This study investigates the issues faced by supply chain managers in the NHS. It explores the challenges of managing inventory, suppliers, and maintaining quality in the healthcare supply chain. The research aims to identify effective strategies for solving these problems and improving the overall supply chain management in the NHS.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC: An Investigation into finding issues which supply chain managers of NHS are facing..................3 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3 Theoretical Background and Research Focus..............................................................................................4 Ways, problems and importance of managing inventory.........................................................................4 Strategies and effectiveness of managing suppliers.................................................................................5 Tools of maintaining safety and quality for taking competitive advantages............................................6 Aim..........................................................................................................................................................6 Objectives................................................................................................................................................6 Research questions..................................................................................................................................7 Justification and Contextualization..............................................................................................................7 Importance of research............................................................................................................................7 Reason of importance..............................................................................................................................7 Response to requirements........................................................................................................................8 Research Methodology............................................................................................................................8 CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................11 REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................12
TOPIC: AnInvestigation into finding issueswhich supply chain managers of NHSare facing. INTRODUCTION Supply chain can be defined as a system of companies, information as well as people activities which are involved in the process of supplying goods and services of companies to end users or customers (Christopher, 2016). Supplying goods to customers is not an easy task as suppliers have to manage inventory and quality and it is found that during supplying process, suppliers find problems related to marinating inventory and quality. Supply chain management process involves all activities which transform raw materials into final goods.This present study is based on NHS. In the context of NHS it is found that supply chain is becoming complex as it supports National Health Service in England by providing end to end supply chain solutions.So, it is important for this to identify effective strategies for solving all problems whichNHS and in providing health care and food products. This present study will show different views of authors on managing supply chain and out of them it can become easier for researcher and organizations to select the best one and maintaining quality. Further, it will also discuss several problems which are being faced by suppliers and identifying the main root cause for allowing them to select better ways.Lastly it will discuss problems related to inventory management and quality of health care as well as food products management as how all these problemsare affecting customers or vulnerable people experience and brand of company. Research methodology and ethics also play an important role in gathering and analyzing information which will also being discussed in this study.
Theoretical Background and Research Focus Ways, problems and importance of managing inventory Inventory management is the main key area of supply chain management which refers a procedure of ordering, storing as well as using company’s products or inventory. This process is complex and sometimes suppliers and NHS face problems in successful management. As per the Kositphon and Chaovalitwongse, (2016)one of the main problems in managing inventory is fulfilling customers’ demand and having lack of space for storing, Sometimes it becomes difficult to predict demands of customers and due to lack of ability of prediction as well as imbalance between available inventory and demand direct affects supplies. This imbalance can affect customers; experience. So, it is important to solve this problem for increasing efficiency. NHS face problems in storing health care and food products as there is a fear of decreasing quality. For improving health and providing access to all people to food and healthcare services they have to store products and lack of storage is the main problem. According to theBendavid, Herer and Yücesan, (2017)there are several ways which can allow suppliers in managing inventory in an effective manner and also make a balance between people’ demand and supply is using or implementing Just in time tool. As per this approach, suppliers and companies can reduce waste and increase efficiency by ordering products and producing goods only when they are required. Ordering extra inventory can increase cost as it requires extra space and can also be damaged. So, this is one of the best tool or strategy for effective inventory management which is being used by someretailers. It is also found that NHS supply chain has to manage around 4.5 million orders per year as 95000 orders points at around 15,000 locations. For that it has to contact several suppliers and managing all of them is other main problem (NHS Supply Chain, 2018). Inventory management plays an important role because it helps them out in preventing stocks, managing multiple locations at once in an effective manner, supplying products to customers in a right quantity and quality which leads to increase customers’ experience. When customers receive products in right quantity then they are more likely to stay loyal with NHS for the long run which improves their image. It reduces storage cost an companies can increase profit margin which can allow them to become sustainable and taking competitive advantages. It is also stated byHidayat and Saleh,(2020)that better inventory management and turnover bring revenue
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which is beneficial for suppliers and NHS supply chain as by doing, so they can make an effective position in the market for the long run. Strategies and effectiveness of managing suppliers Rather, managing inventory and quality it is also important to manage suppliers and their relationship for making them able to support companies in accomplishing their goals. In the context of retailers it can be said that managing multiple suppliers is a difficult task as companies cannot solve queries, complaints and cost of quality.When NHS handle multiple suppliers then it does not consider their requirements because it can increase their time and cost and by which suppliers who have bargaining power and do not prefer to work more with NHS supply chain and for that they have to face problems in hiring skilled suppliers.Selection of suppliers is also a difficult task so, it can be said that all these problems occur while managing suppliers which needs to be solved in a timely and effective mannerWang and et.al., (2019). In the context of solving problems of suppliers managementYoon and et.al., (2018)stated that there are several tools and strategies are availablewhich is allowing volunteers of NHS in better management of suppliers and supply chain. A new NHS supply chain was being designed in order to help NHS deliver clinically assured, quality products at the best value.Category Towers, delivering clinical consumables, capital medical equipmentare some buying functions included in this new model.One of the best ways is monitoring suppliers capabilities and experiences in order to meet job role criteria and rather choosing multiple suppliers company should focus on hiring only few suppliers with skills and knowledge who can meet future needs. After hiring, NHS also require maintaining relationship with them in order to encourage them and also making them able to stay with company and not to switch company as it can increase their brand. Supplier score card, providing benefits and rewards to them can aloe allow companies in increasing suppliers retention rate and improving relation as well. Managing suppliers and relation plays an important role and in this contextRuiz-Benitez, López and Real, (2017)said that it allows retailers and companies to increase value for business requirements. A better supplier’s management is the key of success of business and effective supply chain management which can help companies in making a strong and effective position in the market. By managing relation with suppliers, company can make better alignment with technology, resources, process and tools which is critical for business success.
