Operations Management and Supply Chains

Supply Chain Management is the conscious and active control of the activities of supply chain in order to gain a competitive advantage as well as capitalize on customer satisfaction (Jespersen Larsen 2005, p. 40). It is a strategic concept that maximizes on coordinated decisions about where and how to store inventory, where to buy the material and the mode of distributions (Advameg 2010, par. 1-3 ).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Management and Supply Chains specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The move aims at making the business operate in a cost effective and satisfy the customers on time. The concept also aims at representing the collective effort of all the businesses that produce the products and services to the consumer (The Aspen institute 2008, par. 1-3). The supply chain businesses consciously work towards developing and sustaining the chains in efficient and cost effective ways. Supply chain a ctivities involve product development, production, the sourcing of materials and managing logistics. Physical flows that connect the supply chains include the movement, transformation of the goods and materials and their storage (Caspari Caspari 2004, p. 262). Hand in hand with this are the information flows that enable the businesses to control every day’s flow of materials and goods, and coordinate long-term plans. There is also a constant flow of money among the suppliers, manufacturers then wholesalers, and to retailers as well as to end users Dean says supply chain management is becoming a major concern to both medium and large companies (1). This is due to the need of satisfying customers and offer best quality in market. With the connection, the supply chain management becomes a supply network or web for the businesses because of the existing interaction among the companies (Li et al. 2004, pp. 107-113). More so is the improvement of relation between distributors and suppliers. Instead of operating as adversaries, they operate in cohesion in order to perform effectively (Dean 2002, pp. 1-4). A research conducted by management consulting company of A.T Kearney indicates that supply chain management reduces the costs of operation and production. The study established that the profits generated in chain supply can multiply into billions if slight improvements on operation of the supply are made (Mentzer 2001, pp. 61-70 ).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When divided among the connected companies, the research shows that the chains save more than 80% of expenses incurred in a typical manufacturing company. More so, the research shows that leading companies in supply chain gain up to 3-7% of total revenues compared to the medium businesses in the same industries (Dean 2002, pp. 1-4). According to John Gossman, competition must not be between companies but among chains. Dean says that success does not spring from one transaction, rather the competition between the companies determines the profits that the business gains. The broadened management focuses on controlling production and logistics (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas 2005, par. 3-5). For a company to be a leading supply chain, Mckinsey and Company says that it must strive towards aligning their supply chain concepts with the strategy of the corporate. A case study on the supply chain management of Wal- Mart, a leading world’s retail operator, indicates that all the colleagues, from the casual employees to managers in the supply chain understand the strategies and aspirations of the supply chain. The study also shows that the company actively controls the complexity of the product and service. The company has created multiple supply chains in order to gain a competitive advantage within the network (McKinsey n.d., pp. 7- 10) The company has a top- down visio n that checks on their main supply network. They ensure that there exists a balance between productivity, flexibility and initiatives to deliver the most demanded services without additional risks and costs. The company also utilizes excellent strategies such as using the most robust techniques and other technological advancements to ensure execution of supply chain plans. Wal- Mart focuses on reducing costs by minimizing labor among all its distribution outlets. The company’s strategy is to maximize on a sizeable and scaled that compels suppliers to streamline operations as much as possible through unit packaging (McKinsey n.d., pp. 7- 10). Amazon is the other leading company that capitalizes on having every warehouse is flexible in order to accommodate products of different shapes and sizes hence meeting diverse customers need. This strategy also works towards elimination of additional costs. The company also utilizes on new skills and talents to the fullest (Kale 2004, pp. 503- 504).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations Management and Supply Chains specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Advameg 2010, Reference for business. Web. Caspari, P. Caspari, J. 2004, Management dynamics, John Wiley and sons, New York. Dean, E. 2002, The perceived impact of supply chain management on organizational effectiveness. Web. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas 2005, Supply chain management: the science of better, faster, cheaper. Web. Jespersen, B. Larsen, T. 2005, Supply chain management-in theory and practice, 1st edn, Copenhagen business school press DK, Copenhagen. Kale, S. 2004, Global competitiveness: Role of supply chain management.  Web. Li, S., Nathan, B., Nathan, Ragu T. Rao S. 2004, ‘The impact of supply chain management practices on competitive advantage and organizational performance,’ Omega vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 107-124.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More McKinsey Company, The race for supply chain advantage: six practices that drive supply chain performance. Web. Mentzer, J. 2001, Supply chain management, 2nd edn, SAGE, California. The Aspen institute 2008, Supply chain management. Web. This essay on Operations Management and Supply Chains was written and submitted by user Paloma Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Operations Management and Supply Chains

