Supply Chain Strategy Of Colgate Palmolive Commerce Essay

Supply Chain Strategy Of Colgate Palmolive Commerce Essay An organization strives to be the leader in its industry by following a well-designed strategy that incorporates the company mission, vision, values, goals and objectives so that it can attain its long-term competitive position in the market. One of the vital elements of any business organization is its supply chain strategy and it needs to be properly aligned with the business strategy (Bhardwaj Mitra, 2010). Any company that does not have a well-integrated Supply Chain Management (SCM) strategy is unable to successfully meet the demands of its target market. The SCM strategy ensures that the logistics of the company are planned out in advance so that there is adequate supply of raw materials, minimum level of inventory is maintained and the supply chain operations cost is reduced; all of these measures ensure that an organization is able to generate an appropriate amount of profit and maintain its strong position in the industry (Cho et al., 2011). Every strategy in the SCM comprises of the plan that the company will implement for achieving its goal of capturing the target market and enhancing the satisfaction level of consumers. According to Sehgal (2011), the success of a supply chain strategy mandates the adoption of SCM strategy that is properly aligned with the organizations business strategy and ensures that its resources and capabilities are utilized in highly effective manner. The business strategy of a company is defined as the key element that guides the organization in making decisions that are compatible with the requirements of its objectives so that it can make successful progression and improve its profitability effectively. It is believed that SCM strategy is highly dependent on the business strategy as it is the basis on which most of the companies want to compete in the market and gain competitive edge for long period (Elgazaar et al., 2012). For instance, if a company is offering customized products like Dell, then it will have to ensure that it has an efficient and coordinated SCM strategy which will assist it in fulfilling the demands of the customers perfectly and on time. If Dell faces shortage of key parts or prices of its raw materials rise significantly, then it will be unable to offer the products at reasonable prices. However, the success of Dell is largely dependent on the development of an effective SCM strategy that is compatible with its business objective of offering customized products to the consumers at cheap rates with the fastest delivery process (Green, Whitten Inman, 2011). As the raw material issues are being faced by the companies worldwide, it has become important for every organization to enter into contractual agreements with the suppliers so that it can minimize its risk of facing any raw material shortage in its business tenure (). With the help of variable cost agreement, both the buyer and seller will have a win-win situation; each party will get exposure to the advantages of changes in the price. The seller is protected from the increase in price that could have eroded the margins and the buyer can avail the low priced product if the price of commodity declines during the period of a contract (Business for Social Responsibility, 2008). Hence, an SCM strategy should be developed in accordance with the organizations vision, mission and goals so that it is compatible with its business strategy and provide support to the company for fulfilling its promise of delivering the products and services within agreed time period (Elmeziane, Chuanmin, Elmeziane, 2011). It is vital for every firm to realize that if the supply chain strategy lacks alignment with the business strategy then there are huge chances that its business operations get severely impacted; in some extreme cases, the companies have undergone bankruptcy as well. Introduction of Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive is among the leading Multinational Corporations that has been give top ranking in the consumer products category. It has its headquarters in New York and it is believed to have an asset of $94 billion that comprises of all its products that it is selling in more than two hundred countries. Colgate-Palmolive is involved in the business of manufacturing and selling of various consumer products that comprise of cleaning products, soaps, toothpastes and pet supplies; it has broadly classified its products into two categories i.e. Oral, Personal and Home Care and Pet Nutrition (Supply Chain Management, 2012). Since the company has its operations in various regions across the globe, it is of immense importance to have a well-integrated system that will help in efficient and quick exchange of valuable data and information. Initially, Colgate-Palmolive had a decentralized structure that was creating many issues in its business operations especially in Supply Chain Management (SCM). In November 1999, the management team of the company decided to revamp its IT infrastructure by implementing a unique and innovative system that ensured integration of every function throughout the organization across all its operational activities on international level (Bolstroff, Rosenbaum, 2011). The global SCM system of Colgate-Palmolive has been replaced with SAP R/3 solution so that it can capitalize on its resources along with enhancement of the global SCM management so that the retailers, customers and management were provided service of superior quality, inventory cost was controlled to a great extent and revenue stream started to increase at a good pace (Blanchard, 2010). Colgate-Palmolive vision and core values The vision statement of Colgate-Palmolive is To offer products on the basis of three core values i.e. global teamwork, caring attitude and improvement on continuous basis. The core values of the company are as follows: To offer growth