ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔Business Analytics - ✔✔The combination of skills, technologies, applications and
processes used by organizations to gain insight in to their business based on data and
statistics to drive business planning.
✔✔What does ERP stand for and what does it do? - ✔✔Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP)
- business process management software that allows an organization to use a system
of integrated applications to manage the business and automate many back-office
functions related to sales, finance, manufacturing, customers, supply chain, and human
resources.
- helps you run your entire business
✔✔What is cloud computing and what does it do? - ✔✔Cloud computing is emerging as
a viable option for on-demand access to supply chain software applications and data
sharing.
-> On-Demand Access
-> Pay-As-You-Go Structure
-> Third-Party Expertise
-> Accessible, Centralized Data
-> Allows supply chain tools to be more affordable for smaller companies.
✔✔From Reading: According to Gartner, what is the top expected benefit of becoming a
digital business? - ✔✔Improves operational efficiencies
✔✔From Reading: According to Gartner, what are the top 2 roadblocks to making a
company a digital business? - ✔✔1. Culture
2. Legacy Technology Systems
✔✔What is Global SCM? - ✔✔Focuses on planning, implementing, and controlling the
cross-border flows of materials, money, and information between companies in different
countries.
✔✔Why has global production grown? (Key Drivers) - ✔✔- Access to lower wage rates
- Access to customers in emerging markets
- Reduction in transport and communication costs
- Reduction in trade barriers
✔✔What are some of the key risks of global sourcing and outsourcing? - ✔✔- Long lead
times
- Exchange rate fluctuations
- Potential theft or loss
, - Lack of visibility
✔✔What drives a company to consider off-shoring or near-shoring outsourced
operations? - ✔✔- Increased global competition
- Pressure to reduce costs
- Become more competitive
- Become more innovative
✔✔What is "Near-Shoring"? - ✔✔Transfer of business or IT processes and
development work to companies in neighboring or nearby countries within similar time
zones.
✔✔What are the cons of "near-shoring"? - ✔✔Cons:
- Production real estate costs & availability
- Labor costs, Availability and Expertise
- Available transportation capacity
- Available warehousing capacity
- Time to implement
- Location of suppliers
✔✔What are the pros of "near-shoring"? - ✔✔Pros:
- Faster order cycle time
- Less inventory in pipeline
- Lower transport costs
- Less potential risks
- Rapid replenishment
- Greater control
✔✔What is Contract Manufacturing and why is it utilized? - ✔✔- Production of goods by
one firm, under the label and brand of another firm
- Provide such service to multiple firms based on their own or the customers' designs,
formulas, and/or specification.
- Sometimes called off-shoring, outsourcing, or private label manufacturing.
✔✔What are some of the issues, considerations, and impacts of "off-shoring"
operations? - ✔✔- Higher risk of shortages and stock-outs
- Higher levels of inventory
- Uncertain and longer lead times
- Exchange rate fluctuations
- Potential theft or loss
- Lack of visibility
✔✔Readings: What are 7 Secrets to Navigating International Markets? - ✔✔1. How
deep your involvement should be.
2. How you will be paid.