Information Technology and Logistics Integration Essay

Information technology can help logistics integration by simplifying complex processes within the company or organization. Through simplification, long processes are streamlined thus creating more opportunities to improve the quality of services and goods. It can also make a company more productive and be very flexible to any business demands. Information technology has helped Sunsweet Growers meet their logistics needs on both the supply and demand sides by integrating and updating the company’s processes, simplifying them and offering a reliable feedback system to sustain the rewards of a successful sales and operation planning (S&OP). Sunsweet faces challenges where both supply and demand are constraints due to factors that the company cannot control like weather and crop yield among other variables. It faced the challenge on how to deliver products to customers and fill the store-shelf space that the company had purchased in advance. Recent retail consolidation had increased buyers’ clout at the expense of suppliers putting additional pressure to its profit margin. Another constant challenge is the scheduling and line utilization of the company. It has also been working for a number of years to advance the efficiency of its supply chain, including the reduction of inventory and reducing transportation costs as well as improving order lead time. The final challenge is the sophistication of scheduling and planning in the packaging of its products due to its wide variety. Sunsweet for years of its operations has used paper-based spreadsheet system to manage its supply chain. It has limitations though, since as the company business becomes more complex, so as the complexity of using such spreadsheets based on Excel. Corporate data using Excel based spreadsheets are not systemized and synchronized. Data can be easily lost. Complex planning and scheduling issues were often encountered. Continuity of work was also a concern because many of the business rules embedded in the spreadsheets are lost when a planner leaves his or her job. Excel lacks the required optimization, simulation, and statistical tools needed to model the business. It is not a flexible tool especially when business becomes complex. When formats are changed, considerable manual effort is required to resynchronize the spreadsheets when they are passed from one person to another. It is also a very slow and manual process for the company when making changes in the fruit-crop forecast and how the crop would be processed and packaged. Mistakes in the sales forecast could result in too many changes to the set-up of the processing line as well as production overruns. Finally, planners were spending a great deal of time managing the spreadsheets, and most of the work was repetitive and could be eliminated. Elimination or streamlining then the unnecessary and repetitive works within the Sunsweet operations was a key for development through the integration of information technology to its S&OP. With the above mentioned challenges, Sunsweet realized that there’s a need for a viable, simple and repeatable supply chain planning. It recognized the importance of S&OP as the heart of this supply chain planning. For an optimized supply chain that can reap profitable rewards, it has considered to implement an S&OP program backed -up by an excellent communication facility integrated by advance technological tools as provided by a supply chain consultant. For this purpose, Sunsweet has tapped the services of Supply Chain Consultants’ Zemeter S&OP supply chain planning suite to replace its Excel-based planning system. The system basically integrates all the aspects affecting the company’s operations. The tools and processes provided up-to-date information in sales, production, and inventory that allowed the entire planning team to meet on a weekly basis instead of on a monthly one. This then resulted to an increase of the company’s ability to meet customer demands while continuing to improve production efficiencies with smooth, long term requirements. The company has successfully integrated its S&OP processes concentrating on 5 well–defined process steps namely demand visibility, demand planning, inventory planning, supply planning and finite scheduling. Implementation of these steps is realized through the tools introduced by Zemeter. It made the needed data available to all departments through direct access on the same data or information. Better understanding on the other departments’ goals and challenges synchronized the company’s operations. Decision making also now becomes faster in each of the department allowing more flexibility in allocating the company’s resources. Under demand visibility, planners were immediately able to access data and create detailed, automated reports. In demand planning, Zemeter’s Demand Planner provided a complete forecasting solution. It provided Sunsweet’s planners to accurately create and update statistical forecasts; plan for price changes and promotions; and analyze demand data, such as orders and shipments. With this, the company now uses historical data to manage items that are either dropped or discontinued. An early warning system that can trigger e-mail alerts to planners will prompt them to review immediately appropriate matrix in the system specifically when significant orders are coming in from new customers. In inventory planning, the company can now be able to use volume loss to manage inventory beyond stock levels to effectively identify slow-moving items and reduce product loss that results from outdated or obsolete products. With the Supply Planner module, the company has now a 15-month rolling forecast of all production and supply chain restrictions. Long term production requirements are then built smoothly like the maintenance of a uniform labor force throughout the year. Lastly, the Finite Scheduling tool developed for Sunsweet handles slightly different size constraints on each of the company’s three manufacturing lines. Details about the finite schedule, daily production, and inventory levels are updated daily through this system so that all of the planning processes are using the most up-to-date information. Without the new technology provided by Supply Chain Consultants’ Zemeter S&OP supply chain planning suite, the company will eventually cannot compete well due to higher operational costs and cannot increase its sales by capturing the majority of the market demand. With such an information technology tool, better understanding of how to work together to reduce production costs and improves order lead time is achieved. This then is how information technology can help integrate logistics of a company like Sunsweet Growers.