Defining AIDS and HIV in the United States essays

Defining AIDS and HIV in the United States essays Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) refers to the advanced development of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and extensive damage to the immune system. Not everyone who acquires HIV develops AIDS. HIV is an infection that invades immune systems cells called CD4-positive (CD4+) T cells that fights infections. HIV invades the body's CD4+ T cells and damages the immune systems ability to fight against diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms. There are medications for the treatment of HIV; these medicines slow down the rate at which HIV replicates and subsequently weakens the immune system. AIDS is defined as certain signs or symptoms as specified in guidelines formulated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including: HIV-infected persons with HIV-infected persons with at least 1 of more than 24 AIDS-associated conditions (infections caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses rarely seen in healthy people) When HIV progresses to AIDS, it is fatal, yet, the rate of AIDS-related deaths has decreased with the development of new medicines. Some HIV-infected individuals may show little or no immune system deterioration and low levels of HIV even after 15 or more years of infection in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. Studies of acute infection and long-term non-progressors provide facts about the immune responses needed to develop an HIV vaccine. Experimental vaccines have proven protective and well tolerated in animal models of AIDS but not in humans. In conclusion, anyone is capable of becoming HIV-infected. Therefore, it is important to educate people on the definition and facts about AIDS. The CDC reported that 2.2 million Americans now carry the HIV virus but do not yet have symptoms; AIDS the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 35; and the HIV-infected rate in the U.S. is appr ...

The Nature of Realism in the Film 'Psycho Movie Review

The Nature of Realism in the Film 'Psycho - Movie Review Example Yet, there aren't any shots in the film that can be convincingly categorized as one of horror. What is achieved ultimately is the unfolding of the emerging suspense through plots of actions pieced together in order to serve as background and also connect them to the central story. There is not even an iota of the ethereal to make the film look like it is made using standards other than what is common in daily life. Undoubtedly, Hitchcock has successfully utilized the rules of dramatics to keep the audience on the edge with well crafted sequences, actions and dialogues, and has taken the trouble to keep the hearts beating fast to match the film with the title. The film begins randomly with the scene of the city of Phoenix and settles down on a window with the Venetian blinds covering it. The scene within the window is that of Marion Crane and Sam Loomis engaged in love making. Marion goes on to hog the scene from then on for nearly half of the film's duration. The film begins with her affair with Sam Loomis. From here we are taken to her office. At the office, she faces Tom Cassidy, played by Frank Albertson, and his lecherous behavior. She chooses to steal the money he gives her in cash to buy a home for "his little girl." This event is actually the precursor to the entire film. Had she not secretly decided to steal the money, she would not have had any reason to leave Phoenix, Arizona. Had she not left Phoenix, the circumstances leading to the making of the film might not have happened. Life would have continued as a normal routine. But things happen. Marion steals the money and decides to run away with it without knowing exactly where. All she knows is that she is in possession of 40,000 and the future looked bright with the money in hand. Hitchcock has a way of blending small events to make scintillating feature films. The wrongness in Marion's action in stealing the money is rendered insignificant with the antagonizing behavior of Cassidy. On the contrary, we find ourselves feeling pleased with her action because it serves the man right anyway. There is nothing wrong in conning a lecher. So Marion runs away and Hitchcock gradually takes us to the scene where Marion sitting in her car comes face to face with her boss. He takes a good look at her but does not see through her intentions and she drives away. As she drives on, the day begins to end. It is getting dark and the audience sees headlights of the oncoming vehicles gliding over Marion's face. Sometimes the headlights flash behind her. She has left the city limits and is now driving in the open countryside. Nonetheless, the look of anxiety is playing on her face and she is tired. Finally she wants to sleep and her eyelids keep shutting

Refliction Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Refliction Paper - Assignment Example In the nineteenth and the twentieth century, more children were brought in as child labourers. The only time that child labour reduced was when the labour standards grew, and labour standards improved. This increased the political power of working people and social reformers to demand legislation regulating child labour (Hindman 44). These political reformers changed the lives of many children. This was least expected from them because they were the company owners who received cheap labour from these children. The history of child labour in the United States was a long reign. In history, it is said that children worked for their parents, or they were employed by an outside employer. However, child labour cases have changed. In this era child, employment is associated with a lot of risks. In addition, technology has improvised the society thus reducing much labour which fell under children responsibility. Nevertheless some of these equipment’s that are brought in companies are equally dangerous to youth and people who are not improvised to operate the machines. The most important thing that have changed my mind is that I thought the only people who were enslaved were black people but surprisingly I have come to learn that even the white people were enslaved. The most significant determinant that I think is important is that even though the children were enslaved later on they were set free in the year 1938 (Hindman 44). It is relaxing that the children would no longer suffer the torture they went

