Logistics management plays a major role in determining overall success of companies

Logistics focus plays a major role in determining over both success of companiesSupply set up managementLogistics management is an integrating function which coordinates and optimizes all logistics activities, as well as integrates logistics activities with unseasoned(prenominal) functions, including marketing, sales, manufacturing, finance, and information technology.(Jonsson, 2008, p 4)Logistics Management or Supply Chain Solutions, both play a major role in determining the overall success of a community. Major consequences are found in provision d rude(a)ing string if there is even small variance in stemma to overcome such consequences an effective logistics is prerequisite for any makeup. Logistics management involves high train of competences and upright knowledge. Managing from raw material to final stage at right transmit on right cartridge clip is handled by logistics management. To leverage opportunity in rising markets, companies are focusing on consolidating and aligning their yield drawing string management infra structure, processes and procedures to reduce costs and improve efficiency.A Supply chain consists of the series of activities and organisations that materials head for the hills through on their journey from initial suppliers to final clients. Every product has its avouch unique supply chain and these can be both wide and complicated. (Waters 2003 p.7) There is a series of steps involved from the origin of services or product and its consumption. The steps involved in this are known as supply chains. The report will provide operations of McDonalds in UK and will emphasis on its supply chain management.Company Background and IntroductionMcDonalds corp is the worlds leading food service organization. The corporation started out as a small drive-through in 1948 by two brothers, Dick and Mac McDonald. In addition, McDonalds opens a new restaurant every three hours. too large Mac is the biggest attraction and backbone of the corporation. Moreover, McDonalds maintains its competitive advantage by constantly creating new items to add onto its menu. This shows us that McDonalds practices an analyzer type of strategy, introducing new items and defending its living ones.McDonalds opened its first UK restaurant October 1974. In December 2004, there were over 1330 McDonalds restaurants in operation(p) in the UK. about 60% of these are owned and operated by the company. The remainders are operated by franchisees. Each McDonalds restaurant is structured as an independent wrinkle, with restaurant management responsible for accounting, operations, inventory control, community relations, training and human resources.Read more http//www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studyrecruiting-selecting-training-for-success28-194-1.phpixzz15v72oKUJSupply chain management strategyThe complete SCP modelhttp//www.tompkinsinc.com/publications/competitive_edge/articles/11-08-supply_chain_partnerships.aspSupply chain management enco mpasses the proviso and management of all activities involved in sourcing and procurement, conversion and all logistics management activities. Companies adopt supply chain management to ensure that supply chain is operating efficiently and providing high level of guest satisfaction with low cost. SCM integrates the demand and supply management within and across companies. (Jonsson 2008 p .5) The quick-service-restaurant (QSR) giant has strengthened an spotless process over the years for managing a sophisticated delivery system, starting on the live-animal production side and running all along the supply chain until products reach their final destination as McDonalds customers favourite.Nature and Operation of OrganisationMcDonalds Corporation is the world largest chain of fast food restaurant, serving more that 58 one thousand millions customer every day. A McDonalds restaurant is operated by either franchisee or the corporate itself. The corporation revenue generates from rent, royalties and fees paid by franchisees and too from sales in company operated McDonalds. The menu is consists hamburgers , cheeseburgers , chicken and fish products , French fries , breakfast menu , soft drinks ,shakes and desserts. (McDonalds Website n.d.)Logistics Service ProvidersMany organisations do not perform many of their own logistics activities. They ar setting logistics service providers to take advantage of efficient and experienced specialists to look after the transport, while the organisation can concentrate on its core operations. An organisation mainly forms a partnership with other company to look after warehousing, purchase of material, material handling and many of the other functions of logistics. When one company uses other companies to run its logistics are known as third party or 3PL or contract logistics. For McDonalds Key stone dispersal works as a 3PL. (Waters 2003 p.90)Keystone Distribution UK is a subsidiary of Keystone Foods LLC, which provides food manufacturing and distribution services to quite a large essence of customers in America, Asia, and Europe. Keystone distribution was formed in 1977 in partnership with McDonalds for its UK baker of hamburger bun and since then company is progressing along with McDonalds. Keystone distributor has been efficiently supplying everything to its existing client need to run the business successfully. Keystones manages a large part of McDonalds UK supply chain and replenishing its 1200 UK put ins from mops and ketchup to the essential ambient , fresh , frozen foods that makes up the McDonalds menu. (Logistic Business IT Website 09.Nov.2009)Structure of Supply ChainStructuring the supply chain requires an understanding of the demand patterns, service level requirements, distance considerations, cost elements and other related factors. (Rock crosswalk Consulting Website N.D.) Moving of material inward is upstream and outward is