opportunities to the companys employees both on professional and personal levels. To fulfill all Corporate Social Responsibilities as a key member of the community on global level. To enhance the value of shareholders. To develop processes and policies that will ensure that the company is able to strengthen its position in the market and respective industry. To explore all latest initiatives and opportunities that are existing in the market. Supply Chain Structure of Colgate-Palmolive In order to solve the main issue of Colgate-Palmolive, Colgates global supply chain system was developed; the three key supply chain strategies that formed the basis of this system. The first one was the introduction of the Vendor Inventory Control (VMI) product so that there was a decline in the inventory channel and timing of the cycle as well. The second strategy was the implementation of a resource planning system at cross-border level so that regional models were developed for the international patterns; it ensured that the company had adequate pool of assets so that there was a balance with the companys business strategy. The last and final strategy was implementation of a collaborative program that ensured there was a well-balanced downstream business system for effective management of the market demand of supply chain along with effective coordination of the systems activities. With the help of new system, everyone in the organization is well-aware of the supply chain statistics; the IT system has enhanced the companys SCM system which has helped in utilizing the supply chain information with accuracy so that the consumers always had easy access to the products and the shortage problems was reduced by 50% in the first three months of the SAP R/3 implementation. Global Resource Utilization in Colgate-Palmolive When new and innovative systems were installed in the company that comprised of SAP R/3 ERP software along with Oracle related DBMS (Database Management System) and Solaris Operating System developed by the Sun hardware platform, the company was able to take advantage of a well-integrated system. Colgate-Palmolive was able to integrate with its cross-regional resource use systems (CBS) demand and resource information about the international demand effectively. Since the input was rapid, there was an increase in the number of shipments, reduction in the number of improper or incomplete orders and a significant decline in the number of inventory. With the help of the latest SCM system, the suppliers had developed direct links with the companys production unit and they were responsible for effective management of resources at the distribution centers for supplementing Colgate-Palmolive business operations. This new system is based on the order flow of the customers and driven by the distribution centers of Colgate around the globe as the suppliers are now directly supplying the products. The business control procedures in CBS are supported by SCM system of SAP that is heavily dependent on the signals of daily demand along with the replenishment orders of inventory which are determined by the calculation. With the help of this system, the supply and demand level is maintained at a consistent level that helps the company in being more responsive to the fulfillment of special orders. It has been observed by the company that there is a significant reduction in the forecast inaccuracy, product inventory level is reduced, increase in the number of orders fulfillment, reduction in cycle time and the completed orders rate is further enhanced. The SCM strategy has three main elements for real-time integration model i.e. SAP support system for stock, orders and other indices of market, real information about the customer order demands and effective integration of ERP, SCM and CRM systems. The company is aiming that the SCM strategy is effectively implemented in all its firms across the globe; VMI, collaborative engine and CBS are applied to all shopping malls and brands so that effectiveness of SCM can be managed effectively. As the supply chain information is more visible, there are high chances that the company has access to timely, consistent and accurate data that will ensure that the planning decisions are made efficiently so that the company is able to achieve its goals successfully. In order to ensure that there is an effective decision-making process throughout the enterprise, Business Intelligence System will allow Colgate-Palmolive to have quick access to precise and consistent data. With the help of SCM system, the company will be able to enhance its market competitiveness along with strengthening its position in the global business development, gaining competitive edge in the price war and marketing its products in a strategic way. In order to enhance its business operations, Colgate has integrated its e-enterprise by developing cordial and closer relations with its partners and customers. Conclusion For every organization, it is important to have a well-integrated SCM system that will ensure that its supply chain strategy is complementing the business strategy. With the help of an effective SCM system, Colgate and its consumers and partners can have quicker and on-time orders, production planning and inventory management is effective done, order fulfillment rate increases at a higher level, forecasting is efficiently completed and performance of the company can be easily monitored. Hence, Colgate-Palmolive has completely revamped its SCM structure so that it can maintain its image as a global leader in the consumer products market by fulfilling all orders on time and controlling the costs that will help it to make investment in other alternatives for further expansion decisions. Therefore, an effective SCM system is one that is aligned with the business strategy which will ensure that the company is able to achieve its objectives effectively, productively and profitability.

