Wal-Mart

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how for the retail chain Wal-Mart, the need for continuing to perfect its supply chain has a much more strategic role in their core businesses than does the pricing strategies the firm relies on. The paper then proceeds to show how the Wal-Mart supply chain is going to continually underscore its leadership position in discount retailing. To accomplish this, the Wal-Mart supply chain organization is defined including its current accomplishments and challenges. Specifically the corporate-wide roles of Wal-Marts' supply chain operations are discussed, including their strategies regarding Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) implementations in warehouses worldwide and their commitment to collaborative advanced planning and scheduling. A cost/benefit analysis of the Wal-Mart supply chain is included as a basis for suggesting further improvements. Finally, Wal-Mart's' ethical considerations with streamlining their supply chain are explored.

Outline:
Introducing Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart's Supply Chain Today
How Wal-Mart Is Defining Supply Chain Best Practices

From the Paper:

"As the largest mass merchandiser in the world, Wal-Mart's work in supply chain execution, research, and policies defines best practices for the broader high volume retailing industry worldwide. Wal-Mart is comprised of three operating segments including the Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Club and the International Stores. The typical Wal-Mart discount store as 50 departments or more and a few are offering groceries in addition to apparel, fabrics, stationery and books, shoes, house wares, hardware, electronics, home furnishings, small appliances, automotive accessories, gardening accessories, sporting goods, toys, and pet food. Wal-Mart moved into the SuperCenter retailing concept in the 1990s and has at this point 1,700 of these SuperCenters worldwide. These SuperCenters range in size from slightly over 90,000 square feet to 260,000 square feet. These are substantially larger than its normal stores, ranging in size from 90,000 square feet to 261,000 square feet. Wal-Mart also runs smaller stores called Neighborhood Markets in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Accenture. Accenture Consulting. Retrieved May 23, 2007 from the Web: http://www.accenture.com/xd/xd.asp?it=enweb&xd=_dyn%5Cdynamicpressrelease_800.xml
• Aimi, AMR Research (2005, October 25). Retailers Save Money By Controlling In-Bound Logistics. (Alert). Boston, MA. Greg Aimi
• Cecere, Hagerty, Souza. AMR Research, (2005, March 3). How Best To Measure Your Supply Chain Today. (Report and Analysis). Boston, MA Cecere, L., Hagerty, J., Souza, J.
• Datamonitor. Datamonitor Research (2005, Reference 1935). Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Company Profile). New York, NY
• O'Marah. AMR Research (2005, November 8). The AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25 for 2005. (report and analysis) Boston, MA

More papers on Wal-Mart:

• Research Paper # 91854 : "Wal-Mart and Supply Chain Management"
• Case Study # 102381 : "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc."
• Case Study # 148411 : "Wal-Mart's Positive Influence on Chinese Consumers"
• Case Study # 148452 : "A History of Walmart's Globalization Strategy: Strategic Wins in China, Major Struggles in Germany"

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