Supply chain
The supply chain shows the process used in is providing goods and services required by customers and the progress from start to finish. The chain starts from getting the materials to selling it on the shopfloors. Each link processes materials in some way or supports this processing. It can help with the disposal of any associated waste. A good supply chain will improve stock availability, improve choice, offer up-to-date products, reduce stock levels and mark-downs.
The 2 products that I will be investigating are furniture dining table from IKEA and a mobile phone from Carphone warehouse.
Supply chain:
Table from IKEA
To make anything, IKEA needs to go all the way back to where the raw materials come from. IKEA gets their raw materials from forests which the trees are renewable and recycled, this will help when making a table. Once all trees are collected then it will need to be processed in machinery to make the table, add colour and the finish touch to give the table a smooth texture. After all that is done, it’s more likely to be sent to a distribution centre but IKEA is 2 in 1. IKEA are the distribution centre and the retailer. In this case, tables are sent straight to the store and workers will store them appropriately within the stores so customers can get the easily.
Mobile phone from Carphone warehouse
Carphone warehouse sells phone and have many raw materials to make one phone. Carphone warehouse will need to contact suppliers who obtain all the raw materials and send all the raw materials to a mobile manufacturing to make the phone. Then they will send the phone with accessories to Carphone warehouse as they are a warehouse and retailer. Once reached to Carphone warehouse workers will take this and put them into the store room, this is only taken out when customer want to buy a contract or ask to see the phone.
Where are good stored
The table from IKEA can be transported to anywhere esle. Tables are moisturefree so the storage conditions need to match that and need to put into containers as these may be shipped from one country to another. Each table will need to be shrink wrap so the table do not ship and stack on top of each other so it don’t fall over. When reached to IKEA they will have roll cages so it will be easy to stack in IKEA stores which is needed to stack quickly. So when customers want to buy the table it will be easy for them to take out as they will be stack on top of each other. They will also need forklift hydraulic arms attached to lorries for offload heavy or bulky goods such as the table.
The mobile phone will be put into normal boxes with bubble wrap around it so it will not get damaged and help from not tipping over. They will placed in pallet and the conditions needs to dust free. Then the pallet will be wrapped with shrink wrap so they stay in one place and give extra care so the phone do not get damaged.. These will be stack into security cage where they have a padlock with a pin. The pin will be sent to the Carphone warehouse and only they can break it. The padlock cannot be used again. These need to be secured very well as this type of item is valuble and more appealable to theives. When it has reached these will be rolled into the store room where the door has automatic doors with harsh security and taken of and put in appropiate places. These are not shown to customer until they are buying the phone.
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