Appearance and Reality in the School for Scandal Essay

The School for Scandal is a dramatic play written by Richard Sheridan. In this essay i’m going to discussed Appearance and Reality . There’s a characters who represent the false appearances and the really appearances. The School for Scandal’s member are the trust appearance and they distant reality. There’s a dramatic element like the disguise of Sir Oliver in his trial test on Joseph and Charles. We have the two brothers, Joseph Surface and Charles Surface. The dramatic tool used to know the good brother. And also the dramatic irony in the scene screen (the culmination of the play). The School for Scandal is formed by hypocritical characters. On the one hand Lady Sneerwell (young widow. She is attracted to Charles Surface and plots with Joseph Surface to break up Charles and Maria) , Lady Teazle (Young wife of Sir Peter. She and her husband have their little spats), Joseph Surface (Who pretends to be an honorable gentlemen but It is the bad brother. ) and Mrs Candour (A professedly kindhearted woman who speaks well of everyone in such a way as to ruin their reputations in the process. ). They are the appearance. On another hand we have the real characters. Sir Peter (Husband of Lady Teazle)and Sir Oliver Surface (Charles and Joseph’s uncle) and Charles Surface (really the good brother). Mrs. Candour and her love of gossip make her one of the most scandalous pupils of all; her true sentiment is seen only through the false accounts of others which she delivers to any listening ear, often using metaphors of money. If a scandal were to take place, she could risk losing it all, whether reputation or wealth. This can be seen as foreshadowing the fate of Joseph; he took such care to secure his financial success, and one scandal ruined it all. The object of Joseph’s financial success, Maria, who possesses neither a â€Å"screen† nor an interest in spreading lies, is greatly affected by the change in Lady Teazle, as it consequently means that her unwilling role in the scheme is over. Charles Surface has a reputation as a scoundrel. But beneath his flawed veneer, he is a decent fellow. Joseph Surface has a reputation as an upright man. But beneath his flawless veneer, he is a villain. Joseph Surface is appearance and Charles Surface is reality. Joseph is the bad brother and Charles is the good brother. Joseph lies because he wants the fortune of Maria and he wants to marry Maria for economical interest. Sir Peter and Sir Oliver want to discover the truth about the two brother, Charles and Joseph. (the reality). There’s a dramatic tool here. The disguise. Sir Oliver disguises and he makes a trial to Charles (for he known as Mr. Premium) and Joseph (for he known as Mr. Stanley) to know who is the good brother. In the scene screen, Joseph seizes upon Lady Teazle’s discontent with Sir Peter to mount a subtle argument that seeks to rationalize and justify adultery. Once the deception of hiding Lady Teazle behind the screen is in place, Sheridan fully exploits its potential for ironic double meanings and double dealings. The School For Scandal draws a humorous picture of an unfortunate reality; that many people will do anything to further elevate their characters, even if it means hurting friends and family. The characters of the play are willing to construct elaborate â€Å"screens† of sentiment in order to deceive those around them and increase their own wealth.

