SCM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SCM - Essay Example There are various ways by which optimization of logistical networks can be achieved. SCM is therefore composed of several philosophies on how best to achieve its objectives of a fully-integrated chain of activities encompassing the movement of raw materials, the internal processing of these materials into finished goods inventory and shipping out these products into the market in the fastest and most efficient manner to achieve strategic marketing aims. This paper tackles the two types of systems commonly used today – the JIT and the MRP. Discussion The strategic concept of supply chain management lies in the realization that no single business entity is an island and cannot function optimally if it works entirely alone. The SCM idea is anchored on the dictum that a company providing products or services is nothing but a chain of continually evolving capabilities in a globalized marketplace (Jespersen and Skjott-Larsen, 2005:50); it combines its capabilities with the capabilit ies of other firms it deals with. Any discussion of supply chain management involves the subject of logistics. ... Logistics is a way to achieve superior customer service through a precise method of inventory management attained through having the right materials at the right time in the right quantities at a lowest possible cost at the right place. This obsession to have everything right is contained in the JIT or just-in-time management originally developed by Toyota Motors Corporation of Japan. The just-in-time philosophy - of inventory management is anchored on the simple but very profound idea that inventory supplies should not be delivered yet until when required. It therefore presupposes an efficient supply chain that delivers the needed materials just in time when these are needed at the precise moment during the production process to avoid a costly stock-out that disrupts entire production and raises costs or lowers profits. A guiding principle behind this seemingly simple idea is to let demand determine the supply. This simply means a part or material needed will be delivered only at th e precise moment it is needed, not a second earlier or a second later. Benefits of using JIT include smaller storage areas, lower operating capital needed for inventories and minimize need for big buffer stocks (Hensher, 2001:90). Another philosophy underpinning the JIT system is the pull concept of operating costs wherever along the chain. Besides determining the supply through the pull of the demand for a particular inventory item necessary for input in the next production process, JIT places a big emphasis on suppliers to the market a product that is affordable; their profits depend to large extent on internal operational efficiencies that allows profits at a price set by the customer.

ASA Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ASA Questions - Essay Example ASA automatically allows the flow of packets from this high level to the lower un-trusted level without the need for an ACL explicitly allowing for the packet flow. (Santos, 2010) The un-trusted network, usually an outside network is allocated the lowest security level, 0, given its low network level beside the fact that it is the least trusted of all the network zones. ASA by default assigns the outside network security level of zero and automatically limits the flow of network packets from this level to the higher levels`. This security zone falls between the higher level and the lower level and is automatically assigned an even number between 0 and 100 given that it is somewhat trusted and un-trusted at the same time. (Frahim, 2010) User exec is the first level of access in the commend line interface used for changing terminal setting, listing system information and performing basic tasks. It uses AP> or Router > to prompt and logout command to exit. This CLI mode should be password protected to prevent unauthorized use. It is accessed from the user exec mode by issuing the enable command. This mode has a privileged command set which include those at the user exec mode. To exit the mode, disable command is used. (Frahim, 2010) This mode has commands that apply to features that affect the device as a whole. In order to access the global configuration mode, configure command is entered from the Privileged EXEC mode. Exit or end commands can be used to exit the global configuration mode. This configuration mode is used to modify the configuration of the interface. The commands used in this mode usually follow global configuration command used to define the interface type. In order to configure the interface using this mode, terminal is specified from the global configuration mode followed by the specification of the