1. Find an original post or a comment to a post that you find interesting and address the author by name.
2. Address the points that the original poster (or a commenter makes) and do more than simply agree with the points made. To do so, you can either a) extend the post by calling upon other sources (either assigned readings from this course or elsewhere), your personal experience, or previous posts or b) disagree with a previous post and offer compelling evidence. If you are going to disagree, you MUST do it in a civil manner AND cite sources. Opinions are fine; however, opinions NOT supported by data are just that.
3. Repeat this process once more. You must have at two substantial comments to earn full credit. Substantial comments meet the above criteria. Simply writing longer posts does NOT ensure full credit. There is no minimum word requirement, but it would be difficult (but probably not impossible) to meet the requirements in 1-2 sentences.
Answer this one please and include citation underneath the comment:
Article Link: https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/apple-expects-delay-iphone-14-deliveries-zhengzhou-china-covid-outbreak/635916/
BLUF: Apple iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to have significant delays in receiving shipments based on Covid-19 restrictions in China.
More Detailed Summary:
• Currently, China has still not uplifted Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic started.
• There is a massive shortage in filling orders due to Apple’s largest supplier Foxconn having a COVID-19 outbreak.
• Apple has announced that they have to change their production method by implementing a “point-to-point method.” This will help eliminate the outbreak from everyone at the facility potentially having Covid.
• Currently, they do not have a timetable for when production will resume full capacity as the facility lies in one of the strictest areas in China with COVID-19 restrictions applied.
Who is Affected:
• Consumers who have already placed orders directly from Apple are affected the most as they have to wait longer than what was initially posted when they expect to receive their new phones.
• Apple is also affected as they do not want to upset their customers who wish to purchase that particular product, which can affect their revenue if they decide to buy from a different competitor.
• Foxconn is affected because even though they are the manufacturers of that particular product, Apple might try to consider another option for future products with the delay in production even though it was due to the pandemic.
Relation to Course Content:
This article is connected to the course as it shows how the bullwhip effect occurs. Orders are made, and due to COVID-19 restrictions still being applied in China, the manufacturer is not producing as many supplies as demanded.
Source:
Supply Chain Dive has been a reputable source of supply chain news as it relates explicitly to current issues. This article is relevant because Apple is a well-known company where many people buy products.
Answer this one please and include citation underneath the comment:
BLUF: For the Holidays this year, expect delivery “bottlenecks” on popular products, such as electronic devices, bicycles, toys, and Christmas decorations. To avoid shortages and disappointments, retailers should consider strategies such as finding alternative supply sources, improving supply chain transparency, and ensuring the best optimization strategy for inventory.
Link to article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2022/09/19/how-to-get-your-supply-chain-ready-for-christmas/?sh=697e95524be5
Detailed Report:
This article strongly encourages retailers to plan for the upcoming supply shortages this holiday season. Due to a variety of reasons, popular holiday purchases will be in short supply. For example, the ongoing chip shortage puts desired electronic devices in short supply due to extended delivery times. A demand surge in bicycles during the pandemic has manufacturers struggling to keep up, with orders taking several months to deliver. In addition, most toys and Christmas decorations are made in China. With the latest lockdown in Yiwu, the location for nearly two-third’s of the world’s Christmas decorations, paired with ongoing sea freight jams, shipments from China are not guaranteed to arrive in time for the holidays.
This article is important because it affects retailers and could potentially hurt their sales if they are not prepared. However, by planning for possible holiday shortages, retailers can keep their customers happy and maintain sales. The article recommends retailers to locate alternative sources of supply for such goods. In addition, establishing a transparent supply chain by using a real-time traceable and connected supply chain ensures everything is working as efficiently as possible. For example, specific material information can be shared and matched across the entire supply chain, ensuring quality and preventing recalls. Finally, the article recommends implementing the best inventory optimization strategy to reduce operational costs. With such a system in place, inventory can be allocated at the right place and at the right time.
This relates to the course material as it mentions several key processes in order for retailers to prepare for and help prevent upcoming supply shortages. Instead of having a complete shortage all the way down the chain, retailers can help alleviate this by finding alternative supply sources. Also, setting up strategies such as inventory optimization and a transparent supply chain can help overall quality and resource efficiency.
This article is a from Forbes.com and was recently written September 19, 2022. Forbes is an accurate site that features articles on finance, investing, and marketing topics. It is written for journalists, thought-leaders, and business owners, making it a trusted source towards retailers.