Should college athletes be paid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Should college athletes be paid - Essay Example For quite some time, there has been an extensive debate over payment of athletes, with each party in the debate presenting valid opinions that cannot be overlooked. It is essential to consider both the pros and cons of paying the athletes in order to come up with an objective decision. It is no secret that athletes earn their relative institutions high amounts of revenue. College athletes generate millions of dollars for their colleges and are required to be content with scholarships they enjoy (Griffin 19). This beats the principle of equity, and the athletes are, therefore, entitled to the revenue they generated. Athletes are exposed to risks that pertain to health, arising from the setting and nature of games and sports they take part in. These athletes, all around the young age of 22 or so, end their college careers with injured bodies, muscles that have repeatedly been shot up with cortisone injections, conditions such as prediabetes and prehypertension, and - in the case of the linemen - waistlines of 45 to 50 inches. The average career for a NFL player is only a few years, depending on the position. Early injuries in the transition from college to professional are a substantial reason, given that they have often compromised their bodies and health just to reach the NFL in the first place. This presents a case to pay college athletes to compensate them for the risks they face and also so that they can be able to access best medical care as well as have a balanced diet (Griffin 43). To be successful in any athletic competition, considerable investment of time and effort is paramount. This forces athletes to sacrifice their time in college and ensure that they adequately train in order to enhance their talent and give them a competitive edge. They do so while ensuring that they do not neglect their academic work, at times creating study time tables so as to be at par with their classmates, which creates an extra strenuous

Artistic Voice Essays -- Essays Papers

Artistic Voice Authors have a distinct identity that you recognize when you read their work of art. The qualities and aspects of a text that give an author a distinct identity as an artist are known as their artistic voice. Denise Levertov and Anne Sexton both use different themes in their poetry that separate them from other poets. Denise Levertov writes about the unknown and the unsaid in life. Anne Sexton distinguishes herself by writing about her family, loves, and her emotional tragedies. Sandra Cisneros wrote a novel called The House on Mango Street that contained a different setup than most novels. It was written in fragments and the language was straightforward. Cisneros focuses on the importance of freethinking and home. Brian Friel, an author who focuses on Irish issues and concerns, wrote a play, "Dancing at Lughnasa." Denise Levertov chose to write about things that were not readily seen by others. She wrote her poems in free verse and she paced her writing to lead to a climax that contrasted the intensity of her poems. Her artistic voice can be examined in her poem The Ache of Marriage. The ache of marriage: thigh and tongue, beloved, are heavy with it it throbs in the teeth We look for communion and are turned away, beloved, each and each It is leviathan and we in its belly looking for joy, some joy not to be known outside it two by two in the ark of the ache of it. When people think of marriage they think of a wonderful life complete with the white picket fence and kids playing on the lawn. Levertov, in this poem, talks about how marriage is not glorious all the time. In the first stanza she is talking about the physical aspect of marria... ...e one another. At the end of the play, Michael says, "†¦Father Jack was dead within twelve months. And with him and Agnes and Rose all gone, the heart seemed to go out of the house." (70) One of the family's main concern was to lose each other, but they proved themselves to be strong. After they lost three of their family members, they worked even harder to make ends meet. They did not give up; they stayed strong for one another. An author's artistic voice is important because it helps distinguish an author apart from the mainstream of things. Levertov and Sexton focus on different aspects in life to give them a distinct identity. Cisneros uses a different format in her writing in her novel and Friel focuses on Irish culture to distinguish their artistic voice. After reading these works of art, it is clear what point the artist is trying to convey.