Orthodox Sacrament of Marriage Exchange of the rings Essay

There are different cultural rituals which are performed by people of different cultures. A cultural ritual refers to an event or activities that are valued within a certain group of people or society and which they relate with in a way that is unique from other communities. The cultural ritual that I was able to observe and take some notes was a wedding ritual under the Orthodox Church. The wedding ceremony is known as the â€Å"Orthodox Sacrament of Marriage†, and is primarily made up of two major parts. The part that got me fascinated was at the point where the couples are required to exchange the rings. The ritual, which took place just at the point of entry into the church, is considered to be special. It is taken to be the point at which the couples leave the world and transit into another world as they get into the church. The events that take place in this ritual include prayers for the couples by the priest as a way of blessing the union of the couple. It was observed that there artifacts which are needed and involved in the ritual. These include the rings which the couples put on their right hand. During one of the wedding ceremonies, it was noted that after the rings have been obtained, the next step that is taken after the couples have been blessed by the priest is the placement of the rings. The rings are not just placed on any finger or hand. The right hand is used to place the -295275-47625000rings. From what the believers say as it emerged is that, under the Orthodox wedding, the hand where the rings are place is the one that is believed to be used in making of promises and oaths, that is, right hand of the bride and that of the groom. It later also emerged that the right hand is used because it is the one which is used to recognize the presence of God Almighty. Quite interesting, or may be be cause it is believed such as in Christianity, the right hand is the hand of blessings. During the wedding, it was observed that when the couples were progressing with the wedding, it is that the right hand was the one used to make the sign of the cross. A cross from my view is a symbol of some sort of belief in a sect or religion. According to the faithful followers of this church, the sign of the cross is made as a way of recognizing that there was God in that ceremony. It is to be note that after placing a ring on the finger of the groom, a ring is then placed on the finger of the bride. From the wedding ritual, the artifacts, in this case the rings are of great significance and are greatly treasured. Without the rings, there cannot be a wedding and the priest is not allowed to give permission uniting the couples. The participants, that is, the bride and the groom are expected to know what placing the rings on their right hand means to them. Rings are a symbol of unity between the marrying parties as well as the families of the bride and the groom. The bride and the groom are required to know that they are leaving the â€Å"outside world† by standing at the entry to the church, and they are entering a â€Å"new world†, that of Christianity. The exchange of the rings by the couple illustrates their commitment not only to uphold the principles of the church but also to continue with the faith and belief of the church. The couples are united to each other as well as the church since the wedding takes place inside and outside the church, whereby the move from the outside to the inside of the church, symbolizing transformation of lives. The exchange of the rings however, only takes place after all the parties are asked questions on their commitment to the marriage and they make a promise. The bride first makes the promise after which the groom makes the promise. At this point, the priest is seen to be very keen on what the bride and groom say, may be for future reference in case the couple run in to marriage problems or issues that may require the intervention of the priest. Furthermore, the bride and the groom are expected to be aware that the placing of the rings on their right fingers signifies their agreement, betrothal, stewardship and authority towards each other. It is the belief of the participants that the rings represent their agreement, service to each other, commitment as well as authority in their marriage. The use of the rings in the ceremony means that the couples will always strive to support and be there for each other and that each of the two will gain from their union in marriage. The bride and the groom are expected to realize that when they exchange the rings, they have total commitment to each other and are bound to share as well as have an exchange of their spiritual belongs and their physical belongs till death separates the two. The love that they pledge to one another is expected to be eternal with full devotion and service to each other. Therefore, it is important that the groom and the bride understands