Class Overview

Retail and supply chain management provides a competitive advantage when the customer value proposition is aligned to the operations strategy.  This module will describe best practices and current challenges of global retail & supply chains.  How do you measure and define success?  How do you design your retail, distribution and channel strategy?  How do you decide what to operate vs. outsource?  How do you mitigate supply chain risk?  We will use a combination of site visits, frameworks, exercises and tools to help refine your retail & supply chain strategy. 

 Retail & Supply Chain Curriculum: 

1. What is Supply Chain Management and Why is it Important
   1. Supply Chain Definition
   2. Best and worst case examples
   3. Defining & Measuring Success
   4. Complications & Disruptions 

2. Trends in Distribution & Retailing
   1. Business Models & Industry Structure
      1. Retail
      2. Delivery
      3. E-commerce
   2. Industry Structure
      1. Key Players
      2. Business Performance
      3. Value Chain 

3. “Trader Joe’s Case Study”
   1. Case Questions
      1. How do grocery firms make money?
      2. How are they differentiated?
      3. What are Trader Joe’s key sources of competitive advantage?
      4. What are the main threats to Trader Joe’s?
      5. What changes would you make to their strategy going forward 

4. Store Visits & Retail Questionnaire
   1. Gelsons
   2. Trader Joe’s
   3. Whole Foods 

5. Lunch & Visit Debrief 

6. Supply Chains for New Companies
   1. Strategic Fit
      1. Customer requirements
         1. End consumer
         2. Distribution channels
            1. Target customers
            2. Distribution Model
         3. Retail Channels
      2. Lean supply chains
   2. Profitability
      1. Cost components
      2. Margin 

7. Converting Business Models to Supply Chain Requirements
   1. Dimensions of Customer Value
      1. Conformance to customer requirements
      2. Product selection
      3. Price & brand
      4. Value added services
      5. Customer experiences 

8. Supply Chain Design & Execution
   1. The Value of Information
      1. Four Stage Supply Chains
      2. The Bullwhip Effect
      3. Strategy & Tradeoffs
   2. Inventory Management
      1. Economic order quantity
      2. Service Level
      3. Forecasting
   3. Distribution & Channel Design
      1. Internal
      2. Third Party Logistics
      3. Amazon Marketplace / FBA
   4. Risk Management
      1. Sources of Risk
      2. The Vulnerability Framework
      3. The Risk Management Plan 

9. Designing Your Supply Chain (Team Project – Prepare & Present)
   1. Business Model Requirements & Supply Chain Impact
   2. Distribution & Channel Design
   3. Sources of Competitive Advantage and Risk 

10. Summary