Tools of maintaining safety and quality for taking competitive advantages Quality is other main key area of managing supply chain and it is the one main factor which is being considered by people and important for improving their health and when they get qualitative food and healthcare products in a timely manner then it makes them feel valued and increase engagement with NHS. So, it can be said that maintaining quality and safety in supply chain is important. There are several problems which suppliers face in maintaining quality of products such as: like defects in quality of products while supplying products to people due to buying products from different suppliers, increased waste and cost as wellVasiliev and et.al., (2016). All these problems can direct affect image of the company and can also decrease sales and profit margin. In addition, in the context of solving problems related to poor quality or improving quality in supply chain managementPambreni and et.al., (2019)stated that by implementing some tools related to quality management retailers can protect themselves against this problem. They said that total quality management is one of the best ways or tool which allows companies in reducing wastes in production process and improving quality. This tool and strategy is mainly based on the principle that every member if staff and production department required to be committed to maintain high standard of work in every aspects of company operations. There are several benefits of managing quality as well as safety in supply chain management and in the production process which company can take. Companies can increase customers’ retention rate by understanding their needs in an effective manner and attracting them towards buying products and services as well. It also allows retailers as well as suppliers in managing risks in a better way as well as taking competitive advantagesLasrado,(2019). One of the other main benefits of quality management is improving internal communication and allowing participants to improve their efficiency and also engage with the company for the long run. Aim “ To identify ways or strategies of solving supply chain issues which supply chain managers are facing. A Case Study on NHS supply chain. Objectives To identify importance and ways of managing inventory.
To explore strategies and effectiveness of managing suppliers. To identify tools of maintaining safety and quality for taking competitive advantages. Research questions 1.What are some ways, problems and importance of managing inventory? 2.Which strategies can help companies in managing suppliers? 3.What are some benefits of using tools of maintaining quality and safety for taking advantages of competition? Justification and Contextualization Importance of research Supply chain refers a process of production as well as distribution of products and services whose management plays an important role because it allows NHS in increasing competitiveness and customers’ satisfaction. But nowadays suppliers are facing several problems related to maintaining quality of products, damages which happen in the process of supply chain, maintaining relation with businesses and retaining in the market for the long run. So, one of the main reasons of conducting this research is to help companies and retailers in identifying strategies and ways of solving all issues like managing inventory, suppliers and quality in order to make an effective position in the market and also for taking competitive advantages. Reason of importance Identificationof strategiesandwaysrelatedto solvingproblemsofsupplychain management is the key of the success because it is all related to quality of products and services given to customers which should be effective. By conducting research on the topic of issues which suppliers are facing related to managing supply chain is important because by gathering information related to this, business can find effective strategies and the main root cause which can allow them to put efforts and solve problems and making a stable position in the market and also help people by providing them employment and other opportunities. One of the main reasons which can be identified by conducting this study and gathering informationsuppliers find that due to multiple channels to market as well as increasing cost throughout the supply chain are main problems which suppliers are facing (Kumar, Kumar and Thenmozhi, 2019).
