12/16/09 CPM, Gantt, PERT, and Supply Chain Management

Walmart utilizes most significantly the Gantt chart through many stages of its operations. It trains all of it's project managers using these techniques that we've discussed whether it be CPM or PERT but most significantly the Gantt charts. For example the Gantt charts are used during marketing campaigns, store openings, product releases, etc.. Also many manufacturers that fuel walmarts sales use the Gantt charts for product development through research and design stages. Walmart also uses the Microsoft project program to assist in the development and layout for these specific charts.

Quality Control and Improvement 11/12/09

Although Walmart hasn't been known for having the best quality merchandise in the past it does however attempt to incorporate quality measures in it's companies procedures. Walmart is a retailer not a manufacturer and its quality control measures are differentiated. Walmart actively participates in its suppliers quality control measures in order to achieve better quality items on their shelves. Before merchandise is ordered from a specific supplier an initial inspection of a sample is required. I researched ten companies that supply Walmart from toothpaste manufacturers to food suppliers and most use a three sigma system. In the past Walmart has had to enforce tighter quality control measures on it's Chinese suppliers. Many of the Chinese companies now utilize continuous improvement methods for managing their quality control efforts.

- Source: Thomson Reuters

Service Process Design 11/1/09

-Service Product Bundle:

The service product bundle consists of explicit services, implicit services, and facilitating goods. Walmart being in the retail as well as grocery business lacks partially in the services end of the product bundle. Walmart's merchandise is defined as the actual facilitating goods in the product bundle. The implicit service can be the satisfaction derived from the monetary savings achieved by purchasing their products as well as having particular needs satisfied. The explicit service is the most difficult to clearly define but in a Super-Walmart's case (meaning having groceries) tangible services can be having meats, sandwiches, etc. prepared at the deli. Also included can be having knowledgeable staff located in the store to assist customers. Most of Walmart's hardware departments offer paint mixing or blending as well as key cutting services both can be considered explicit services. The book depicts businesses such as these as being about ninety to ninety five percent goods and five to ten percent services.

Process Selection:

Again, Wal-Mart uses a made to stock system because it is a retailer not a manufacturer. Most of Wal-Marts products are able to use this process because of their easily anticipated demands, inexpensiveness, as well as their relatively simple manufacturing processes. Wal-Mart has also been known for distributing large numbers of seasonal goods and groceries including perishable items where any other process selection system would be considered inadequate.

Hey if anyone is feeling ambitious enough do a little research on Wal-Mart’s radio frequency identification system it will add a little excitement to our otherwise dry presentation not to mention it may be the future of retail businesses someday.

Wal-Mart’s inventory management system is a highly complex electronic concept. This system uses technology in order to achieve the fastest up to date inventory system available. First inventory amounts are calculated and entered into a database which is the basis for the complex inventory management system. Every product that is distributed through Wal-Mart uses a universal product code otherwise known as a UPC tag or bar code. Contained in the UPC tag is certain information that will reveal characteristics of that particular product such as price, department, and what that product is. When the item is brought to the check out the item UPC code is scanned and immediately the inventory level is reduced by however many units of that product were purchased. Now, when inventory begins to diminish and reaches a certain number an alert is sent to the supplier as well as members of the management team issuing a restock on that particular item before a stock out occurs. Suppliers can check current inventories through Wal-Mart’s inventory database without having to even leave the office.

Hey just seeing if this thing is working right