downward. The upward activities are divided into levels of s uppliers. A supplier that sends materials directly to the operations is first tier supplier one that send materials to a first tier supplier is a second tier supplier one that sends material to a second tier supplier is a third tier supplier and so on to the original source. Customers are to a fault divided into tier. One that gets product directly from the operations is first tier customer and so on to final customers. (Waters 2003 p.8)http//www.gmtonline.com.my/solutions/B2B/pic/rosett1.jpghttp//www.gmtonline.com.my/solutions/B2B/rosettanet_b2b_supply_chain.aspMcDonalds deals with different suppliers for its different products and ultimately which aims to provide customers great taste and on affordable price. McDonalds has been working in partnership with household brand such as with Coca cola, Tropicana and Buxton who act as second tier supplier because they supply its products to key fruit distribution who works for McDonalds as first tier supplier. Also there are number of ot her suppliers such as Sun Valley and Moy jet who supply McDonalds with Chicken product all these works as second tier supplier for McDonalds. Also Ecsa, the makers of the beef patties who are key for success of supply chain also supplies its product to McDonalds first tier supplier (Keystone Distributors). All the different supplier deals with Keystone Distributor, who then sends material directly to McDonalds to run the business smoothly by providing on affordable prices, delivering products on time and helps in outward movement of effects and receiving payments from customers. Overall, winder is a important player in structure of supply chain for making upward and downward activity successful. (Make up your own mind Website March 2009)Managing the supply chainAs the McDonalds UK distributor, its the responsibility of keystone to provide the arrant(a) service and product every time they need and also to coordinate the requirement of hundreds of McDonalds around UK. They work al ong the supply chain ensuring the quality and reliability is kept while passing delivery to restaurant. In send to achieve this Keystone uses the latest technology and software to work closely with McDonalds marketing and business plan. Keystones ensures managing peak and troughs as they come along for keeping smooth supply chain and ensures there are no out of stocks. On an average Keystone carries five days inventory in their store and delivers three to four times per week inventory in each restaurant. To work that delivery they drop 300 vehicles, tractors and trailers which help them to run these logistic operations within UK and including the Isle of Man and channels Island by delivering around one million cases each week. Their biggest challenge is ensure those vehicles arrive at the restaurants on time and containing everything cosmos ordered and meeting 100 percent quality of product including frozen, chilled or dry. (Business Review Europe website 10th.July.2010)Invento ry Control at McDonaldsMcDonalds introduced in 2004 a central stock management function known as Restaurant supply Planning Department. The team build these factors into the new planning and forecasting system called Manugistics which forecast equally demand of finished menu items such as good-looking Macs. McDonalds deals in three types of stock like every business hasRaw MaterialThese ingredients go into producing finished product. They are buns, beef patties, paper cups and packaging in case of McDonalds. They are delivered three and five times a week. There are three sections of raw material Frozen, chilled, ambient which arrive together in one lorry so that each product can be stored at their suitable temperature.Work-in-progressThe process of being made into finished product is referring to as Work-in-progress. A Big Mac consists of a bun, two beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, sauce and a small amount of seasoning. The restaurant waits until the order is placed so that Big Macs stays hot and fresh when served.Finished StockThe product ready for immediate sale to customer are known as finished products. At lunch time and busy evening hours restaurant will have range of Big Macs and chickens ready for sale to customers. First-in-first-out method is used to handle all stock whether raw material, work-in-progress, or finished product, in order to minimise waste and also it helps in providing fresh food at all time to each and every customer.Inventory ManagementThe process of making sure there is enough stock at all times to meet customer demand whilst minimising expensive waste is known as stock management. High cost is involved in holding too much stock so McDonalds uses lean stock control method to save money.Inventory ordering manager work with the new stock control system, Manugistics, to ensure sufficient raw stock is available. This helps restaurant to produce the meals required according to the forecasted demand. Forecast is done on th e basis of restaurant historic product-mix data from concluding year, store-specific and national causal factors such as national promotions and school holidays, information from store managers about factors that might affect demand .e.g. road closure or local events and new promotions.Restaurant manager need to ensure that the data they enter into the system is as accurate possible. Every day restaurant manager record spread and closing stock of key food items. Other items are recorded weekly and monthly basis. The store computers system identifies any stock count deviations from last stock count so it gives opportunity to manager to investigate missing product. For example, the manager may have missed off a box of uniform meat while counting them earlier on the shift.Ordering ProcessThe ordering process involves holding a small buffer stock. This is extra amount of inventory held to meet any unexpected higher demand. Inventory manager uses a web