Current Event Assignments
Chapter 4
Supply Processes and Technology
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Key Question Addressed in Chapter 4
Which process or processes will be most effective and efficient to support the exchange of money (the buyer’s responsibility) for goods and services (the supplier’s responsibility)?
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Reasons to Develop Robust Supply Processes
Large number of items
Large dollar volume involved
Need for an audit trail
Severe consequences of poor performance
Potential contribution to effective organizational operations inherent in the function
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Strategy and Goal Alignment
“Where, when, and how can supply personnel contribute to short- and long-term goals and strategies of the organization?”
Vertical alignment:
supply strategy and goals at the functional or business unit level aligned with organizational strategy
Horizontal alignment:
supply strategy and goal alignment with other functional areas
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Information Flows
Inward flows
information from within the organization sent to supply
information from external sources sent to supply
Outward flows
information from within supply sent to others within the organization
information sent from supply to external sources
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Steps in the Supply Process
Recognition of need
Description of need
Identification and analysis of possible sources of supply
Supplier selection and determination of terms
Preparation and placement of the purchase order
Follow-up and/or expedite the order
Receipt and inspection of goods
Invoice clearing and payment
Maintenance of records and relationships
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Step 1: Recognition of Need
A person or a system identifies a definite need in the organization—what, how much, and when needed
The greatest opportunity to affect value is when needs are recognized (step 1) and described – e.g., product conception and design (step 2)
Supply and supplier(s) can contribute more in these steps than later in the acquisition process
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Step 2: Description of Need
Needs should be driven by external customers.
External customer needs → Internal customers → Purchasers → Potential suppliers
An accurate description of the need (good, service, or combination) is essential
Unclear or ambiguous descriptions, or over-specified materials, services, or quality = unnecessary costs
Supply management and the internal customer or cross-functional sourcing team share responsibility for accurate descriptions
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A Requisition
A gatekeeping tool to manage the flow of information through three gates:
(1) authority: Does the requisitioner have the authority to make the specified request at the specified budget level?
(2) internal clarity: Is the need described in a clear and unambiguous way?
(3) internal clearance: Is the description ready for communicating externally with potential suppliers?
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Information Needed for Requisitions
Date
Number (identification)
Originating department
Account number
Complete description of material or service and quantity
Date material or service needed
Any special shipping or service-delivery instructions
Signature of authorized requisitioner
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Issue an RFx
One optional communication tool that is NOT a solicitation for business:
(1) request for information (RFI)
Three options for soliciting business:
(1) request for quotation (RFQ)
(2) request for proposal (RFP)
(3) request or invitation for bid (RFB or IFB)
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Step 4: Supplier Selection and Determination of Terms
Analysis of qualified potential sources, source selection, and determination of terms
Applicable tools range from a simple bid analysis form to complex negotiations
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Step 5: Preparation and Placement of Purchase Order
Several order placement tools available:
A purchase order
The supplier’s sales agreement
A release against a blanket order
Failure to use the proper contract form may result in legal complications or improper documentation
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Step 6: Follow-up and Expediting
Follow-up: routine order tracking to ensure the supplier can meet delivery promises
Expediting: the application of pressure on a supplier to meet the original delivery promise, to deliver ahead of schedule, or to speed up delivery of a delay
Expediting:
may be caused by poor planning inside the buying or the selling organization
may indicate the need for process improvements.
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Step 7: Receipt and Inspection
The prime purposes of receiving are to:
1. Confirm receipt of order
2. Confirm shipment arrived in good condition
3. Ensure quantity ordered has been received
4. Forward shipment to proper destination (storage, inspection, or use)
5. Ensure proper documentation is registered and accessible to appropriate parties
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Eliminate or Reduce Inspection
One goal of supply management is to ensure that quality is built in:
internally during the design stage and
externally in the suppliers’ processes
When quality is assured, incoming inspection can be eliminated
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Step 8: Invoice Clearing and Payment
An invoice is a claim against the buying organization
Payment for services may vary from payment for goods.
