of new centralized distribution center for its Waterstones business which served as a facility to facilitate the delivery and distribution of their goods. This resulted in substantial reduction in suppliers transportation requirements, and added efficiency to their supply chain operation. GlaxoSmithKline manages their supply chain with a global logistics team. Their core mandate is to enable supply and demand across the nodes in the chain, while simplifying this process through the implementation of standardization to facilitate the global IT systems. The role of logistics at GSK also involved the provision of warehousing and transportation as well as the management of pack and component portfolios  [3]  . One major initiative of GSK in 2010 is its partnership with Couzens Storage Solution for the installation of computer-controlled vertical life storage systems in its new facility in Harlow, Essex. This system helps maximize floor and cube space by providing fast access to storage with the help of technology. The technology implemented here instructs the picker to check and automatically update stock records with the internal system and add tracking capabilities. These will essentially help GSK to monitor their inventory and track shipments to ensure timely deliv ery to the customers. BT Group The role of logistics in BTs supply chain management is aimed to drive the business of BT, in particularly in customer service delivery and cost transformation. BT certainty understands the role of logistics, and the importance to control costs with maximum efficiency in any supply chain operation. BT actually offers the BT Field Force Automation which is essentially a tailored BT product to improve customer service, cut overheads and increase productively. They also offer another product called the BT Auto-ID which allows their customers to track assets with RFID (radio frequency ID) technology to gain more visibility throughout the supply chain. Extend research to Procurement practices in chosen organizations Procurement plays an essential part in the delivery of goods and services for organizations. This is the process of obtaining goods and services from the preparation stage through to the approval of the invoice for payment. HMV Group Initiated the integration of IT and back office functions, and centralized procurement of non-sale goods that could bring about potential cost savings of over  £40m annually  [4]  . This is known as sharing services to attain greater economies of scale by combining several small procurement agents into one centralized system. Joint partnership with Unipart to create a new book hub to serve stores and its website as a centralize location for its distribution functions. Product department in HMVs head office is responsible in facilitating product negotiations to obtain the best offers for their customers, and the maintenance of the latest range of products both instore and online. Employ the use of bar coding and tags to identify items and facilitate the just-in-time system of timing the purchases from their suppliers to keep inventory costs low. Engage in green public procurement practice such as its Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and electricity procurement to improve billing, monitoring and reporting capabilities  [5]  . GlaxoSmithKline Operates a shared service through its centralized Global manufacturing and supply (GMS) network that runs its procurement operation on behalf of GSK to purchase supplies for their business needs. Has an in-house procurement/purchasing department that manages GSK purchases on particular categories, its facilitation of e-bid events/auctions, project management, supplier condition and negotiations and stakeholder engagement. Leverage technology with the use of computer-controlled vertical life storage systems that checks, automatically updates stock record with internal system and tracking capabilities to help them manage their just-in-time system for timing purchases. BT Group Invested in automation with electronic interfaces to liaise to supplier directly from CRM. Integrated core Supplier with its customer order system through a centralized B2B gateway system, where its suppliers can interface. Implemented ORACLE Financials as BTs core Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that offers tools such as ORACLE eBusiness suite and iProcurement to manage their outgoing orders to suppliers. Employs the SEBEL software, a customer relationship management system, to keep track of customer information and details while also measuring consumer satisfaction and preferences. Discuss the factors considered to improve logistics/procurement practices Procurement, which is the process of obtaining goods and services from the preparation stage through to the approval of the invoice for payment, is also known as sourcing, and some of the common procurement practices involve: Purchasing Planning Standards Determination Specifications Development Research and Supplier Selection Value Analysis Financing and Price Negotiations Inventory Control and Stores Using these known theoretical factors, one can apply these to improve the logistics and procurement practice at NewG. Application of practices to NewG From the aforementioned research in section 5.1 and 5.2, NewG Furniture can certainly draw from the expertise of these established organizations and use these practices to apply to their own business operations. NewG can implement these practices: Operation of a NewG centralized distribution center: A centralized distribution centre such as a single B2B gateway will bring about significant cost savings in transportation and also allow NewG to reduce