The Contribution of Supply Chain Management Towards Competitive Advantage - The Case of NESTLE Malta

The contribution of supply chain
management Towards
competitive advantage - The case
of NESTLE Malta
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ABSTRACT
In the dissertation supply chain is discussed in detail. In respect to the research topic literature
review section is prepared and data is analyzed. Results indicate that technology cost is high and
situational or environmental factors greatly affect supply chain management. Moreover,
coordination between employees have huge impact on successful implementation of supply
chain management at the workplace. Supply chain management generate value for end user and
due to this reason, it not only benefits business firm but it also benefits the customers. This is the
reason due to which supply chain management play crucial role in success of the business firm.
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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background to research..........................................................................................................4
1.2 Research questions.................................................................................................................4
1.3 Justification for the research..................................................................................................4
1.4 Methodology..........................................................................................................................5
1.5 Outlines of the chapters.........................................................................................................6
CHAPTER -2 LITREATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................8
CHAPTER-3 .................................................................................................................................20
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................20
Research type ............................................................................................................................20
Research approach ....................................................................................................................20
Research philosophy .................................................................................................................21
Data collection...........................................................................................................................22
Sampling....................................................................................................................................23
Data analysis .............................................................................................................................23
Ethical consideration..................................................................................................................24
Reliability and validity ..............................................................................................................24
Research limitation ...................................................................................................................25
CHAPTER -4.................................................................................................................................27
DATA ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................27
CHAPTER – 5...............................................................................................................................46
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................46
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................46
CONCLUSION -.......................................................................................................................48
RECOMMENDATION -...........................................................................................................51
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................54
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................57
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Topic- The contribution of supply chain management (SCM) towards competitive advantage –
the case of NESTLE Malta
1. INTRODUCTION
Supply chain management termed out as management of flow of good and services and
inclusive of processes that transform raw materials into final commodities. It aids to streamline
business supply activities that maximize value of customer and gain competitive advancement in
marketplace. SCM plays crucial role in integral part of firm success and also increases
competitiveness and customer satisfaction. Additionally, efficiently running supply chain
management allow enterprise to deliver commodities to end user for low cost. Supply chain is
composed of firms and individual contributors that involves in creating commodities from raw
materials to semi finished merchandise. Thus, activities under supply chain management are as
farming, refining, design, manufacturing, packaging and transportation etc.
However, the purpose of supply chain management is to keep chaos at bay-synchronizing
the activities of network. It is defined as central planning process that created to manage an
enterprise demand and supply network that includes of activities as primary and two secondary
activities. Supply chain management aids to streamline business supply side activities to
maximize value of customer and also gains competitive advancement in marketplace. It is the
core responsibility of SCM is to handling the entire production flow of good and services to
deliver the final commodity to customer.
Furthermore, report is based on topic as to determine the contribution of supply chain
management towards competitive advantage with referenced to enterprise as Nestle. The quoted
enterprise is a Swiss international Food and Drink processing that headquartered in vevey, vaud
and Switzerland. Furthermore, chosen firm offers product and services as baby food, medical
food, bottled food, breakfast, dairy products, pet foods and snakes etc.
However, assignment will emphasize on activities as to outline the aim and objectives on
the basis of topic to undertake research activity. Additionally, literature review will be conducted
with highlighting the resourceful information of varied authors. Moreover, methodology will be
defined to adopt suitable methods that can aid to undertake further research study effectively.
Thus, data will be analysed with use of suitable research method to analyse the findings of
research study. Lastly, reflection and implication of whole study will be defined to under review
to the research.
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Aim- To examine the extent on how (SCM) can lead NESTLE to become competitive in the
importation and distribution of fast moving consumer good.
Objectives
1. To establish the characteristics of supply chain management.
2. To define how competitive advantage can be gained by NESTLE in Malta
3. To recommend initiatives on how NESTLE Malta can use supply chain management to
the benefit of the organization
1.1 Background to research
The present report is based on topic as to examine the contribution that supports the
supply chain management towards to gain competitive advancement.
1.2 Research questions
 What is the concept of supply chain management?
 What are the characteristics of supply chain management?
 How to define competitive advantage of NESTLE?
1.3 Justification for the research
The present dissertation is based on topic to determine the issues and significance relates
with contribution of supply chain management in order to gain competitive advancement. The
main purpose of supply chain management is to ensure about the speedy collection and deliveries
of good to downstream enterprise or end users. Additionally, this enterprise has core focus on
activities as to ensure safe, secure and environment appropriate storage for all raw material,
ingredients and commodities.
