5.3A/B Technological innovations with Big Impact on the SC Flashcards
What is RPA?
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) -
-software system, imitating human steps to cut repetitive work
→ humans can focus on tasks, where they are better than software
Example for usage for RPA
- data extraction from structured documents (excel)
- data scraping (putting info in a document)
- merging data from different apps
- doing task while executing “if/then” rules
How does implementation of RPA work?
- Procces developer defines steps to be performed by the robot
- robot controller allocates the tasks to the robots
- robots interact with the app
- human user rate the work
- robot interact with more apps
What are the Pros of RPA for BPO?
- *internal:**
- lower costs
- speed
- better compliance
- growth without back office extensions
- *external:**
- better serice quality
- 24-hour-service offering
- fast assignment to competent exployees
What are the Cons of RPA for BPO
- *Introduction of RPA:**
- acceptance issues by employees
- not all processes suitable for RPA (production planning)
- unsuitable for some functions (strategic decision)
- multiple sourcing model for RPA
- *Economic viability:**
- positive economic impacts are not guaranteed
- *Inherent properties:**
- RPA automates processes, but doesnt standardize them
- RPA only suits deterministic rule-based processes
List the guidelines for RPA usage.
RPA should be used for processes that…
- can be described by means of clear rules
- are executed frquently
- require data from different systems
- have a small number of exeptions
- humans dont intervene often
- humans error rate is high
Name Sourcing-Models for RPA
-insourcing (including old processes back in SC)
-Insourcing and Consulting
• Outsourcing from a traditional Business-Process Outsourcing (BPO) provider
• Outsourcing from a provider that is specialized in automation
• Cloud Sourcing
What has RPA to do with automation and standartization?
- RPA automates process, but does not standardizes them
→ hence why process optimization can still happen before, during and after RPA-implementation
List areas of application of RPA in the SC
- Inventory Management (intelligently, dynamically calculate the reorder point quantity)
- Supply and Deman Planning
- Purchase Order Management
- Freight Management
- Invoice Management
- price lookup and comparison
- ERP Integration
Define High-Speed Bespoke SC
- quickness and product customization
- manufacturing and fulfillment of rarely ordered product
- market intelligence
→ can be added as a third option to Fishers framework
Name examples where 3D printing is used in the industry
- adidas speed factory:
-special plant
-custom designed, high priced products → objective: cutting time between custom order and delivery - mercedes:
-3D spare party
→ reduction of inventory - mattel:
-3D toys creator
What are adoption barriers of high speed bespoke SC
Define SC Planning
SC Planning is the process associated with determining requirements and corrective actions to achieve SC objectives
What are the questions for SC planning and what is its problem?
- What? (which product?)
- Where? (which plant?)
- When? (time)
- How? (from what material?)
- How much? (how much input)
→ networks becomes a holistic constuct and not a collection of vertically organized units
→ leads to more complex planning situation