their carbon footprint in facilitating the delivery process to their stores and customers. Share services by appointing a specialized NewG purchasing/procurement unit that manages NewGs purchases on particular categories, its facilitation of e-bid events/auctions, project management, supplier condition and negotiations and stakeholder engagement. Leverage technology in warehousing to maximum the real estate of NewGs facilities and optimize the space in their warehouses. Employ ERP software such as ORACLE Financials to utilize the tools like iProcurement to manage NewGs just-in-time supply chain management. These would also be the infrastructure to support buyer-supplier communication, and include the real time messages (i.e status, delivery, etc) such that anyone in the supply chain can be provided with accurate information. Engage in BT Field Force Automation to improve NewGs customer service, cut overhead and increases productively. Similarly, use BT Auto-ID offer to enable NewG to track assets with RFID technology to gain more visibility throughout the supply chain Task6 NewG Furniture Supply Chain Strategy, 2011 and beyond NewG Furnitures strategy is to ensure full integration to be achieved with their suppliers in order to provide the best experience for both your internal and external customers. With the use of technology, there will be a marked improvement in the flexibility to collaborate with a wide breath of NewG suppliers to meet NewGs needs for its annual expenditure on goods. The 2011 and beyond strategy is to incorporate the latest form of technology available to optimize the supply chain management process and NewGs market competitiveness. The four phases to implement this Supply Chain Strategy are: Phase 1 Improvement Assessment and Analysis Define opportunities based on operations strategy and performance shortfalls Define targets, quantify benefit and prioritise Phase 2 Analyze supply chain and processes Modeling the current supply chain flows Measuring service and financial performance. Phase 3 Design Improvement Run simulations on model supply chain Generate ideas through improvement teams Align supply chain, process and information Define process change and technology deployment Phase 4 Detailed Planning and Implementation Develop detailed designs and plans Define business case Manage change  [6]   The strategy proposes to offer a range of electronic trading options, from which suppliers can select from, to meet their different requirements. These will be relayed back to the suppliers where they perform their assessment of which would best suit their requirements and maximize their return on investment (ROI). Next, NewG Furniture should enforce a standard protocol of having single trade arrangement and single invoicing arrangement for suppliers, to standardize transactions during the ordering processes, by providing: A single portal interface used for on-line ordering Comprehensive supply chain network (automatic order acknowledgement, invoice, status checks, receipts, etc) Most cost effective supply chain by using centralized distribution centers Accurate allocation of expenditure NewG Furniture should work towards automation with electronic interfaces to suppliers with the introduction of EDI. From 2011 onwards, management should seek to automate as many processes as possible within the supply chain. One way to do this is to implement Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Planning and Bid Support applications to allow a direct interface to suppliers. These systems will help capture data and orders from NewGs customers and give them additional insight in the procurement process. Single B2B Gateway NewG Furniture could facilitate its customer order systems by launching a single B2B gateway through which suppliers can interface. This will include the latest technology available and enable suppliers to send and receive messages through a consistent and stable platform. The system will automatically send real-time updates to inform on the status, time dispatched, delivery, etc, such that NewG Furniture will always be aware of the progress should their customers inquire. Additionally, NewG Furniture should also encourage their suppliers to embrace new technologies and further collaborate by sharing information and integrating inter-company processes to improve resource utilization  [7]  . On-line Ordering The next proposed step is for NewG Furniture to invest in ERM software that provides tools such as iProcurement/iBuy to pave the way for on-line ordering. Orders through these online channels should automatically churn out approve purchase requisition, which in turn should generate a purchase order (PO) to the supplier. NewG should also follow the NO PO NO PAY policy, whereby supplier are advise to only proceed until a formal purchase order is received. Multiple Ordering and Invoicing Options Such functionally should be available to manage the relationship with suppliers by provision of different options for ordering and invoicing. Centralized Distribution and SMART facilities NewG Furniture should launch a centralized distribution facility to bring about significant cost savings in transportation and also allow NewG to reduce their carbon footprint in facilitating the delivery process to their stores and customers. They could also introduce high-tech systems in their facilities to provide fast access to storage and maximize the real estate of their facilities. Embedded chips NewG Furniture can employ the proprietary offering from BT called the BT Auto-ID which will allow NewG to track their assets with the RFID (radio frequency ID) technology to gain more visibility throughout the