L. L Bean Supply Chain Case Study

L.L.Bean’s focus on the customer led the company to develop information management systems that provide their customers with best-in-class shopping experiences. From easy access to available products, irrespective of its disposition within the supply chain, to fast and free shipping, L.L.Bean is a standout amongst its peers (“#3 Google”, 2015). L.L.Bean’s recognition is no coincidence, as the company has worked tirelessly to build upon their purpose as defined by Lean Leonwood Bean a century before.
Reputable software vendors fill the supply chain management software market, ready to sell COTS supply chain management solutions to retailers and manufacturers. Despite the availability of solutions, L.L.Bean decided to build a custom solution. The reason being, L.L.Bean regards its supply chain as a differentiator, as it offers them a competitive advantage over rivals in their efforts to provide the best possible customer experience. Their decision is paying off for the company, which is recognized worldwide as a leader in direct selling, internet fulfillment, and customer service.
While L.L.Bean operates its supply chain as an internal organization, the company partners with UPS on direct fulfillment services for parcel shipping. As a partner, UPS is uniquely positioned thanks to its advanced business-to-business
The company has spent a vast amount of resource time and money to develop a class-leading supply chain. The challenge for the company now lies in its future growth strategy and its ability to expand its global supply chain and supply chain management systems to cope with the increased demand. The biggest risk and reward lies in their ‘go it alone’ strategy, which still works for a mid-size global organization, but will it continue to work as they increasingly grow as an organization? That remains an open question and one the future will