Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 41

Case Study - Essay Example The company’s four strategies – availability, affordability, acceptability, and activation – provide manufacturing flexibility that allows the broadening of the product portfolio while pursuing the most cost effective route to market for order taking and delivery to customers. Information technology is one of the key drivers to an efficient supply chain management. In 2005, the CCHBC invested heavily in technology applications by introducing a single largest and the most successful roll-out of SAP–based Advanced Planning Optimizer (APO). This has enabled CCHBC to optimize and coordinate operations within its whole network and across borders by consolidating the best practices on a single, standard enterprise platform. This platform facilitates alignment of supply chain and demand planning, which is effective for efficient sales and operation planning. Information technology has led to the creation of cost saving opportunities and leadership in the field of fast-selling goods. CCHBC can bring about integration in the supply chain by outsourcing some of its operations internally and externally. Internally, the company can outsource goods or services within its supply network. The company should be keen on the decision which goods or services it seeks to outsource for effective integration. In the process of business outsourcing, the company should seek to regulate the period of outsource because this can lead to the loss of in-house expertise. Externally, the company can seek to outsource globally. Most organizations seek this kind of business outsourcing because of the low costs and skills available internationally. Global outsourcing enables the purchasers to tap into technological expertise that may not be available in their native countries. It also creates a global process network amongst its suppliers, which, in turn, creates a pool of promising synergies to increase their