supply chain. Supply Chain Improvement Strategy and Benefits Analyzing the inputs of the supply chain improvement strategy, one can assess the beneficial impact by the following: Single portal / Single B2B Gateway Suppliers can interface, allow NewG to benefit from better manage their supplier relations. Allow companies in collaboration to share information and integrate the inter-company processes and improve resource utilization. Online Ordering Facilitate the automation process of ordering, where orders will automatically churn out the necessary follow ups and documents to send to counterparties. Provide an additional platform for NewG Furniture to generate sales and thus improving their sales figures. Opens their target market to an international audience which would bring a marked improvement in overall sales. Centralized Distribution and SMART facilities Reduce their overall carbon footprint and transportation costs to have a centralized unit facilitate the delivery process. Cost savings generated can be re-directed to invest in product development or acquiring strategic assets. Embedded Chips Allow NewG to micro-manage their assets in the delivery process and provide customers with more visibility to achieve higher customer satisfaction. Barriers to overcome in an organization in this implementation No doubt, the implementation of a supply chain improvement strategy will come together with quite a few barriers to overcome. In order to design a comprehensive strategy, these issues will have to be identified by the management and addressed without delay. Firstly, the primary barrier in the implementation process is obtaining the sufficient capital and resources. The implementation of the aforementioned 2011 and beyond, Supply China Strategy requires substantial investment in the necessary technologies. Without sufficient capital, NewG Furniture will find it difficult to fully exploit the new technological innovations that are used in the marketplace today and would not be able to successful put their implementation in action. The next barrier would be to address the resistance to change in the organization. According to behavioral research studies, it is common wisdom that it is a basic tenet of human behavior to resist change  [8]  . This encompasses the more dramatic changes like major restructuring to the minor changes like implementing a new procedure. Thus, it is paramount for management to anticipate and plan strategies to tackle this resistance. This implementation should be initiated with an introduction of the change with periodic follow-through and consistent monitoring over the long-term. The last barrier to be overcome to ensure the successful implementation of this Supply Chain improvement strategy would be to address the technical competencies of the employees at NewG Furniture. It would be ideal for employees to undergo training and equip them with the necessary skills to effectively operate the new systems and application that are installed. Conclusion Following this strategy, NewG will be able to achieve overall business performance in particularly in four key areas in process, measurement, information management and technology. This would directly lead to benefits of increased competitiveness and profitability, and position NewG Furniture to fully capitalize on investment opportunities and expand its market share. The new technologies would result in improvements in the supply chain process and enable rapid feedback as well as the ability to manage supplier relationship. NewG Furniture could also realize benefits of improved customer service, greater efficiency and lower inventory costs with shorter cycle and lead times, and a much more simple supply chain.

Analysis of Sonnet 116 N

Analysis of sonnet 116 by william shakespeare and sonnet 29 bu edna st vincent millay Let me not to the marriage of true mindsLet me not declare any reasons why two Admit impediments. Love is not loveTrue-minded people should not be married. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds,Which changes when it finds a change in circumstances, Or bends with the remover to remove:Or bends from its firm stand even when a lover is unfaithful: O no! it is an ever-fixed markOh no! it is a lighthouseThat looks on tempests and is never shaken;That sees storms but it never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark,Love is the guiding north star to every lost ship, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Whose value cannot be calculated, although its altitude can be measured. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeksLove is not at the mercy of Time, though physical beauty Within his bending sickle's compass come:Comes within the compass of his sickle. Love al ters not with his brief hours and weeks,Love does not alter with hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom.But, rather, it endures until the last day of life. If this be error and upon me proved,If I am proved wrong about these thoughts on love I never writ, nor no man ever loved. Then I recant all that I have written, and no man has ever [truly] loved. Sonnet 116 is about love in its most ideal form. It is praising the glories of lovers who have come to each other freely, and enter into a relationship based on trust and understanding. The first four lines reveal the poet's pleasure in love that is constant and strong, and will not â€Å"alter when it alteration finds. The following lines proclaim that true love is indeed an â€Å"ever-fix'd mark† which will survive any crisis. In lines 7-8, the poet claims that we may be able to measure love to some degree, but this does not mean we fully understand it. Love's