Behavior problems in children and adolescents

Studies regarding substance abuse (alcohol included) yielded results that clearly associate self esteem closely to it. Those who are engaged in alcohol use in later or older age do so because they have learned the use of it in their early and moldable years (11 years old or 5th & 6th grade). Consequently, attempts have been made to deal with the area of self-esteem in hopes that when this psychological problem among teens is addressed properly, substance abuse might somehow be curbed.There are programs that cater to this need and they are actually placed side by side with the traditional curriculums of some schools. Experts and researchers believe that this quandary of alcohol abuse among teens may be helped by treating it in a stage where it is less obvious – that is, when the youngster is not yet manifesting or is obviously using alcohol, but on the brink of experimenting on it (Donnelly, 2007). The line of attack of this particular method is directed towards factors that ar e crucial to the make up of adolescents’ life experiences.Understanding the transitions that teenagers most likely will go through is the underlying principle that facilitated the study that eventually led to the formation of this program. Hence, the high hopes that the proponents of this program maintain. In this paper, the author tries to explore and explain the rubric of the particular synopsis mentioned above and to finally (in the process) convince its readers of its viability in decreasing the problem of alcoholism among teens and young adults in the coming years.It explains the rationale behind the effectiveness of the curriculum since the whole program is aimed at the core level of the perpetual potential problem of alcohol addiction. ~What you learned. The National Association for Self-Esteem (NASE), as the very name of the association clearly implies, believe that the self-esteem of the individual plays a major role why or why not that particular person is using/abu sing or not using/abusing alcohol. The observation is that teenagers with low self esteem have higher likelihood to experiment not only with alcohol but with other harmful psychoactive substances than those with high self-esteem.Furthermore, their studies yield evidences that point to the fact that individuals with positive self-esteem show not only little serious involvement with addictive substances but lesser tendency to risk trying the pleasures of these drugs. Convinced of this observation, self-esteem proponents constantly research and write articles that speak to the issue. They support a prevention program which has within it as crucial part â€Å"self-esteem enhancement. † Not any prevention program or traditional approach to the problem will achieve a longer-lasting effect.Overwhelming data available have proven that traditional school programs are not sufficient to address the issue; in order to be really effective in curbing alcoholism among teenagers, it is very important that as researches yield additional information, new strategies should be incorporated and employed as well. Important factors along with self-esteem that must be tackled include: personal efficacy, ability to decide wisely for oneself, and communication skills, etc. These areas must be developed since they influence and affect the behavior of an individual.It is believed that when these basic skills are taught and cultivated, rather than concentrating on the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, the benefits will be much more than the reduction of the likelihood of teenagers and young adults to use and abuse drugs. Involvement with other behavioral correlates like unsafe sexual encounters, and teenage pregnancy, will also diminish. The timing of the implementation of this kind of preventive program in schools for it to really achieve its goal among teenagers is also emphasized. It has to be implemented early, or else, its efficacy will lessen.Dr. Joseph Donnelly (self-esteem proponent) said: â€Å"It is much easier to prevent adolescents from ever engaging in the use of substances than it is to deter that use once it has begun. † ~One question you have. Self-esteem is indeed all important aspect that influences other facets of an adolescent’s life. Question remains especially to one who had had enormous experiences in psychotherapy and in dealing with myriad problems and situations/scenarios besetting the youth experimenting with alcohol: cynics question the simplistic apprehension and approach.What about the role of modeling by parents hardly making breakthroughs in these adolescents who make alcohol their refuge but also as a way of life like their parents did? Reference: Donnelly, Joseph. Self-Esteem and it's Relationship to Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention in Adolescents. Dept. of Health Professions/PERLS National Association for Self-esteem. Accessed January 2008.

Dynamics of high school teaching: Cooperative learning Essay

The general conduct of a teacher while in classroom is very important. Effective class room management is always core and it calls for fairness to all students, common sense, consistency and courage. Teachers need to understand both psychological and development needs of students. It is a common observation that students have little respect for female teachers. This is because they see them as weak unlike their male counterparts. The role of teacher is very important in classroom. The teachers act as role models in guiding students to achieve their life time goals. A major concern is teaching of manners and instilling discipline to students at young age. Discipline is important in any growing child as it helps to control his or her behavior. The principles of honest, responsibility, accountability and reliability are taught through discipline. Teachers have the responsibility of exercising democracy when dealing with students. This helps to help students participate fully in particular programs for better performance in academics. Discipline is a very important component in learning as it makes students feel happy, safe and responsible members of the society. Accordingly the role of a teacher in classroom promotes main phases of discipline such as prevention, motivation, intervention and management. Students feel motivated when their teachers show concern in them through proper management. The skills of teachers while in class empower them to legitimately promote good learning environment. The management role of teachers in classroom involves ensuring that each student follows what is taught in class. This is done through tests, homework and assignments which should be mandatory as part of the syllabus. Students with good discipline perform better and this is the main reason that makes teachers to be tougher while dealing with students. References: Sterling Anne, 1992, Myths of Gender: Biological Theories about Women and Men, Basic Books. Seidman Irving, 1999, The Essential Career Guide to Becoming a Middle and High School Teacher, Bergin & Garvey. Klausmeier Herbert, 1953, Principles and Practices of Secondary School Teaching, Harper.

