Product details

This is the second of a two-case series (604-012-1 and 603-003-1).The US-based Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, is believed to be the best supply chain operator of all times. Much of the efficiency achieved by the company in managing its supply chain is because of its proactive use of IT and Internet-enabled technologies. The case discusses in detail the supply chain management practices of Wal-Mart and explains how the company employed information technology and the Internet to enhance the efficiency of each function of supply chain including procurement, warehouse and logistics management, inventory management and demand forecasting. The case focuses particularly on some of the important technologies used by the company and their benefits including EDI, voice-based tools and applications and the Retail Link system. The case also examines the use of Internet-based technologies by Wal-Mart in implementing collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR), global sourcing and EDI-INT. Finally, the case describes Wal-Mart''s plans to implement radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, its benefits and the problems being faced by the suppliers to implement it. The case is structured to enable students to understand the increasing role of IT and the Internet in supply chain management. After reading the case, the students will be able to: (1) understand how IT and the Internet could be effectively used to enhance the efficiency of the supply chain thereby by reducing costs; (2) get insights into some of the latest supply chain management technologies including CPFR and RFID and their applications in the retailing industry; and (3) understand the role of a well-established IT infrastructure in managing supply chain. The case is targeted at MBA/PGDBA students to be part of the production and operations management curriculum. The teaching note does not contain an analysis of the case.