Logistics operations
M31EKM
Presented by; Farhan Ahmad
Student ID 4847234
Table of contents
1. Executive summary
2. Introduction
3. Mango stores
4. Zara stores
5. Comparison of logistics operations between Mango and Zara.
5.1 Inbound and outbound transportation. 5.1.1 Transport mode strategies 5.1.2 Outsourcing of logistics operations 5.1.3 3PL companies
5.2 Warehousing
5.3 Inventory management strategies
5.4 Communication and Information systems.
6. Future trends in retail logistics
7. Conclusions
8. Recommendations
9. References
1. Executive summary
Globalization has brought a lot of challenges to international retail businesses. Retail clothing companies entering global markets face multiple challenges related to infrastructure, logistics operations,outsourcing of transport services, supply chain flexibility and visibility of products.
As the competition among businesses is growing, companies are focusing more towards logistics operational planning in order to increase their inventory cycles, decrease storage costs and deliver the product to customers at least possible price.
Outsourcing logistics activities to 3rd party companies is also an established trend. Global Retailers try to concentrate on their core businesses by outsourcing logistics activities like warehousing, transportation, distribution and reverse logistics to 3PL companies having expertise in their areas. Information technology has changed the overall dimensions of logistics operations in terms of tracking and tracing of cargo in warehouses, stores and during inbound and outbound transit.
In this report, I will appraise and compare the logistics operation activities of multinational retail chains, Mango stores and Zara. These two Spanish retail chains have shown tremendous international growth in past two decades by developing their chain stores worldwide.
2.
References: Martha C. Cooper, Douglas M. Lambert, Janus D. Pagh, (1997) "Supply Chain Management: More Than a New Name for Logistics", International Journal of Logistics Management, The, Vol. 8 Iss: 1, pp.1 - 14 Creazza, F. Dallari, M. Melacini, (2010) "Evaluating logistics network configurations for a global supply chain", Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Vol. 15 Iss: 2, pp.154 – 164 Youngsun Park, Brenda Sternquist, (2008) "The global retailer 's strategic proposition and choice of entry mode", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 36 Iss: 4, pp.281 – 299 Robert H. Lowson, (2001) "Retail Operational Strategies in Complex Supply Chains", International Journal of Logistics Management, The, Vol. 12 Iss: 1, pp.97 - 111 Shop.mango.com. 2014. MANGO. [online] Available at: http://shop.mango.com/home.faces?state=she_006_IN [Accessed: 12 Jan 2014]. Zara.com. 2014. ZARA United Kingdom - Official Website. [online] Available at: http://www.zara.com/uk/ [Accessed: 12 Jan 2014].