actual worth cannot be known – it remain s a mystery. The remaining lines of the third quatrain (9-12), reaffirm the perfect nature of love that is unshakeable throughout time and remains so â€Å"ev'n to the edge of doom†, or death. In â€Å"Pity Me Not,† Millay uses the cyclical forces of nature as a metaphor for her version of the cycle of love, a version that concludes a an’s love for a woman always ends. Her comparison, however, becomes paradoxical as she moves from the rational mind to the emotional heart. The first stanza begins immediately with her rational comparisons of nature to love. In the first two lines she looks at the sunset and one is reminded of the warmth love brings to life. A warmth that naturally fades as love dies. Next, she moves to beauty and the aging process. Unfortunately as women get older, American society often considers their beauty lost just as flowers wither as winter approaches. Millay seems to assume that men cannot love if the woman has no beauty left. The waning o f the moon† can easily refer to the loss of romance and passion, since moonlight is often considered a sensuous setting. Finally, â€Å"the ebbing of the tide† washes away any remnants of the romance. Passion’s tide will only go lower and lower from this point. Millay finishes the octave directly tying love to nature. Up to this point, love has not been explicitly addressed. Finally, she gets to the thrust of the poem, â€Å"Nor that a man’s desire is hushed so soon, and you no longer look on love with me. † It is clear in this octave that Millay looks at the passing of love, the end of men’s desire, as a natural part of life.She seems resigned to it. She accepts it and declares, â€Å"Pity me not† the loss of these precious things, for there is nothing else which could happen. With the tone of the octave, she clearly does not sound so much as a â€Å"tormented lover† as she does someone who has become completely jaded to love a ltogether. The torment is long finished. As is common in many sonnets, the sestet introduces a new tone, a new twist to the narrative. In line 9, she tells us directly that she indeed has gone through these stages of love enough to become resigned to the inevitable: â€Å"This love I have known always: love is no more. It is with line 10 that the tone of the poem twists to something totally conflicting with the octave. Lines 10-12 all compare the ending of love to natural events that are clearly not cyclical or expected at all. Passages such as â€Å"the wide blossom which the wind assails† or â€Å"the great tide that treads the shifting shore strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales† reveal that she is not at all calm over the ending of love. The imagery throughout this section is violent.It is as if she is the wide blossom assailed; that the shifting shore is her foundation, her emotions being eroded; that the wind is now no longer a natural, common wind but a gale! Probably the most effective word that demonstrates these bad feelings is â€Å"wreckage. † The term is the only man-made noun in the entire poem, a term that is not natural at all. The vision of boats being mangled and ripped in a storm quickly comes to mind. She clearly seems to see herself as the â€Å"fresh wreckage† in the midst of a grand emotional storm. A question now arises in the reader’s mind at the conclusion of line 12.If the ending of love is rational and expected, why have this outburst of torture and torment? The couplet holds the answer. As typical in so many sonnets, the couplet ends with a surprise and a tying together of all the elements of the poem above it. In the octave Millay asks her readers not to pity her the ending of love, as it is simply a natural occurrence in her spoiled view. In the couplet she gets to the point of her real pain. â€Å"Pity me that the heart is slow to learn what the swift mind beholds at every turn. † Now she is clearly asking for sympathy. She knows that love will end.She watches it happen time and time again around her, but she laments that she still feels pain in her heart. She feels she is smarter than that but still she succumbs to her emotions. Pity her her broken heart. Period. Thus, the octave is a representation of her mind, her rationalizing assumption that relationships cannot naturally work. The sestet’s quatrain represents the pain, the emotional violence that still emerges despite all of her rationalizations. That revelation is the paradox. The ending of love is not cyclically expected as is the sunset or the waning of the moon — at least not in her heart where it matters the most. Pity Me Not† was written in 1923, a period characterized by poets consistently examining their psyches. Edna St. Vincent Millay continued this study of her â€Å"worthlessness† throughout most of this time. Before 1923, she indeed lived through an amount of p ain and sadness. That year, however, was not a time to be glum or depressed, for 1923 was clearly one of the most joyous, important years in her life. It was the year she married a rather wealthy man, finally finding love while freeing herself from financial responsibilities, allowing her to devote all of her time to her art.It was the year she first became published in Europe, to a resounding success. It was also the year she won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry–only the second of its kind awarded (Atkins 93-147). No, 1923 was known as an exceptionally happy time for Millay, in her career and in romantic pursuits. Thus, the final paradox to be found in â€Å"Pity Me Not† is that she could, and did, find the love she thought she’d never find. The marraige lasted, disproving her theory that relationships naturally die.

