Systems Map and Future Model

Systems Dynamics and Supply Chain Management

Deidre Connor

MBA 6121 Foundations of Supply Chain Management Unit 6 Assignment 1

Professor Albert Salinas

Supply Chain Mapping

Supply chain mapping provides a simple way to visualize all the members in the chain. This includes; business activities and the current situation in supply chain. In the current world things are changing and the process of supply chain should be mapped to ensure continuous flow of good from the manufacturer to supplier (Camerinelli). Mapping provides a clear way on how goods are supposed to reach to the consumer.it analyses manufacturing, supply sources of raw materials. Compliance and standardisation of vendors, financial practices aimed at maximising profitability and flow of cash in the supply chain.

The mapping of supply chain in the Japanese auto supply involves the contribution of all decision makers within the supply chain. Decision makers such as stakeholders and the management should be actively involved in development of a supply chain management. They should aim at changing supply chain in such a way to improve cost and increase sale of goods. Through this inventory turnover and operating ratios will be improved. By mapping supply chain new routes have been discovered in the Japanese auto supply chain.

Mapping Japanese auto supply chain starts from suppliers who provide the necessary materials to the company. Such suppliers include the Toyota Company. Secondly is the manufacturing company where the raw materials are used in manufacturing of vehicles. After they are manufactured, the products are distributed to the various markets in the world by a system of well-developed distribution channel (Cox). These products are distributed to consumer via the retails. At the end the auto supply company gets it returns as profits from the vehicles and other auto motives sold.

Methods of mapping

There are various methods of supply chain mapping. The current and most commonly method used by the Japanese auto supply is the geographical supply chain mapping. The company uses Value Stream mapping. This is a part of Toyota production system aimed at improving efficiency at the shop floor. Other method used include SCOR and IDEFO mapping methods.in the IDEFO system the process of Japanese auto supply is categorized into four major elements namely input, control measurements, output and mechanism used to achieve the process. SCOR model provides ways of mapping supply chain in different levels normally level one to level three (Taylor). The advantage of this is that mapping of a process is not done from scratch.

Due to competitive nature in the current world there is need to analyse the future model of Japanese auto supply so as to attain a competitive advantage in the world market.in order to achieve this Japanese auto supply should understand the current dynamics and the driving forces of their competitors. The auto supply company have put in place various measures to improve their future.to begin with is that auto supply has integrated with small and medium enterprises to boost their performance. Integration is done through forming policy committee for small and medium enterprises and holding various meetings such as JAPIA/OESA joint meeting to promote wider exchange of ideas between the enterprises in the US and Japan.

Secondly, the company has also carried out research to on ways of maintaining their competitive advantage in the world market and even improve their production of quality auto parts. The company has also hastened their response to intellectual rights issue. The auto supply company has held various meeting to promote intellectual rights issue of the company. This is to avoid imitation property where other companies produce products in the same way. In conclusion the future model of Japanese auto supply is bright due to various steps taken above to ensure continues production of competitive products in the world market.

References

Camerinelli, E. (2009). Measuring the value of supply chain linking financial performance and supply chain decisions, Farnham: Gower

Cox, A. (2002). Supply chains, markets and power: Mapping buyer and supplier power regimes. London: Routledge

Taylor, D. (2001). Manufacturing operations and supply chain management: The lean approach. Australia: Thomson Learning

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