Chaing Management at Dimco Case Study

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Assignment #2: Chain Management at DIMCO Case Study Operations Management/BUS 515 The components for a supply chain are external suppliers, internal functions, and external distributors (Reid, 2010, p101). According to the case study DIMCO feels the internal functions of the supply chain are currently under an effective supply chain management program. Integrating the suppliers and distribution branches will be challenging but necessary for a complete SCM program. The case study does give numbers regarding 375 suppliers are currently being utilized for the 1350 components needed to manufacture all of DIMCO’s consumer electronics. At first glance, these numbers are a bit daunting, and the process of getting the suppliers on board with the new SCM direction will require negotiation and interaction, in other words, face time to build better, stronger and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. The other option is to implement SCM through the distribution channel. The company currently utilizes a central warehouse that distributes to 10 Regional Distribution Centers (RDC) that ultimately supplies 4200 retailers. There are 6 domestic RDC with 72 local distributors (LD) that supply 2520 retailers, while there are 4 global RDC with 48 LD supplying 1680 retailers. When broken out this way, the distribution angle seems much more daunting, because that is a lot of people to get on board with the SCM program, plus the added complications of global business. However, the distribution arm of the SCM has more of a direct connection to DIMCO’s business philosophy and can exert a new strategy more forcefully; at least to the extent of DIMCO’s ownership of the RDC and LD, the retailers may be more of a negotiation, similar to the supplier branch. My recommendation is for DIMCO to take a two prong approach and to attack both the suppliers and distribution angle
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