1. Improving Reverse Logistics Management

Describe about the Industry Trends & Applications for Reverse Logistics.

Basically, Reverse Logistics can be defined as the backward flow in the process of supply chain which products/services/materials travel for the consumer back the manufacture or producer or supplier by original and same supply chain. Moreover, it is also important to known that, reverse logistics is also includes different key components such as: Repair, Product recalls, Warranty recovery, dissatisfaction of customers, unwanted products etc. (Jiang, 2011). In addition to this, in the current time, it is more important and essential for the companies or producers to bring innovation, improvements and improve efficiencies within supply chain. And this is only done by enhancing Reverse Logistics system. It is because today due to increased price of fuel, high cost of transportation and innovative technology had forced the companies to improve Reverse Logistics Management and find most effective efficiencies within their supply chain process. So, business firms are trying to use innovative, dynamic and best practices & strategies to improve reverse logistics management. For example, a return management strategies are used by the producers to enhance reserve logistics management (Nikolaidis, 2012).

 According to this strategy, shippers or producers develops plans by recognize pain points in the reverse loop that offer customer with multi-channel visibility. For case, this strategy would allow the companies to enhance business velocity, improve market share, and improvements in the customer service through higher retention. In addition to this, producers or companies are also focusing on building trained and skilled cross-functional teams that assists them to improve reverse logistics through the full satisfaction of customers (Dyckhoff, Lackes & Reese, 2013). Furthermore, it is also found that, it is also essential for the companies to review and monitor broken links within the customer service programs in order to improve current reverse logistics systems. On the other hand, companies should also recycled materials in their production process to improve long term profitability and reverse logistics systems.

Moreover, producers or manufacturing companies must also update and upgrade their logistics technology through the development and use of innovative and advance technologies. This would help the company in improving the reverse logistics in the form of Transparency, Synchronized supply chain, Responsiveness, Automatic consolidation of data etc. Along with this, the firms must also focus on creating and building clear Reverse Logistics Physical for the effective flow of information. For case, the originations can create measurement systems for the continuous improvements (Yang & Ma, 2013). Overall, it can be said that, by improving the reverse logistics system, a company would be able to maximize the profit, and sale.     

2. Outsourcing Strategy

In the current time of globalization and competitive business environment, outsourcing is one of the major fundamental and critical strategic decision that helps today’s business firms or companies to create & leverage the core competencies to needed to compete in the international business environment. Moreover, outsourcing is also helps the companies in gaining the competitive advantages, reducing the costs and increasing the market share in the global market environment. Basically, outsourcing can be defined as a business strategy that considers contracting of a business process, or operational, non-operational and core functions to another company (Vagadia, 2011). In addition to this, it is also found that, today’s different types of outsourcing strategies/methods are used by the companies in order to grow & compete in the competitive business era. For case, Nearshoring, Reshoring, Offshore Outsourcing, Project Outsourcing, Process-Specific Outsourcing, Manufacturer Outsourcing, IT Outsourcing & Multisourcing, Professional Outsourcing etc are the major types of outsourcing methods that employed by the business firms or MNC’s. Currently, I am working in Apple Inc, New Zeeland that is American multinational technology company that produce, design, develops and provides a wide range of products including consumer electronics, computer software, and online services in the market.

Basically, the  Apple Inc, New Zeeland is using IT outsourcing strategy by which it enter into an Outsourcing relationship with other IT service provider company. Moreover, the IT outsourcing strategy used by the Apple Inc is a kinds of professional outsourcing. According to this strategy, the company develops and create sub contract with the outsider organizations and conducts their functions related to   software development, maintenance and support (Schniederjans, Schniederjans & Schniederjans, 2015). On the other hand, as per this strategy, Apple Inc is outsources its IT management sources in order to save millions of dollars. For example, it is found that, recently, Apple Inc is heavily focused on using Outsourcing flexible outsourced manufacturing strategy. For instance, more than 500,000 employees/people are recruited by both Apple Inc and its manufacturing partners of China in order to build iPhones, iPads etc. Along with this, it is also accessed that, a multi-sourcing strategy is used in the China by the company by which the company outsource its production line in China not only to produce products at the cheaper cost but also produce faster and quick products at the large scale (Parlour, 2016). For instance, Foxconn as well as Pegatron are the two major companies of China and business partner of Apple Inc which the company outsources their products.