Definitions of Best College Entrance Essay Samples

Definitions of Best College Entrance Essay Samples A Startling Fact about Best College Entrance Essay Samples Uncovered Essays are an essential component in the college application procedure. So plan out what it is you would like to include and elaborate from that point. The Hidden Truth on Best College Entrance Essay Samples Colleges are interested in finding a feeling of maturity and introspectionpinpoint the transformation and demonstrate your private growth. Note you do not need to have solved the issue, and a few of the greatest essays will explore problems that should be solved later on. Thus, the essay is supposed to coincide with the applicant's qualities and interests in order for it to boost the possibilities of admission. Application essays about challenges reveal how you respond to difficulty to individuals who are quite interested in how you'll manage the subsequent four years by yourself. Many applicants don't make the most of the essaythey choose the incorrect question, write about an inappropriate subject, or simply fail to gather a compelling essay. Highlight the things you need to have in your essay, summarize your individual story and incorporate your qualifications. You wish to utilize your essay for a tool to demonstrate why you need to go to their school, versus simply stating why you wish to go there. Plagiarizing your essay answers will guarantee that you won't get in the school that you dream about. In order to be noticed, it's important to understand that there are numerous essay topics which are cliche and overused. As soon as you own a topic, it's best to make an outline of ideas. For a beginning, the usual application essay topics need you to use language that's totally free from language flaws and grammatical mistakes. Write clearly and show colleges how you think and exactly what you will add to the campus. If you would like to create a college essay which works, you will need to provide importance on the content which you will supply the admissions officer of your intended university with. Explain your commitments, and you're going to be the sort of student colleges find immensely attractive. Upcoming college students might also be requested to compose a college essay for a component of their first requirements. Finding the Best Best College Entrance Essay Samples Your college counselor can offer valuable insight into how to boost your college application essays, so make sure to find feedback on your drafts whenever possible. In addition to its growing cultural and ethnic diversity, State University is turning into a master at developing a niche for each and every student. For instance, if you're likely to send the very same essay to multiple schools, edit to be sure any reference to College X doesn't show up in the copy you send to University Y. I have come across several admission essays which state the explanations for why that student thinks they'll be a terrific fit for one more college, states Jeffers. College admissions essays frequently have an extremely limited word count, so get the most out of every word. The Hidden Gem of Best College Entrance Essay Samples When many schools encourage creativity in regards to crafting your own personal statement, it's important to incorporate best writing practices to guarantee a piece that is simple to read, thorough, and engaging. Developing a good college essay may lose its purpose in the event the content of what you've written is not what the university is asking for. Sit down, consider the story that you want to write. You must grab their attention and the best method to do this is by writing in your voice. Understanding Best College Entrance Essay Samples In the event you have any pressing questions, you don't have to shy away. Don't forget, the point of the essays is to demonstrate the admissions officers something they can't garner from the remainder of your application. When you must compose an essay on a favorite topic, say poverty, social exclusion, or gender equality, it is extremely easy to gather the required information and begin writing. On the flip side, an excellent essay or private statement will enable you to stand out and boost your odds of getting admitted, even if other components of your application aren't stellar. The Lost Secret of Be st College Entrance Essay Samples Your MBA essays are your very best opportunity to sell the individual behind the resume. Writing a college admission essay can be very tough. Writing the correct College-Entrance Essay. Stephen's essay is quite effective. It's possible for you to access the writer who's writing your essay directly so which you can make any correction. A quick sentence is utilised to make the emotional resolution of the admission essay.

Proud and Self-Confident Characters in Zora Neale...

Zora Neale Hurston’s essay â€Å"How it Feels to Be Colored Me† and â€Å"I, Too† by Langston Hughes, both have a theme of racism in common. Although these works of literature depict racial inequality, the main characters are portrayed as self-confident and proud individuals. They are not discouraged or disheartened by the attitudes of those who try to oppress them. â€Å"How it feels to be colored me† portrays the attitude of the author after learning she was colored at the age of thirteen. The young Zora lives her entire childhood in a small, all colored, South Florida town where she proclaims herself, â€Å"†¦ everybody’s Zora† (Hurston, 539), because she holds no prejudice in her innocent heart. When she enters school in Jacksonville at the age of thirteen she is shocked to realize that she is now â€Å"†¦ a little colored girl† (Hurston, 539); she lost her identity somewhere along the way. Neal write the she found she was colored in her â€Å"†¦ heart as well as in the mirror [she] became a fast brown †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hurston, 539) her world was never the same. However, Zora is not willing to surrender to the rules of society, she continues to live her life in a positive manner. â€Å"I, Too† also portrays the racism of the times, but in a much different way, Hughes character is a young colored boy, a symbol of black America. His family depicts white America. The boy is sent to the kitchen when the family entertains, because he is â€Å"†¦ the darker brother† (Hughes, L.2, 872), whom the family wants to keep