Henceforth, the study has primarily focused on issues relate with supplier chain
management towards to gain competitive advancement. The main purpose of research study is to
frame out the effective supply chain management strategies that enable firms to improve product
flow through accurate demand and forecasting about the sales to facilitate better inventory
management. This report will focus on SCM at three level as strategic, tactical and operational.
Therefore, this topic will help to streamline business supply activities to maximize value to
customers and also aids to gain competitive advancement in the marketplace.
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1.4 Methodology
The Research methodology termed out as systematic and theoretical analysis method to a
field of study. It is defined as effective method that assist to collect information and data with
aim of making business decision. Thus, common methods to research defined as-
Research type- It is defined as careful focus on study in relation to particular concern with help
of using scientific methods. Thus, research has two types as qualitative and quantitative.
Additionally, quantitate research type based on quantities obtained with use of the quantifiable
measurement process. On the other hand, qualitative type of research aids to record the
information that are descriptive, subjective and typical to measure out. So, researcher will have
the use of qualitative technique to gain information about the effective contribution of supply
chain management towards to gain competitive advancement.
Research philosophies- It is defined as undertaking development towards research assumption,
nature and knowledge. Therefore, research philosophy classified into categories as
interpretivism, positivism, epistemology and ontology. To find out the impact of supply chain
management towards to gain competitive advancement, researcher will use interpretivism and
pragmatism to interpret the elements of the study.
Research approach- This is defined as plan and procedure that is inclusive of detailed
explanation to data collection, analysis and interpretation. Thus, research approach is classified
into categories as inductive and deductive. Henceforth, researcher will use inductive techniques
as this aids to generalize the information to draw effective conclusion.
Research strategy- This is defined as step by step actions that provides direction to research
study. It aids to gather the descriptive information on the topic of research. Thus, research
strategy classified into categories as experiments, survey, case studies, ethography and grounded
theory etc. However, to make this research effective researcher will have the use of descriptive
method to gain depth insight about the topic.
Data collection- This is defined as systematic approach that aids to gather and measure
information from the variety of sources. Thus, data collection is classified into categories as
primary and secondary. Henceforth, in order to determine contribution towards supply chain
management the researcher will use primary and secondary techniques.
Sampling- This is defined as statistical process that aids to predetermine the observation that
needs to be taken from larger population. Thus, sampling classified into categorize as stratified,
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cluster, multistage and systematic random sampling method. In this research, researcher will use
sample random technique with use of probabilistic method to represent the problem relate with
study.
Data analysis- It is defined as process that aids to evaluate data with use of analytical and
statistical tools to identify the core information about the topic. In this, thematic analysis will be
used to interpret the gather data. Under this, interviews will be conducted to analyse the findings
relate with the topic.
1.5 Outlines of the chapters
The whole study has covered the five chapter to produce research effectively. It will
define the overall structure of research project and this also inclusive of differed chapters.
Additionally, structure of the project defined in the below context manned as-
Chapter 1: Introduction
This is first chapter that streamlines the overall structure of research report. Henceforth,
researcher will define background, aims, objectives and research questions etc. Additionally, this
all needs to be achieved. However, this is initial phase that plays crucial role in undertaking the
whole research study in significant mode.
Chapter 2: Literature review
It is second chapter that assist to analyse the secondary information by the use of books,
journal and article etc. Therefore, this aids to gather the depth information on given topic to
research. However, secondary information can be collected in ease mode and this can be
assistive in term to gather detailed information to research.
Chapter 3: Research methodologies
This step will define various method to research study. With application of statistical and
logical technique it can be easy to determine, elaborate and measure the data effectively.
Additionally, it defines the systematic plan for collecting the research and also includes method
as implication, data collection and interpretation etc.
Chapter 4: Data analysis
It is term that defines systematic information about the research topic. However, the
chapter will show that first-hand information to the research can be defined with use of primary
data. It is attractive approach that defines how all data can be collected and interpreted. In order
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to explain it, the researcher can use graph, chart, table etc. Valid and reliable data can be
collected with help of tables, interpretation etc.
Chapter 5: Discussion and analysis- This is chapter that is inclusive of the discussion and
analysis of the topic. In this, the conclusion of the above chapter will be produced to make
research more effective and reliable.
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