Bill Gates of Microsoft describes the 2000s as ‘business @ the speed of thought’. Discuss the importance of speed in the supply chain. How can speed be increased within the supply chain?

DISCUSSION ESSAY

1 Bill Gates of Microsoft describes the 2000s as ‘business @ the speed of thought’. Discuss the importance of speed in the supply chain. How can speed be increased within the supply chain?

2 Suggest logistics performance priorities for the following, explaining why you have come to your conclusions:

• a a low fare airline such as Ryanair;
• b a fast food chain such as McDonald’s;
• c an overnight parcels service such as DHL.

3 What is meant by the term alignment in relation to supply chain processes? Why is alignment important in setting a strategy for a given supply chain?

4 What does flow mean in a supply chain context? Explain how material flow relates to information flow in a supply network.