Poverty is one of the worst issues in the United States

Poverty is one of the worst issues in the United States. Despite this, poverty has potential to be fixed. Poverty as Capability Deprivation introduces â€Å"capability deprivation† as a method for lowing poverty and strengthening society. Amartya Sen emphasizes social gender roles and other countries’ prioritization on health, education, and job training. We are told that these are areas where United States lacks focus. In The Capabilities approach and Social Justice By Martha Nussbaum, similar issues are addressed and the text supports the same claims that Sen introduces. Nussbaum, however, goes further. She moves into the areas of social justice, gender justice, and the central human capabilities. She proves that central human capabilities are important traits that we have within ourselves, but fail to strengthen due to the lack of experience, skills, and resources. In the last reading, Swamp Nurse by Katherine Boo, we see an example of a case study that took place in Louisiana. This case study focused on what can be done for the part of the population living in poverty. The article examined programs made to help these people in poverty and enhance their skills so that they can find a job, properly care for their children, and take care of themselves. These programs are centered around steps and lectures on health, education, and social skills. Capability deprivation is a more powerful approach to fighting poverty than focusing on the income of the poor because it creates an independent population rather than a government dependent population. At current, low income people are dependent on the government without earning it. They are forced to rely on the government because they do not have the skills, jobs, or means to provide for their families due to their impoverished situations. If we raise the incomes of the poor we would have more balance in our society. Ideally it would be best to raise the income slightly as well as creating programs to teach the poor new trades and skills because this would open more opportunities for people that are in poverty. Capability deprivation is the key for helping fight poverty because it empowers poor people to motivate themselves to get out of poverty. Sen begins to explain ways to enhance capabilities and how other countries show importance to education and health as he says† Asian economies – first Japan, and then South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and later post-reform China and Thailand and other countries in East Asia and southeast Asia- have done remarkably well in spreading the economic opportunities through an adequately supportive social background, including high levels of literacy, numeracy, and basic education; good general health care; completed land reforms; and so on†( Sen 3). Sen states that in the Asia countries they are more focus on providing education and health care for free then providing just and people depending on government help. This is not only in Asia countries but in Latin America countries. Having Cuban roots my family tells me how things are different from the United States and some of the things that the Cuban society focused on. For example my aunt has never paid school tuition and she went to school to be a doctor. She is very proud that she is and can provide for her family. Another big thing is that they do not pay for health care, its free for her and her family. In many Latin Americas this follows as well. Sen believes in capability deprivation and proves facts that this can lower poverty in many societies, Sen states â€Å" Better basic education and health care improve the quality of life directly; they also increase a person’s ability to earn income and be free of income-poverty as well. The more inclusive the reach of basic education and health care, the more likely it is that even the potentially poor would have a better chance of overcoming penury† ( Sen 3). Sen is explaining that we have many different always to improve poverty and isn’t just providing people with financial help from the government but, its providing them with the basic educational skills, health care and social skills. To have a foundation of basic knowledge to help provided for yourself, to find jobs, know how to take care of yourself and family. Making the society dependent on government help is not going to help these people in the long run because they have become so dependent on getting financial support that it makes it hard to become independent. The government should provide for more programs to enhance the human inter capabilities that we already instinctively have. In the Holy Bible there is a passage where John teaches the people how to fish rather than just giving the hungry people dinner. You are teaching a group of people to fend for hemselves, to acquire what they need by means that they have learned. In giving the poor skills to raise their income, or the ability to do so, you are eradicating poverty. You are not treating it like a chronic disease you are curing it. By the government providing necessary services that accentuate people’s natural abilities capabilities, they are creating a society that tries to help itself rather than relying on just funding. That goes next to what Nussbaum discusses about the central human capabilities that we have. These categories are: life, bodily health, bodily integrity, senses, imagination, thought, emotions, practical reason, play, control over one’s environment and affiliation. Each of these categories has its own meaning and is a natural aspect of our lives that we understand innately. Nussbaum specifies that not everyone reaches these capabilities. Out of the ten capabilities, the three most important are: â€Å"control over one’s environment†, â€Å"bodily health† and â€Å"sense and imagination. The environment includes one’s political view, being able to participate effectively in political choices that govern one’s life having the right of political participation and protections of free speech association. Bodily health includes staying healthy and taking care of one’s body. This also includes being adequately nourished and having adequate shelter. Lastly, sense, imagination and thought exist as senses we use. To imagine, think and reason and to do these things in a â€Å"truly human† way, a way informed and cultivated by an adequate education, including basic mathematical and scientific training are all part of this category. This also includes using imagination and thought though experiencing and producing works and events. Why does Nussbaum think these human capabilities are important? She states â€Å"Central human capabilities as a focus both for comparative quality of life, basic political principles of the sort that can play a role in fundamental constitutional guarantees. These ten capabilities are supposed to be general goals that can be further specified by society. In some form, all are part of a minimum account of social justice: a society that does not guarantee these to all its citizens, at some appropriate threshold level, falls short of being a fully just society, whatever its level of opulence† ( Nussbaum 5). This statement demonstrates that it is not only important to further education, but Sen and Nussbaum are also implying it’s often the most basic aspects of life that are forgotten. Certain programs would help to enhance people’s lives and help them become independent. Nussbaum says that you have to be dependent before becoming independent.