Operations Management at Walmart: Quality Characteristics, Statistical Techniques, Facility Location, Work System Design, and Project Management

Operations
Management
Student Name
Institution Affiliation

Quality Characteristics of
Walmart
 Achieving sustainable growth in the
supply chain practices
 Provision of high quality customer
service, respect for workers, and strive
for excellence
 Enhancing efficiencies in the use of
resources under procurement and stock
management (Bjelland & Wood, 2015).
 Unique retail services to the market

Statistical Techniques
 ABC Pareto Analysis: Used by IT department in
categorizing items of value to enhance
efficiencies in the use of resources under
procurement, customer relationship management
(CRM), and inventory management.
 Inventory Information System: A database set for
storing and administering all data categories and
accurate warehouse inventory management.
 Bullwhip Effect: A supply chain management
technique to forecast yield supply chain
inefficiencies in the company.

Statistical Techniques
Application Examples
 ABC analysis suits in inventory management
for stock in and stock outs are accurately
recorded and stored in the system.
 Inventory management information system
ensures that all product categories offered
by Walmart are accurately recorded while in
the retail stores.
 Walmart uses the bullwhip effect in
forecasting future demand and supply thus
avoiding inefficiencies.

Current Facility Location
Currently, Walmart’s location is in various
places. Walmart stores are located in the US
and other international markets where it
operates. The main facility location areas are:
 Cullman
 Bentonville
 LaGrange
 Illinois Highway
 North Iris Street

Determining a New Location
 Identification of dominant location factors:
such factors include logistics, competition,
political risks, and labor among others.
 Development of location alternatives: On
realization that one of these factors is
dominant, identification of a location that
satisfies market needs is required.
 Evaluation of location alternatives: Managers
evaluate all locations and decide on the best
facility location to launch.