Question

Identify two competing enterprises and their supply chains (e.g., Dell Computer versus Apple; Amazon versus Wal-Mart; Toyota versus GM; UPS versus FedEx). Identify the elements of each chain from source of supply to final customer, and explain how the two chains are meeting (or not meeting) business objectives. Which supply chain appears longer? Does the structure of one appear simpler than the other?

Answer 1

Here we can take two companies like Dell computers versus Apple. So one by one we will discuss their supply chain management and then we will go for a comparative study

Dell Computers:

1. IN dell computers the supplier will supply the material every two hours so her ethe benefit is every two hours the data has been updated.

2. customer order has been taken either internet or by telephone so the company will confirm the order.

3. Manufacturing is the basic manufacturing of computers.

4. Storing is one of the features which is associated with dell so they need a well-equiped inventory for it.

5. Merging is the assembling part where the company will assemble the parts and supply to the customer.

6. from inventory to the retailer to sell the product.

7. the last step is the customer who put the order.

Apple computers:

1. Raw material collection or getting supplied by the supplier according to demand.

2. The required components for the desired model.

3. Manufacturer to assemble the components and utilization of raw materials.

4. The retailer was the mediator between the company and the customer.

5. customer is the final user of that computer.

so both are producing same product or the substitute product and their way of operation also similar to each other. so when they are getting any order they will follow the same process. here the main objective for both the company to satisfy its customer with a high level of service with an accurate time of delivery. so both of them are meeting their objective.

Both the company's supply chain is almost same except the inventory part of Dell. there is an advantage of having inventory is that when there is a sudden demand for the product it can supply as per the demand. if there is less market demand then also it will help to keep the computers in a safe well-equipped place. so this option is not available in Apple.

Both the structure seems to be simpler. if we will take in the case of Apple one step is less and after manufacturing, it will directly go to the customer or tho the retailer and from him to the customer. so Apple's process is simpler than Dell.