Invoice clearance procedures are not uniform
Checks and audits of invoices are based on cost-benefit analysis
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Aligning Supply and Accounts Payable
Often, payment terms are not met to improve working capital utilization and conserve cash
Root causes of late payment:
Slow cycle time in the accounts payable process
Conflict between finance and supply policy
Information systems and electronic fund transfers (EFT) may shorten cycle times
Having accounts payable part of the supply department can help to align processes
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Improving the Procure-to-Pay Process
Procure-to-pay (P2P) is a term used to describe the steps in the purchasing process from issuance of the purchase order (step 5) to payment of the invoice (step 8).
Focuses on the transactional steps in the supply chain that control the flow of information, delivery of materials and services, and financial transactions.
Making this process as seamless as possible can reduce order cycle times, decrease administrative costs, and improve the satisfaction of internal customers and suppliers.
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Step 9: Maintenance of Records and Relationships
Update records based on legal requirements, accounting standards, company policy, and judgment
Some records can be stored electronically, which simplifies management of purchasing documents.
Update supplier performance scorecards
Link data to future decisions
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A Sample Sourcing Process and Flowchart
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Strategic versus Nonstrategic Spend
Strategic spend: goods or services critical to the mission of the organization
Typically high-spend products or services (e.g., “A” items)
Can be low dollar value purchases if they critical to the organization
Nonstrategic (non-mission critical) spend
Usually low-spend products and service (e.g., “B” and “C” items
Dollar value and repetitiveness drive decisions
Establish a small dollar threshold
Prequalify suppliers
Use efficient order placement tools
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Effectiveness Tools that Optimize Strategic Spend
Goal: Assure continuous availability at the lowest total cost of ownership
A cross-functional sourcing team, especially during need recognition and description steps
Early supply and supplier involvement (ESI)
Use information management tools that enable communication and support decision making
Apply time, money, people and other resources
Favor effectiveness over efficiency
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Efficiency Tools the Reduce Transaction Costs
Stockless buying and systems contracts
Procurement cards (P-cards)
Blanket P.O.s
EDI- and Internet-based systems
Online reverse auctions
Changing authority levels and bidding practices
Single sourcing
Outsourcing small value order processing
Standardization
Batch orders
Set requisition schedule
Invoiceless payments
Users pay directly
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Internal Information Flows to Purchasing
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Purchasing
engineering
planning
production
budgeting
financial control
accounting
legal
receiving
quality control
inventory control
new products
production control
sales
forecasting
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External Information Flows to Purchasing
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Purchasing
sources of
supply
suppliers’ capacity
suppliers’
production rates
labor conditions
prices and
discounts
transportation
availability
new product
information
product
information
general
market
conditions
sales and
use taxes,
customs
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Internal Informational Flows from Purchasing
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Purchasing
Product
Development
Marketing
Finance
Accounting
Engineering
Economic
conditions
Product and
price information
Competitive
conditions
Budget
commitments
Costs, prices
adjustments
Orders
placed
Contracts
Source, product,
price information
Product availability,
lead time, price
and quality
General
Management
Stores
Legal
Production
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Potential Benefits of Information Systems Technology
Cost reduction and efficiency gains
Data accessibility
Speedier communication
Dedicate resources to strategic issues
Data accuracy
Systems integration
Monetary control
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Technology-Driven Efficiency and Effectiveness
Process effectiveness:
make data more transparent, accurate, and accessible to decision makers
relieves supply decision-makers of low value-adding tasks
Process efficiency:
Automation of tasks reduces costs and improves cycle times
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Information Systems and Technology used in Supply
ERP systems
Cloud computing
Electronic procurement systems
Electronic or online catalogs
EDI
Marketplaces
Online auctions
Radio frequency identification (RFID)
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
A suite of applications using a common data management system
Integrates functions within the organization and facilitates connection to supply chain stakeholders
Allows users to share information internally and externally in real time
Reduces opportunities for errors in transaction processes by eliminating dispersed organizational information systems
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Cloud Computing
“…a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”
---The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94PO2-TL4Vs
Cloud, CBS
Types of Cloud Computing
Private (operated for a single organization, managed internally or by a third party)
Public (operated over a network for general public use)
Community (operated for specific organizations, managed internally or by a third party)
Hybrid (some combination of private, community, and/or public)