based communication software cal led Weblog to view and amend store order proposals. Each time of ordering weblog creates a proposed order to analyse and amend if necessary. Weblog helps managers to view what quantity have been ordered, how much is the current stock level and how much stock is due to be delivered at a particular time. The system automatically generates a delivery note that gives the exact quantities and descriptions of the delivery. The manager has to track confirm on weblog when they finishes selecting amount of inventory they needed to use.Serving CustomerCompetition and increasing consumer preference for variety and healthier food makes McDonalds to expand the range of menu. Customers entering into McDonalds are divided into those who know about menu and those who are new and coming to restaurant first time and are not long-familiar with menu. Apart from selling food items by itself McDonalds also sell Extra Value meals which consist of a burger, fries and a drink. When customers reaches the f ront reappearance and place their order, the till person applies two selling technique. The selling up technique where order is changed by asking customer by suggesting larger portion and also by adding extra item such as drink and another one is suggestive selling technique where any item extra is being asked to sell each and every customer. For example if customers comes and buys two three adults meal and one two children meal and they are being asked if they wanted to buy two apple pies for 1.50.The till person punches the order on to their till. There are some standard food items which are meant to be held in production bin, the counter person pick the food what is being ordered in a specific sequence which involves cold drinks first, and then hot drinks second, then fries and at last burgers.If a particular food item is not available in the production bin, then the counter person calls the order to the production person who then calls the food order to the grill area. Certain food products in slack period are cooked to order due to their less demand and to revoke waste.When the order in not ready the till person ask the first customer to pay and wait aside if its take away order and if its eat in they ask customer to take a sit and order will be brought to your table, and start dealing with the next person in the line. Every time till person completes the order there is a button served which is to be punched in order to let computer know that the order is finished. As if it not done the computer will not allow taking eleventh order. So every time order is done its necessary to serve it off.Performance ImprovementKeystone manages the supply chain to ensure that there is always sufficient stock to fulfill demand when orders are received. The companys incorporated order and management system prints colour coded descriptive picking labels which aid restaurants in stock rotation. Orders are then collated on to a purpose built trailer designed for the simult aneous delivery of frozen, chilled and ambient product stored at appropriate temperatures. This ensures that the restaurants complete order is supplied in one delivery, whilst maintaining the product in perfect condition. This process works extremely well, but there is always room to improve processes. Keystone is working on an initiative that it hopes will further wage hike the efficiency of the companys operations. Were reviewing the whole of the delivery schedule as well as the entire delivery system in conjunction with McDonalds to try and find a more cost effective and equally eco-friendly delivery schedule with them, says Assal. Thats a major project for us at the moment and were working on that in detail. That will be rolled out in the coming months and it will produce a major cost benefit to the whole McDonalds supply chain.Its also important for Keystones environmental policy to chime with McDonalds high profile efforts in this area. All packaging within our distribution c entres, both cardboard and plastics, is collected and reused we recycle everything from office stationery down to warehouse packaging. At present, we run all our vehicles on diesel that contains five percent bio-diesel. But were working on a project to use 100 percent bio-diesel in all our vehicles by the end of this year, instead of fossil fuel diesel. We believe that will have a neutral effect on the business it will neither be a cost benefit or a cost saving.We also have a number of initiatives light sensitive switches, low consumption bulbs in our warehouses. We try to play our part and do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint. Its policies like these that make Keystone a truly progressive company, and one that is moving with the times, just as McDonalds updates its operations for a changing fast service industry.http//www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2004/images/papere2.gifhttp//www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2004/papere.htmlhttp//lh4.ggpht.com/_k0ov fY0NP70/TGAHWC5Pc-I/AAAAAAAABdY/3kLGhdxvHNk/s800/mcdonalds.PNGhttp//iamjamesward.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/there-is-only-one/The diagram below shows the forward flow of materials from upstream to downstream, the bidirectional flow of information, and the movement of money from downstream to upstream.http//www.vivaceproject.com/showcase_html/supply%20chain%20simulation/ incoming%20to%20supply%20chain_image1.jpgFlows in the supply chain (from Spekman et al 1998)http//www.vivaceproject.com/showcase_html/supply%20chain%20simulation/introduction%20to%20supply%20chain.htmIt is easy to see that these factors are highly variable in nature and this variability needfully to be considered during the supply chain analysis process. Moreover, the interplay of these complex considerations could have a significant bearing on the outcome of the supply chain analysis process. http//rockfordconsulting.com/supply-chain-management.htm