what it mean by having the rings placed on their right hands during this ritual conducted at the entrance of the church with the help of a priest. The Orthodox followers shun marriages without weddings and one is shown great respect when they marry or get married through a church wedding. The family members are expected to be present during this time when the couples exchange the rings and the absence of one or both parents is considered as a curse. It is believed that failure of the parents to attend, if they are alive, means that the wedding is not blessed. The ritual of exchanging the rings at the entrance of the church is significant in the lives of the couple hence not taken lightly. The value that is placed on the exchange of the rings is noticeable even on the reaction that the bride and the groom display after the exchange of the rings. Joy and happiness is expressed through songs by the crowd that has attended the wedding as they exchange the rings. Generally, the wedding ritual of exchanging rings in the Orthodox Church is currently practiced even in other churches to signify unity of the couples. References Father Constantine Varipatis; Marriage and the Freedom of the Human Person (1995) viewed from http://www.saintstylianos.org.au/orthodoxy/marriage.html on 23rd November 2014 Our Wedding Ceremony viewed from http://web.mit.edu/manoli/www/wedding/ceremony.html on 23rd November 2014 Source document

Mental Health Oppositional Defiant Disorder Free Essay Example, 1500 words

The most commonly used variation of (PMT) consists of several procedures used to train parents to modify own behaviors and thereby positively affect the behavioral problems experienced by their children in the home setting. Evidently, this method relies upon the etiological perspective identifying the maladaptive parent-child interactions as the key factor contributing to the development of ODD. PMT seeks to modify such pattern by encouraging the parent to focus on pro-social behavior, use effective, brief, non-aversive punishments, etc. Treatment is conducted mainly with the parents: the professional show them specific procedures positively modify their relationships with their child. On the first stage of PMT course, parents are trained to simply have periods of positive play interaction with their child; the second stage consists of practices which help identify the child s positive behaviors and reinforce them. During this period of training, parents receive knowledge on how to use brief negative consequences an equivalent of punishment for the child s misbehavior. Repeated sessions provide the parents with opportunities to properly master and refine the techniques (Kazdin, 2005). Behavior and psychosocial therapies involving children are also effectively used in the treatment of ODD. We will write a custom essay sample on Mental Health: Oppositional Defiant Disorder or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Benefits And Disadvantages Of Minimum Wage - 1957 Words

1. Introduction In the past decades a lot of countries have forced companies to pay wages inferior to a certain threshold. This activity has important effects on the labor market and even on the global economy. The average wage levels influence not only the rates of employment, and the living conditions of part of the payroll, also a country’s level of education, how much outsourcing is done to countries where (minimum) wages are lower, and even market prices and therefore rates of inflation. Around the world, and for more than a century now, â€Å"since the first minimum wage law was passed in New Zealand in 1894† [1], economists, policymakers, business owners, and many others, have never ceased debating over the varying advantages and disadvantages of minimum wage laws, and like often in economics, there is no consensus among economists. â€Å"There is a long-standing tension in economics between belief in the advantages of the market mechanism and awareness of its imperfections.†[2]. Supporters of the minimum wage say it increases the standard of living of workers, reduces poverty, reduces inequality, boosts morale and forces businesses to be more efficient.[3] In contrast, opponents of the minimum wage say it increases poverty, increases unemployment (particularly among unskilled or inexperienced workers) and is damaging to businesses.[4][5][6]. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Pros and Cons of minimum wage policy perspective of Firms, Consumers, Labor force, and theShow MoreRelatedEffects of Increasing Minimum Wage Essay988 Words   |  4 PagesThe idea of having a federal minimum wage is a good one. The idea is to protect low and unskilled workers from discrimination and allow all workers to earn a living wage. The recent debate on the floor, though, is whether or not to raise the minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour up to $10.10 per hour. 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