Analysis of Supply Chain Management at Amazon

Running head: AMAZON
Assignment 1: Analysis of a Supply Network
[Amazon]
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

AMAZON1
Executive summary
The main purpose of this project is to analyse supply chain management at Amazon. The purpose
of the analysis helps to understand how one company can prosper by means of excellent supply
chain management. It also helps to identify the areas where Amazon still needs to work in.
Moreover, Amazon, as identified in this study, needs to work on its strategies adopted for
business sustainability. It is in this regard that the company lags behind to its industry peers like
Apple and Wal-Mart. The study suggests a few ways to further supply chain management at
Amazon.

AMAZON2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
2. A critical analysis of current supply network management, its strengths and weaknesses.........3
2.1 A brief introduction to the supply chain practices in Amazon..............................................3
2.2 Key elements.........................................................................................................................4
Forecasting:..............................................................................................................................4
Purchasing:..............................................................................................................................5
Outsourcing..............................................................................................................................6
Inventory management:...........................................................................................................7
Lean management:...................................................................................................................8
Agile management:..................................................................................................................9
Distribution system:.................................................................................................................9
Six Sigma:..............................................................................................................................10
Sustainable supply chain:......................................................................................................11
3. Conclusions, implications and consequences of the research...................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................14

AMAZON3
1. Introduction
Supply chain operations is an integral and vital part of the business. Without having a
robust supply chain and an utmost control on this a business whether small or big can never be
able to fulfill the market demands of the business. Every single company tries to apply the
various supply chain management principles and practices to be able to deliver their products and
services in a quicker time. However, the degree of experimentation with these policies and
practices differ from one to another company. The degree of variation comes due to the financial,
capital and innovating capability of the business that varies from one to another firm. Some of
the widely known principles and practices of the supply chain management are like inventory
management, lean management, agile management, push and pull factors, purchasing,
outsourcing, forecasting, distribution, six sigma and sustainable supply chain (Hugos, 2018).
The main purpose of this assignment is to analyse the supply chain management practices
in Amazon. Moreover, the project also seeks to identify whether the company faces any
challenges in regards to its supply chain management practices. If needed this paper will also
recommend a few points of suggestions to further the efficiency of the supply chain operations in
Amazon.
2. A critical analysis of current supply network management, its strengths and weaknesses
2.1 A brief introduction to the supply chain practices in Amazon
Amazon.com, Inc. is an American multinational company, which is widely known as one
of the most popular e-commerce businesses in the world (Amazon.com, 2019). The company has
excelled in identifying the potentiality of emerging technologies and implementing these pieces
of technology to enhance its efficiency and to be able to deliver orders at a record quicker pace.