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1. What does flow mean in a supply-chain context? Explain how material flow relates to information flow in a supply network. 2. Whilst top companies such as IBM and Tesco say that the customer is king, will customer choice continue to be unrestrained in a) 2020 and b) 2050? Explain your thinking in each future state scenario.
1. The Product Flow The product flow involves the movement of goods from a supplier to a customer. This supply chain management flow also concerns customer returns and service needs. The Information Flow The information flow centers on transmitting orders and updating the status of delivery. Information, materials and money move from suppliers to customers and vice versa. In logistics material flow goes at first from suppliers to customers (from upstream to downstream) and information and money flow from customers to suppliers (from downstream to upstream). 2. Markets are constantly changing and the actual value demanded will change accordingly. In 2020 I can foresee forecast demand for the end-consumer being a big part of the companies’ choice in values; much like today. However with product lifecycles ending and gaps in expectations of consumers increasing it is hard to say if companies like IBM and Tesco will rise to the occasion in 2050. To be an order winner in the future their ability to solve and retain customer loyalty is vital to their logistics processes. The customer’s choice can change at any moment and organizations have to be quick to respond. If they continue to use CRM customer relationship management in the form of social, financial, and structural incentives they can achieve this goal.
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