wal mart
. Wal-Mart has been able to achieve respectable leadership in the retail industry because of its focus on supply chain management. Discuss in detail the distribution and logistics system adopted by Wal-Mart.
2. The use of innovative information technology tools had benefited Wal-Mart’s supply chain management. In the light of the above statement, briefly explain how IT benefited Wal-Mart’s logistics and inventory management.
3. What were the supply chain management processes adopted by Wal-Mart and how far were they effective? Discuss.
4. What was the nature of benefits derived by Wal-Mart from the efficient supply chain management practices and how far it has contributed to its sustainable competitive advantage? Explain.
“When you start to collapse the supply chain, accuracy in execution becomes critical. Any lack of accurate information and processes creates costly bottlenecks in the flow of goods and materials.”
-- Bruce Richmond, Global head, Andersen Consulting.
INTRODUCTION
The US-based Wal-Mart ranked first in the global Fortune 500 list in the financial year 2001-02 earning revenues of $219.81 billion (Refer Table I). Wal-Mart was the largest retailing company in the world. The company was much bigger than its competitors in the US – Sears Roebuck, K-
Mart, JC Penney and Nordstrom combined (Refer Exhibit I). In 2002, Wal-Mart operated more than 3,500 discount stores, Sam’s Clubs and Supercenters in the US and more than 1,170 stores in all major countries across the world. The company also sold products on the Internet through its website, walmart.com.
GLOBAL FORTUNE 500 LIST (2002)
Source: www.fortune.com
Wal-Mart was one of the largest private sector employers in the world, with employee strength of approximately 1.28 million. The company’s founder, Sam Walton (Walton) had always focused on improving sales, constantly reducing costs, adopting efficient distribution and logistics management systems and
2. The use of innovative information technology tools had benefited Wal-Mart’s supply chain management. In the light of the above statement, briefly explain how IT benefited Wal-Mart’s logistics and inventory management.
3. What were the supply chain management processes adopted by Wal-Mart and how far were they effective? Discuss.
4. What was the nature of benefits derived by Wal-Mart from the efficient supply chain management practices and how far it has contributed to its sustainable competitive advantage? Explain.
“When you start to collapse the supply chain, accuracy in execution becomes critical. Any lack of accurate information and processes creates costly bottlenecks in the flow of goods and materials.”
-- Bruce Richmond, Global head, Andersen Consulting.
INTRODUCTION
The US-based Wal-Mart ranked first in the global Fortune 500 list in the financial year 2001-02 earning revenues of $219.81 billion (Refer Table I). Wal-Mart was the largest retailing company in the world. The company was much bigger than its competitors in the US – Sears Roebuck, K-
Mart, JC Penney and Nordstrom combined (Refer Exhibit I). In 2002, Wal-Mart operated more than 3,500 discount stores, Sam’s Clubs and Supercenters in the US and more than 1,170 stores in all major countries across the world. The company also sold products on the Internet through its website, walmart.com.
GLOBAL FORTUNE 500 LIST (2002)
Source: www.fortune.com
Wal-Mart was one of the largest private sector employers in the world, with employee strength of approximately 1.28 million. The company’s founder, Sam Walton (Walton) had always focused on improving sales, constantly reducing costs, adopting efficient distribution and logistics management systems and