3. Detailed Description of Model for Value-Chain Analysis, Planning and Control

3. Detailed Description of Model for Value-Chain Analysis, Planning and Control

A Value-Chain Analysis can be defined as a business model that used by the business firms for the purpose to planning and controlling of internal activities/practices of firm to improve competitive advantages. Moreover, this model is also assume a fundamental role in analyzing and accessing of support as well as primary activities of an organization internally and adds strategic value in the final products directly. In addition to this, Value-Chain Analysis model suggests and provides strategic guidance to the business firms about how to overcome various costs by improving product differentiation (Kannegiesser, 2008). Along with this, by using this model, business firms are able to analyze and engage with their internal business activities within the supply chain process for the purpose to change input in the output. Additionally, through this model business firms can effectively and systematically access and improve their internal activities in order to fulfil the needs of their final consumers. The following are the major activities as per this model.

Primary Activities: These kinds of practices are connected with the protection, physical formation, selling, and support of goods/services. The following are the major sub activities under this    

Inbound logistics: These are directly or indirectly associated with the receiving, distributing inputs, storing & distributing inputs.

Operations: These are known as exchange practices which input is exchanged into the output. In the same way, a new product is developed and created for the final consumers (Klemeš, 2013).  

 Outbound logistics: These are related to the distribution of product/goods/services. For case, it indicates how the company should or can distribute their products or services.  

Marketing & sales: The activities encourage and motivate the buyer for the product/goods

Service: These are relating to sustaining the value of the products/services.  

These supportive activities play a key role in supporting of primary practices of the supply chain process.

Procurement: These activities are connected with the attainment of inputs & resources properly by the company.

Human resource management: These activities include recruiting, hiring, training, development, etc. of staff (Engle, Quagrainie & Dey, 2016).

Technological development: This involves activities in the context of automation, development of product, research,

Infrastructure: This involves finance, quality management, administrative and legal activities. Hence, in this different kinds of activities are considered in order to fulfil long term organizational objectives and goals.

In the year 2008, New Zeeland created and developed a free trade agreement with the China in order to gain mutually advantages in the context of investment, & trade of goods/services. This free trade agreement helped the New Zeeland in developing strong business relationships and commercial profile in China (Lester, Mercurio & Bartels, 2016). After entered into this contract with the China, New Zeeland had increased its trade and counted doubled that indicates that it had improved their economic level. On the other hand, it is also important to know that, there are a lot of advantages as well as disadvantages of this free trade agreement in term of global supply chain security. For example, this agreement among these two nations provided better market access directly. Moreover, it also helped in improving the security of investment. For case, in term of global supply chain security, the New Zealand protected the interests as well as welfare by securing Nation’s economic prosperity (Mukhopadhyay & Thomassin, 2009). Moreover, this free trade agreement is also helped in promoting of secure and efficient movements of goods and services that is major & biggest benefit of this free trade agreement in form of global supply chain security.

At the same time, this agreement is also played a major role in promoting and encouraging the efficient, timely and secure flow of legitimate commerce by protecting the supply chain from exploitation, and reducing its vulnerability to disruption. This also enhanced the integrity of goods. Along with this, it also allowed the New Zeeland to protect the business or commercial activities & trade from the different significant threats including theft, terrorism, piracy etc.  On the other hand, it also helped in validating supplier credentials, screening cargo and securing cargo transit. At the same time, it is also accessed that, the main disadvantages of the free trade agreement among the nation are related to PIRACY, SMUGGLING OF GOODS, TERRORISM, SHRINKAGE AND THEFT etc (Buckley, Lo & Boulle, 2008).  Moreover, this agreement is also reduce the level of profitability and productivity of the local suppliers directly or indirectly. Moreover, it is more difficult and complicated for the local suppliers or business firms to follow all the stick rules, regulations and standards and law associated with the free trade agreements.           