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Fulfilling customers needs and satisfying them is the main area of effectiveness of supply chain management and due to other problems related to supply chain management, suppliers are facing problems in customers service or satisfaction. Due to lack of this area it can snatch several opportunities from businesses and suppliers and it can also affect economy and other main areas. Response to requirements For makingresearch study successful it is important to accomplish all pre-determined goals and the main aim of the research study which is identifying problems along with solutions whichsuppliersartefacingrelatedtoinventory,suppliersandqualitymanagement.For accomplishing goals it is important of having appropriate information like what suppliers are feeling, why these problems are creating, which ways can help them out in solving these and all. It can be happen by conducing and following every steps of research. After that it is also important for scholar to complete study in a timely manner and also identify that whether this study is effective and has an ability to response an existing needs or not. So, in this context it can be said that this study will be conducted by researcher in an effective manner by following each and every step of research like conducting literature for knowing different views of authors regarding supply chain and all relevant objectives, identifying research types, collecting and analyzing data and conducting the whole research by considering codes of ethics. So, overall it can be said that all these can allow researcher in having appropriate and detailed information related to supply chain which can also allow him to complete this study in a timely manner. By doing this study can also respond to an existing needs of suppliers and researcher like finding ways of making supply chain management effective. Research Methodology Research types:This is the main element of research methodology which shows a form in which data needs to be gathered by researcher. There are mainly 2 forms of gathering data such as in numerical form and in a word or feeling form. Those information which are being gathered in the form of feelings/words or non-numerical form is known as qualitative research (Hennink, Hutter and Bailey, 2020). Whereas, this information which are being collected in the form of
analyzing qualitative and non-numerical data, researcher uses qualitative data analysis tool and for analyzing quantitative and numerical data they use quantitative data analysis tools. This study is qualitative so, researcher will make use of qualitative data analysis tool or thematic analysis. Sampling:For gathering data there is requirement of having effective and appropriate sources from which researcher can collect data related to the topic. Rather, primary and secondary sources researcher often focus on gathering data from sample. Sample refers a group of people which are being selected by researcher and process of targeting people in known as sampling. In random type of sampling, researcher target people randomly and in non random people are being selected on the basis of some criteria. For this, researcher will use random sampling or will select random suppliers of NHS. Ethical consideration:Ethics is important as it refers moral obligations which help people in identifying the difference between the right conduct or right act and the wrong act (Alderson and Morrow, 2020). In the context of research it can be said that ethics allow researcher in making research study successful and also improving his image in the eyes of participants and companies for which they work. There are several codes of ethics which needs to be considered by researcher for making this study successful and ethical such as: ï‚·To not hurt anyone in any manner. ï‚·To keep information of participants safe and secure. ï‚·To not disclose information of participants and company with any other organization. ï‚·To nor force anyone for taking participation in research study and in data collection. Research limitations Conducting research is not an easy task as researcher have to face some problems and there are several areas which they require to be considered while conducting research such as: Issues with sample size and selection, lack of previous research studies on the topic, selection of sources for gathering appropriate information which can allow researcher in meeting their goals. Rather, all these some changes occur in external and internal business environmental factors like
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climate changes, lack of human technical and financial resources can delay in the submission of the study. CONCLUSION From the above study it has been summarized that supply chain management played a vital role as effective management of supplychain allow suppliers of NHS to maximize value as well as improving health of vulnerable people for which they are working. Further, it has also shown different problems which suppliers are facing nowadays in managing supply chain such as managing inventory while deliveringproducts to customers, managing quality of health care and food products,keeping track of finished goods and inventory etc. It has also discussed some effective ways, strategies as well as tools which can allow researcher in managing supply chain, inventory and quality in an effective manner such as implementation of TQM, Six sigma and other tools for quality management. Using Bar code and other scanning tools for managing inventory and tracking records. All over it has shown importance of using advanced technology in solving all problems which suppliers are facing and also being in the market for the long run. In addition, this research proposal has shown importance of using all elements of research methodology as it allows researcher in collecting information from different and appropriate sources relevant to the topic and accomplish goals. Lastly, it has shown importance of following moral principles or ethics while conducting research in order to make it successful and improving image.
Vasiliev, V.A. and et.al., 2016, October. Problems of quality management of complex technical products. In2016 IEEE Conference on Quality Management, Transport and Information Security, Information Technologies (IT&MQ&IS)(pp. 235-238). IEEE. Wang, J. and et.al., 2019. Methods for multiple-attribute group decision making with q-rung interval-valued orthopair fuzzy information and their applications to the selection of green suppliers.Symmetry,11(1), p.56. Yoon,J.andet.al.,2018.Modelsforsupplierselectionandriskmitigation:aholistic approach.International Journal of Production Research,56(10), pp.3636-3661. ONLINE NHS Supply Chain.2018.OnlineAvailable through: <https://www.supplychain.nhs.uk/about- us/>