Building competitiveness in grocery supply through continuous replenishment planning: insights from the field

Article Abstract:

The process of Continuous Replenishment Planning (CRP), whereby manufacturers manage the inventories for their customers, provides participating manufacturers with the opportunity to serve their customers better by reducing their inventories and stockouts and thereby gain a competitive edge. This study examines the experiences of 10 Fortune 500 consumer products manufacturing companies in applying CRP. All 10 companies found that their customers - the distributors and retail chains - achieved major improvements by lowering inventories an average of 32% and reducing stockouts an average of 55%. However, although eight of the 10 manufacturers increased sales as a direct result of CRP, only two could claim better management of production, and only one achieved lower internal inventories. The manufacturers with more CRP experience had more efficient CRP processes and a greater portion of their total sales to CRP customers. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Groceries, general line, Groceries Wholesale, General Line Grocery Wholesalers, Research, Methods, Grocery industry, Grocery stores, Consumer goods industry, Strategic planning (Business), Food distributors, Inventory control, Logistics

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Market planning with computer models: a case study in the software industry

Article Abstract:

Product planners spend a great deal of time collecting and analyzing data in order to engage effectively in marketing activity. In increasingly competitive environments, this task is more critical due to the multiplicity of options and factors the planner must consider. For business or industrial markets in particular, an added difficulty is often the lack of reliable data pertaining to market statistics and market dynamics. This paper describes a computer-based marketing decision-support system (MKDSS) that was developed for use in support of the marketing function at an expert system company. It was used to support the product planner's strategy for marketing the company's central product, an expert system shell, by aiding in the selection of a suitable marketing mix. The case examines MKDSS development issues and discusses several considerations and implications for the design and use of MKDSS in business markets. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Management, Marketing management software, Expert systems, Decision support systems, Marketing management

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Windows 95 marketing machine slower to boot up

Article Abstract:

The introduction of Microsoft's Windows 95 was more subdued in Europe compared to the introduction in the US. However the product made its biggest European impression in London, where the company bought The Times for the day incorporating a 28-page Windows 95 supplement. A Windows 95 television campaign is also underway.

Computer Software, Software Publishers, Microsoft Corp., MSFT

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