Case Study 4
Paula Valencia
Case 4 Westminster Company
LOG 215-001
Brian Lux
Case Summary Westminster Company is a family-owned pharmaceutical supply business established in 1923. The company has being among the largest producers of consumers health products and brand recognition all the over the world. Westminster has regional offices in the Pacific Rim, Latin America, and Europe which operated under decentralized management, maintaining unique and independent companies. In today’s world, Westminster Company has greatly expand; the growth of key customers into large account has forced the company to reevaluate its traditional supply chain, which were creating a new series of issues. As a result, costumer composition and customer requirements were the two main disadvantages the company was facing. Such issues include the incompetence to meet customers’ requirements, numerous and extensively spread order cycles and delivery, and backorders. According to the case study, Westminster’s vice president of SCM Alex Coldfield visualized three important changes to the supply chain. First, introducing a new and faster technological system such as POS driven information system, with the help of a team-work it will give the company and customers accurate information at the point of sale. Second, Westminster Company should have the ability to reduce order cycle times. At this point, the company will be able to mix merchandise from the three different companies and create a customize order and increase the demand for direct store delivery. Third, by creating customize orders, the need of new programs such UCC 128 and RFID will facilitated the procedures and modify the traditional order fulfillment. These suggestions will also affect Westminster distribution network, the three companies which are located in FL, CA, GA, NJ, and TX with its own manufacturing and distribution center, will face changes in manufactured, storage and deliver. For example, the company shipment profiles
Case 4 Westminster Company
LOG 215-001
Brian Lux
Case Summary Westminster Company is a family-owned pharmaceutical supply business established in 1923. The company has being among the largest producers of consumers health products and brand recognition all the over the world. Westminster has regional offices in the Pacific Rim, Latin America, and Europe which operated under decentralized management, maintaining unique and independent companies. In today’s world, Westminster Company has greatly expand; the growth of key customers into large account has forced the company to reevaluate its traditional supply chain, which were creating a new series of issues. As a result, costumer composition and customer requirements were the two main disadvantages the company was facing. Such issues include the incompetence to meet customers’ requirements, numerous and extensively spread order cycles and delivery, and backorders. According to the case study, Westminster’s vice president of SCM Alex Coldfield visualized three important changes to the supply chain. First, introducing a new and faster technological system such as POS driven information system, with the help of a team-work it will give the company and customers accurate information at the point of sale. Second, Westminster Company should have the ability to reduce order cycle times. At this point, the company will be able to mix merchandise from the three different companies and create a customize order and increase the demand for direct store delivery. Third, by creating customize orders, the need of new programs such UCC 128 and RFID will facilitated the procedures and modify the traditional order fulfillment. These suggestions will also affect Westminster distribution network, the three companies which are located in FL, CA, GA, NJ, and TX with its own manufacturing and distribution center, will face changes in manufactured, storage and deliver. For example, the company shipment profiles
References: Bowersox, D. (2013). Supply chain logistics management (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.