Applying Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to Supplier Selection

-- Cliff Welborn

Supplier selection is a critical decision in supply chain management. Although organizations devote significant resources to establish detailed operating plans with suppliers, a few have developed mature risk management programs to deal with supplier failures. Past performances and survey data indicate that supplier failures are common. Supplier selection should include considerations for supplier risks. Different suppliers provide different levels of risk for an organization. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a well-established technique for evaluating and prioritizing risks. This paper seeks to provide a tool to help supply chain decision makers evaluate various supplier options by quantifying the risks associated with each supplier.

© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Food Processors (Fiji) Limited: A Case Study

-- Jashwini J Narayan

Based on the data obtained through in-depth interviews and various related documentary evidences, the paper investigates into a less successful Government Commercial Company in Fiji. The theme of the paper is empirically based, exemplified by the government entityFood Processors (Fiji) Limited. The rationale behind the selection of this entity is that it is one that has undergone changes in the name of reforms but without much luck. The focus of this paper is on unveiling the factors that continue to plague the said public enterprise followed by a list of suggestions and recommendations. The findings of this research are of importance and it is the hope of this paper to contribute positively in terms of suggestions which may be worth noting. To a certain extent, the results of this study may also have implications for similar government-owned entities in other countries.

© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

China's Renminbi Currency Logistics Network: A Brief Introduction

-- Reginald D Smith, Nan Zhu and Long Wang

Currency logistics is becoming a field of increasing interest and importance both in practitioners and academic circle. In this paper, China's nationwide logistics network for the Renminbi is discussed. In addition to its basic structure, its key problems such as production costs, inventory levels, and transportation and storage security are described and analyzed.

© 2010. IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Vendor Rating: A Tool for Quality in Supply Chain Management

-- H A Mandave and P M Khodke

Vendor rating is a tool used by the organizations to assess the performance of their vendors to ensure efficient and effective upstream supply chain. The paper presents the views expressed by the experts in literature and studies vendor-rating methodologies used by industries requiring supplies of mechanical engineering components. Weightages recognized during study would help organizations to understand the explicit and implied requirements of their customers. Apparently, basis of vendor rating is quality and delivery reliability.

© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Alignment of Supply Chain Strategy with Business Strategy

-- Amarnath Mitra and Sunil Bhardwaj

Misalignment of supply chain strategy can lead to overall business failure. Present literature provides a number of accounts that verify the fact. Cisco's inventory write-off of $2 bn in 2001 and failure of Furniture.com in 2000 are the famous examples. At the same time a number of case studies written on Dell, Wallmart and other companies suggest the importance of an overall alignment of supply chain strategy with business strategy. Recent AMR Research by Tony et al. (2009) concluded supply chain risk to be the most significant risk in business operations. An understanding of supply chain strategy and its alignment with business strategy has become an imperative for academicians and practitioners. The present study is an attempt to identify the challenges and issues in the area of supply chain alignment through contemporary literature survey. It presents a set of case studies in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), real estate and manufacturing which justify the cause and elucidates the importance of aligning supply chain strategy with business strategy.

© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.