Improving Supply Chain with ERP Systems

This assignment examines the potential of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to enhance supply chain management within a company. It explores the various advantages such as improved vendor monitoring, reduced errors, and cost savings. The assignment also acknowledges potential challenges and provides recommendations for successful ERP system implementation, emphasizing the need for innovation and strategic decision-making.

INSTITUTION
NAME
PROFFESOR

Topaz Company.
Forecourt refers to an open area in front of a building and it could be an entrance. in most cases, petrol
stations possess such descriptions and structure due to the kind of services they offer that is refilling engine
gasses for vehicles. Topaz Company is the leading forecourt retailer in Ireland which offers gas fuelling
services. it has got many branches situated in various places. Sachdave (2017). The company has been able to
compete strategically to provide convenience, availability of products in different varieties at favorable prices
and good quality. It has got an agile supply chain management which has largely contributed its success
Zhang & Zheng (2011) .Topaz has got a fully integrated information system that can monitor the whole
supply chain and provide visibility of the chain at all levels. Reimann and Ketchen (2017).
Supply chain management application
Purchase and supply chain management of the company is controlled and monitored by an information system
which has been integrated all together so that information can be sent from branches, that is other stores in
different parts to the headquarters within the shortest time possible. When a customer purchases or orders a
product from this company, his or her description is fed into the computer system Rossetti and Dooley
(2010).the information shall be sent to the headquarters as well as the manager of the store. With this, they are
able to monitor trends in the market and use the information for planning. Even the slightest information that
could be termed less important such as the gender and age of buyers is all taken through the computer system.
Managers of the headquarters and the store are able to get information from time to time within hours. Chopra
(2017). The system at the headquarters goes further to integrate all the information and make it available for all
supply chain levels so that each level is aware of what is going on through the whole supply chain. Meetings
are held from time to time between the headquarters and the branches management so as to follow up and plan
together on the future of the company. The meetings occur regularly on a weekly basis where all stores are
represented and the persson representing them takes back the information to the various outlets after the
meetings. The top management and members of the executive from branches asses the performance of the
company for the previous week and use the same information to plan on the coming week Pinney (2012). The
plans put in place are all implemented in the stores after the executive has laid down the plans on how to go by

and pass information to all stores. Goods are ordered for from the headquarters because the system shows the
amount of stock available in each store and the trend at which the goods are moving it is then used to
determine the amount of goods to be ordered for hence a proper management of inventory. During distribution
of goods to stores, the company ensures that radio calls are maintained with all drivers Menéndez (2018). The
headquarters keeps track of all deliveries through communication with the drivers. Goods are delivered
following time tables and the stores are assured of getting products within ten minutes of the supposed time,
any distributor that delays for more than thirty minutes has to pay the store a fine. In case of any inconvenience
r emergency, the company has alternative ways of handling such situations for example, if something goes
wrong with one of the stores, goods are rushed from the headquarters using air as a means of transport to
rescue demanding situations Supramaniam, Abdullah and Ponnan (2014). TH e success of this company can
be attributed to the kind of system they have in place. In a supply chain, there should be transparency, joint
decision making and communication for it to be as efficient as possible. The supply chain of SEJ has all these
qualities. Inventory management is also done through a computerized system and strict terms and condition set
for distributers. Its flexibility also makes it easy to change and adapt to unexpected changes in the business
environment. Note that the average amount of stock at SEJ stores can run up to seven days. The stock is
customized to meet the exact needs of an individual store. Goods are ordered and supplied to individual stores
in accordance to the requirements identified. This makes it easy to manage inventory in each branch without
making confusions in such a way that a certain store receives goods meant to be delivered at another store.

Findings and conclusions of research
Purchases of goods required in the stores depend on the results of the analysis carried out weekly and the
information passed to each level of the supply chain by through integration of data from the headquarters.
Order for supply of goods from their vendors through the headquarters and the suppliers in turn deliver goods
to the individual stores. All goods are inspected to ensure quality and brands meet the demand of the
consumers Sodomka and Klcova( 2016). Systems at the stores are automated such that they do not require
the presence of the delivery personal when the store personnel scan the goods delivered. The systems are set
in a way that they can be trusted by the delivery team. Deliveries are done during off peak hours when tracks
do not have to experience delay and the person delivering goods does not have to wait for the scanning
process at the store due to the trusted systems. In conclusion, the supply chain management is the one that has
largely contributed to the success of this company due to its efficiency and the information system has made
it easy to carry out activities necessary in the supply chain Roman (2010).
Tenhiälä, Rungtusanatham and Miller (2017)

Recommendations
One of the best ways of improving the supply chain management is making good use of Enterprise
Resource Planning. Elkhani, Soltani and Nazir Ahmad (2014).This is software that can perform
different tasks in a computerized system for the organization. As much as the company has
integrated information systems, there are other ways that can be used to further improve the supply
chain management.Topaz company is recommended to use automatic purchase system whereby
there is no need to place orders manually to vendors. The ERP systems can be set in a way that once
the information entered from various stores indicates that stock is below a certain level, it
automatically places an order with vendors. The organization should carry out regular training of all
of its employees to keep the up to date and on toes. The success of the company should not only be
the present issue but also be a future plan so that the company can be able to sustain the changes in
the business environment as well as compete effectively with other organizations with similar
activities Sodomka and Klcova( 2016) .The current system of the company integrates information
after a period of time, ERP system can be able to provide and integrate real time information
important for fast decision making.

Potential benefits for the organization
The benefits of using a centralized ERP system are amazing and will propel the company to another
level in terms of performance, speed, inventory management and cost cutting. Enterprise resource
planning will free up employees, instead of spending time on order placing, they will concentrate on
other importance roles that call for their attention. The company will also have to employ fewer
workers in order to run their activities. With the system, employees will share a standardized
information system, share information and encourage teamwork Elkhani, Soltani and Nazir Ahmad
(2014). Normally, problems that have always affected supply chain management are errors; fraud
and lack of transparency .the system will enable the management follow up activities and reduce
such cases. Instant decision making is the key driver any supply chain, with the system in place,
executive won’t have to meet on a weekly basis so as to make decisions; they can communicate
online through conference call or videos and make instant decision using the insight information
from the ERP. This will help save time of travelling to the headquarters and the cost incurred
Sodomka and Klcova (2016). The performance of the vendors can be monitored using this
recommended ERP system. The errors made by vendors from time to time can be traced and the
company can be able to determine the best vendors fit to deliver goods for each store. They can use
the information to retain the best vendors and do away with vendors who make too much mistakes
that may affect the supply chain of the Company. Therefore, if the company uses the recommended
system, it will be able to improve on other areas and make it easy to manage the supply chain
Elkhani, Soltani and Nazir Ahmad (2014).Money saved by use of this ERP system can be used by
the company to improve other sectors and keep for future use. The company should employ
innovators who can bring in new ideas on board and implement the ideas for the betterment of the
organization and assurance of future sustainability Sodomka and Klcova (2016).

References
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