A Socialists Rant against Capitalism That Likely Cost Him His Life Essay

A Socialists Rant against Capitalism That Likely Cost Him His Life - Essay Example Instead of consistently pleading his innocence in the Haymarket bombing in Chicago, Engel converted his argument into a battle between socialism and capitalism. In order to tear down the United States’ form of government and economy – democracy and capitalism – Engel blamed the hardship and oppression of every workingman on the capitalist machine. Engel used his plea to the State’s Attorney to promote his own ideals, rather than focusing on his alibi to disprove the perpetrators’ false accusations against him. Engel took the stage as the champion of the poor, pleading that prosperous capitalists were the root of their demise who must be crushed by the united â€Å"workingman.† Engel, like socialists Karl Marx and Joseph Stalin, made everything black and white in his appeal for support, portraying the â€Å"freedom fighting† proletariat as good and altruistic, while characterizing the opposition – in this case, the â€Å"tyranny of capitalism† − as wicked, oppressive, conspiring, and slave-inducing. Engel used his address as a vehicle to attack capitalism and promote socialism – more than his own innocence – an ineffective transitory argument that more than likely cost him his life. Not until more than halfway into his address does Engel press his plea to denounce the murder charge against him for conspiracy in the bombing, of which he claimed to have no part. He and his fellow anarchists faced the gallows or years of servitude for their involvement in the massacre (Engel). But, for ideological reasons, Engel made what should have been his primary argument his secondary contention ? that the charges against him were baseless and ill-conceived. This assertion of innocence goes down in history as having merit, but instead of directly attacking those specifically responsible for framing him, Engel contended that â€Å"capitalist rule† was at fault behind all that had gone awry. If Engel would have contained his attack to the particular capitalists involved in the plot, he could have likely met a different fate. In a republic that quickly rose to world prominence by 1886 as a result of its democratic and capitalistic form of government, Engel’s case against it was not only unpopular at the time; it was extremely hard to prove. To denounce the perpetrators of the scheme against him and his fellow socialists, Engel made sweeping generalizations against capitalism, calling it a tyrannical, repressive, and wicked system used to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Effectively side-stepping the fact that numerous immigrants came from Europe with nothing to become successful entrepreneurs in America, Engel depicted capitalism and democracy as little more than a vehicle and guise for slave labor. Unable to provide success stories of socialism in other nations, Engels unconvincingly promoted the questionable economic and political system as the only utopian ideal worth fighting for. Today, in retrospect, one only needs to revisit the numerous socialist regimes that turned into communist dictatorships ? such as the one started by the Russian Revolution of 1917 ? to understand the true dangers of socialism. With more than 20 million murdered under Stalin’s socialist ideals, Engel’s call to violently depose the capitalists is taken with an even greater grain of salt today – especially with George Orwell’s widely read and colorful depiction in Animal Farm that divulges the corruption of socialism/communism and its

Business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business strategy - Essay Example It s using pricing as its strategy while it has failed to look at improve itself and its products. Price cannot be used as a competitive edge any longer as consumers are becoming less price sensitive and more product and feature-conscious. HP has been able to improve itself and is using its efficiency as its competitive edge. The strategy of the firm to supply customized products to customers has worked in the US as it was a controllable area but as a global strategy this does not seem to be working as their revenue in the US is increasing at a decreasing rate in exhibit 8, where in 2004 it decreased by 2%, in 2005 it decreased by 2 % and in 2006 it decreased by 2% again. Revenues in the Asian market remained the same in 2003 and 2004; in 2005 it increased by 1% and in 2006 it increased by 1% showing that the market has more growth potential than the US. Dell customizes the products and handles mass customization. This puts a strain on the supply chain as the specific demands have to be met and quality has to be maintained along with timeliness. This is easier on a small scale but on a larger scale maintaining the same quality and precision becomes difficult and demanding. The strategy of Dell to play safe and not concentrate on R&D of products is making them loose out. Dell spent 0.8% of its revenue on R&D in 2006 which is 3.1% lower than HP and 2.9% lower than Apple. Innovation is essential for a technological based industry as products are replaced by better technology and Dell would eventually lag behind if it does not keep pace with the changing needs of the consumers. Dell should change its strategy from attacking the product giving the highest profit to inventing a product that will give them highest profit. Then they could have a better market share for longer and retain a competitive edge. Dell has applied the same strategy in all the countries and has not tried to understand the market in some cases. For instance, Dell sells

Ride along with a Police Officer Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ride along with a Police Officer - Term Paper Example After checking the vehicle registration, the driver would then be requested to provide the driver’s license. The police officer would then request the driver to step out of the car as he communicates to the station confirming the arrest of the traffic offenders. Moreover, we could sometimes ask random cars to pull over hence checking their vehicle condition and their registration numbers. If the vehicle is found to be in bad condition, or the registration expired, the driver would be asked to accompany the police officer to the station. Even though the night was lonely and boring, I got the chance to interact with Officer Ottey. He explained that he has been in the police force for about 5 years. With a smile on his face, I could tell he was proud to be a police officer. Officer Ottey’s father and grandfather were both police officers who died in the line of duty hence he had to join the police in honor of his father and grandfather. Apart from the police is a well-paying job, the officer explained that he is proud to be of service to the society. In the course of our discussion, I found out that the police are one of the diligent and humble people in the society. They are trained to exercise humility and patience when handling criminals. In their department, every police officer is treated with respect from their department heads and their seniors. This is because the training of the police instills discipline and respect to the colleagues and other members of the society. After the lengthy explanations, I was curious to know the qualifications for one to join the police academy. Officer Ottey explained that a person willing should be above eighteen years of age and must possess a high school diploma. In addition, some states require 60 college credits with a clean criminal record for the last 5years.