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Elements of Cloud Computing Relevant to Supply
Software as a Service (SaaS):
Applications that reside in the cloud
Users rent on a pay-for-use basis
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
Software development technologies
Allow users to create customized processes or tools
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Shared server capacity
Permits sharing of computing power and storage
Accessed as needed on a pay-for-use basis
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Electronic Procurement Systems
An applications software package
Allows requisitioning, authorizing, ordering, receiving, invoicing, and paying for goods and services through the Internet
Frequently a module in the company’s ERP system
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Electronic or Online Catalogs
A digitized version of a supplier’s catalog
Buyers use a web browser to view information about supplier’s products and/or services
Product e-catalogs include:
product specification data -- describe the products and are the same for all buyers
transaction data -- prices, shipping, billing addresses, and quantity discounts customized to each buyer
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Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
Allows computer-to-computer exchange of business documents
e.g., purchase orders, shipping schedules and notifications, and invoices
Widely adopted in manufacturing, retail and transportation
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Benefits of EDI
Provides secure transmission and fast turnaround of large amounts of data
Greater accuracy internally and with trading partners
Shorter process cycle time that may help to lower inventory
Provides electronic logs and audit trails
Reduces administrative costs
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Private Marketplaces: Extranets
A private intranet that is extended to authorized users outside the company
Improves supply chain coordination and information sharing with key business partners
a web-based interface for suppliers to link into a customer’s systems, and vice versa, to perform activities, such as checking inventory levels, tracking the status of invoices, or submitting quotes
Example: Walmart’s RetailLink
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Private Marketplaces: Intranets
A private, secure internal Internet accessible to authorized users only; may be linked to ERP system
Communicate information and facilitate employee collaboration
May display supplier catalogs, list of approved suppliers, and supply policies
Enhances supply processes by allowing employees to place orders via web browsers, approve and confirm purchases, and generate POs
Advantages: lowers transaction costs and reduces process cycle times
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Types of Online Auctions
Open offer auctions
Suppliers select items, see competitive offers, and enter offers up until a specified closing time.
Names not disclosed to other bidders
Private offer auctions
The buyer offers a target price and quantity
Suppliers enter offer(s) by a specific time
The buyer evaluates and posts a status level: Accepted; closed; best and final offer (BAFO); open
Posted price auctions
Buyer posts price and accepts first supplier to meet price
Reverse auctions
Real-time, dynamic, declining price
Suppliers see the status of their bids in real time
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When to Use Reverse Auctions
Clearly defined specifications
A competitive market with willing, qualified suppliers will to participate
usually 3 to 6 suppliers
Knowledge of market conditions: set a reserve price
Buyer and seller competency with auction technology
Clear rules of conduct
Buyer is prepared to switch suppliers if necessary
Projected savings justify a reverse auction
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Potential Buyer-Related Issues with Reverse Auctions
Buyer knowingly accepts bids from suppliers with unreasonably low prices
Buying firm submits phantom bids during the event to increase the competition artificially
Buyer includes unqualified suppliers to increase price competition
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Potential Supplier-Related Issues with Reverse Auctions
Supplier collusion
Suppliers bid unrealistically low prices and attempt to renegotiate afterwards
Suppliers “bird watch” or participate, but do not bid to collect market intelligence. Buyer may require bids before entering the auction to preclude this behavior
Suppliers submit bids after the auction event in an attempt to secure the business
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Potential Problems with Using Online Auctions
Risk of interrupting good supplier relationships
Risk of developing a reputation for aggressive price-buying over other considerations
Costs of running auction versus expected savings
Cost savings potential of auctions versus sourcing processes, such as RFP/RFQ and negotiation
Significant up-front preparation and cost required compared to determining price through an RFP/RFQ
Actual price versus bid price given unforeseen costs
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Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags
Contain a chip and antenna that emit a signal, using energy from a radio frequency reader, which contains information about a container or its individual contents
Can be passive, active, or battery-assisted passive
Vary in memory, frequency, power source, and cost
The most common are passive, read-only tag
Three primary applications in the supply chain:
real-time inventory tracking
product tracking
transportation
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Key Questions When Adopting New Information Systems Technology
Should we be a leader or a follower?
What should be acquired through e‑commerce?
What tools should we use to acquire those items?
Who should we use as a service provider(s)?
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