Today, almost business firms or companies are focusing on using green supply chain strategies in order to compete in the market, improve strategic position against competitors, gain competitive advantages, improve organizational image and enhance market share. Simply, it can be said that, green strategies and tactics are employed by the firms within their supply chain process, inventory and logistics management to strengthen company’s competition. For example, currently, I am working in Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) New Zeeland that is one of the largest and leading beverage companies that provides non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages in different nations including New Zealand, Indonesia, and Australia etc (Millar, 2015). Moreover, in the current time, the company is using different types of green strategies within their supply chain management systems in order to improve organizational competition in the market. For example, the company use green and pollution free technology in order to supply their products.

Moreover, it is accessed that, there is a strong link exits among the green supply chain practices of the company and competitive advantages. For instance, CCA is adding the green within their supply chain practices in order to integrate environmentally aware thoughts within all the supply chain process. It means green supply chain practices are incorporated by the company within their process including green manufacturing, green purchasing of raw material and others things, green distribution of products, reverse logistics, green marketing etc (González-Prida, & Vicente, 2015). For example, it is also analyzed that, CCA is mainly focus on reduction of waste in their all the stages of production process and considers cradle-to-grave product management within their systems and process associated with the supply chain management that helped the company in gaining the competitive advantages and developing a unique image in the eyes of internal and external stakeholders.

Along with this, the company is also investing millions of dollars in the implementation, and using of new and unique green technologies in order to upgrade their inventory management systems, reduce holding cost, determine the demand effectively.  For case the use of new and efficient green technologies provided real-time data to the company for streamlining warehousing and logistics costs. In the same way, with the effective use of green strategies, the company is improving their competitive position in the market and improving organizational performance and gaining competitive advantages (Scott, Lundgren & Thompson, 2011).  Overall it can be said that green strategies or environmentally conscious practices helped the company to increase revenue, value, trust, brand reputation, competitiveness, and financial payoffs.

References

Buckley, R.P., Lo, V. I., & Boulle, L. (2008). Challenges to Multilateral Trade: The Impact of Bilateral, Preferential and Regional Agreements. USA: Kluwer Law International.

Dyckhoff, H., Lackes, R., & Reese, J. (2013). Supply Chain Management and Reverse Logistics. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Engle, C.R., Quagrainie, K.K., & Dey, M.M. (2016). Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing Handbook. USA: John Wiley & Sons.

González-Prida, & Vicente (2015). Promoting Sustainable Practices through Energy Engineering and Asset Management. Australia: IGI Global.

Jiang, L. (2011). Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference on Informatics, Cybernetics, and Computer Engineering (ICCE2011) November 19-20, 2011, Melbourne, Australia: Volume 1: Intelligent Control and Network Communication. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Kannegiesser, M. (2008). Value Chain Management in the Chemical Industry: Global Value Chain Planning of Commodities. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Klemeš, J.J. (2013). Handbook of Process Integration (PI): Minimisation of Energy and Water Use, Waste and Emissions. USA: Elsevier.

Lester, S., Mercurio, B., & Bartels, L. (2016). Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements, Volume 2. USA: Cambridge University Press.

Millar, M. (2015). Global Supply Chain Ecosystems: Strategies for Competitive Advantage in a Complex, Connected World. USA: Kogan Page Publishers.

Mukhopadhyay, K., & Thomassin, P.J. (2009). Economic and Environmental Impact of Free Trade in East and South East Asia. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Nikolaidis, Y. (2012). Quality Management in Reverse Logistics: A Broad Look on Quality Issues and Their Interaction with Closed-Loop Supply Chains. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Parlour, D. (2016). Successful Outsourcing and Multi-Sourcing. NY: Routledge.

Schniederjans, M.J., Schniederjans, A.M., & Schniederjans, D.G. (2015). Outsourcing and Insourcing in an International Context. NY: Routledge.

Vagadia, B. (2011). Strategic Outsourcing: The Alchemy to Business Transformation in a Globally Converged World. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

 Yang, Y., & Ma, M. (2013). Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

Scott, C., Lundgren, H., & Thompson, P. (2011). Guide to Supply Chain Management. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.