Chapter 10: Supply Chain Flashcards
How has Shein leveraged its supply chain to achieve success?
Shein has an innovative supply chain with minimal steps from manufacturers to consumers, offering a wide selection, better value, and lower prices.
What is one key supply chain strategy Shein uses to improve efficiency?
Shein locates distribution centers near ports, airports, and vendors to reduce transit time and speed up delivery.
How does Shein empower its supply chain partners?
Shein allows supply chain partners to help create collections, fostering a collaborative approach to product development.
How does Shein’s size benefit its supply chain operations?
Shein leverages its size to reduce costs and invest in infrastructure that increases speed and efficiency in delivery.
What direct approach does Shein use to streamline its supply chain?
Shein utilizes direct shipping to consumers, bypassing traditional retail intermediaries.
What sourcing strategy is critical to Shein’s supply chain success?
Shein relies on direct sourcing from factories, which helps control costs and improve product availability.
Can competitors easily replicate Shein’s supply chain strategies?
While possible, it is challenging for competitors to replicate Shein’s success due to their differing organizational structures.
What ongoing strategy can help Shein maintain its competitive edge?
Shein’s large size enables it to continuously invest in supply chain infrastructure, which supports ongoing improvements in speed and cost-efficiency.
What is Supply Chain?
A linked set of companies that support the delivery of a company’s products to customers ultimately delivering value to the end-user.
Why is an efficient supply chain important?
Without efficiency, products may cost more, be delayed, lack innovation, or be of lower quality.
What is Supply Chain Management?
Actions taken to coordinate the flow of information across the supply chain to reduce costs, improve resource use, enhance customer service, and adapt quickly to changes.
What are some benefits of Integrated Supply Chain Management?
- Reduced Costs
- Efficient Resource Use
- Better Customer Service
- Faster Response to Changes
What are Inventory Carrying Costs?
Costs associated with making or buying a product, including risks of obsolescence, taxes, insurance, and storage space.
What happens if inventory is too low?
Customers may be unsatisfied due to product unavailability.
What happens if inventory is too high?
The company faces high costs to store and manage excess inventory.
What is Push as a Supply Chain Strategy?
A strategy where companies forecast sales, produce products, and store them until orders come in.
What are the Advantages of a Push Strategy?
Economies of scale when producing in bulk, and readily available stock to satisfy customers.
What are the Disadvantages of a Push Strategy?
Inaccurate forecasts can lead to excess or shortage, slow response to demand changes, and high inventory costs.
Give an example of a Push Supply Chain Strategy.
The automobile industry, which produces cars based on forecasts and sends them to dealerships to await customer purchases.
What is Pull as a Supply Chain Strategy?
A strategy where products are only manufactured or distributed after a customer order is placed.