An Analysis of Supply Chain Management for WTP Furniture Company

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the supply chain management practices of WTP Furniture, a company established in 1992. It explores the role of supply chain management in the furniture industry, highlighting the complexity of information systems due to diverse product options. The report examines the impact of technology on streamlining processes, reducing costs, and improving efficiency, including the implementation of software systems and web interfaces. It delves into cost management strategies, emphasizing the importance of efficient storage, multiple suppliers, and rapid product movement. The report also discusses the integration of supply chain activities with other organizational functions, the significance of customer satisfaction, and the transformative effects of modern technology on furniture design and manufacturing. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of adapting to technological advancements and the use of modern equipment.

Running head: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR WTP FURNITURE
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR WTP FURNITURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR WTP FURNITURE
Table of Contents
Question 1......................................................................................................................1
Question 2......................................................................................................................2
Question 3......................................................................................................................3
Question 4......................................................................................................................4
Question 5......................................................................................................................5
References......................................................................................................................6

2SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FOR WTP FURNITURE
Question 1
Supply chain can be defined as a network consisting of the organizations, individuals,
activities, resources and technology that are involved in creating the product and the process
of selling that particular product. The supply starts from source materials delivery from the
hands of the supplier to that of the manufacturer and further the final delivery of the product
to the customer or user. Supply chain management refers to the management and
coordination and integration of the activities related to the supply chain. Supply chain
management plays an important role in the furniture business, whether it is related to
construction or carpentry, the information related to the chain of processes is important for
the supply chain managers (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012).
The system of information in a furniture company is much more complex as
compared to other sectors as there are many options related to the products in this industry.
This discussion is based on WTP The furniture company, which was established in the year
1992 and it produces furniture which are aesthetically pleasing as well as are very much in
discussion in offices and homes. Funds are allocated for development of technology in the
furniture companies. The development of technology helps in maintaining the information
system of a furniture company more easily as the systems are complex in these companies.
The use software systems which are sophisticated and use of web interfaces facilitates the
improvement of technology in the supply chain management in furniture companies
(Wtpstyle.com 2017).
Discussion and analysis – The use of technology in WTP furniture company will help
in reducing the complexity in the information system of the company. This application based
service providers or ASPs will help the supply chain managers of the firm to easily manage
the activities related to chain, that is, the processes related to manufacturing and the final

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delivery of the product much more easily as compared to manual ways of managing supply
chain. However, the implementation of these technologies will also require investment, as the
software needs to implemented and the managers should be provided the training related to
these activities (Monczka et al. 2015).
Question 2
Cost acts as important factor in the management of supply chain in case of a furniture
company, that is, WTP The Furniture Company. The reduction in the costs in the supply
chain can help in increasing the profits of the company even if the sales are not increasing.
The storing of the goods, shipping the goods and thereby delivering the goods to the
consumers are parts of the supply chain of the company. The management of the costs related
to each step that is mentioned helps in reducing the costs of the company. The space required
by the furniture company can be a factor that adds up to the costs of the company (Ross
2013).
The storage needs to be used in an efficient manner, so that more and more furniture
can be stored in less space, this will further reduce the costs related to the company. The
company should appoint more than one suppliers for the raw materials that are required for
production of the furniture. More suppliers will result into more competition which will
ensure lower prices of raw materials. The cost of storage can be reduced by moving the
products faster from the warehouses and the transport facilities need to coordinate their
activities with the company in an efficient manner (Wisner, Tan and Leong, 2014).
Discussion and analysis – The costs of the company are directly related to the supply
chain network of the furniture company. The main factors that have an effect on the cost
related to the supply chain of the company are efficiency in utilizing the storage space, using
more than one suppliers so that the competition increases and the prices of the raw materials

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decreases in this process. The products of the furniture should be moved fast so that the
storage space or the warehouses can be free. The demands of the customers need to analysed
and the furniture need to manufactured according their specific needs (Barney 2012).
Question 3
Managing the supply chain of an organization is mainly the broad focus of the
management where the impact of the activities related to the supply chain in the manufacture
of the furniture goods is considered. The whole process is related to the chai of activities
from the suppliers to the manufacturers and further to retailers and the wholesalers who
finally supply the goods to the consumers (Green et al. 2012).
The process of supply chain is to manage the production activities and the network of
logistics of the company that is mainly the part of a whole pipeline or network. The supply
chain process is related to all the other activities of the furniture company. The other
processes that are related to marketing or promoting the products, the allocation of funds are
all related to the supply chain activities of the company. The increase in the competition of
the furniture company and the complexity of the information process has further increased
the use of supply chain management systems (Brandenburg et al. 2014).
Discussion and analysis – The activities related to the supply chain management of
the furniture company that is, the systems, the information, the efforts, processes and ideas
are all integrated within the all the functions related to the supply chain management of the
company. The organizations that practice supply chain management systems have recognized
that supply is connected to all the other activities of an organization. The disruption in the
supply chain processes will have an adverse effect on the entire activities of the
organizations. In the same manner, the cost cutting or improvement in the supply chain

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processes will further improve the other activities related to the furniture company. The
management of the connections in the supply chain processes of the company is the main part
of the integration of the supply chain activities with the other processes in the organization
(Ashby, Leat and Hudson-Smith 2012).
Question 4
Managing the supply chain related activities is of utmost importance in any large or
small organizations. The companies aim to provide high quality products to gain the
satisfaction of the consumers. The supply chain management process in an organization
brings the distributors, suppliers and the customers of the company within a process which is
cohesive in nature. The suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, warehouses and the end users or
customers are connected within an information flow that is dynamic and constant (Seuring
and Gold 2012).
The distributors and the suppliers are transforming into the partners of the
organization for the improvement of the organization as well as the supplier company. The
supply of the furniture company is strategically important for the company to manage their
competition and improve the network of suppliers. The success in the implementation of the
supply chain helps in reducing the costs related to the company, the innovation related to the
technologies in the organization, increasing the productivity and the profitability of the
company and in turn reduce the risks related to the processes of the company (Mangan and
Lalwani 2016).
Discussion and analysis – The management of supply chain of the organization has an
effect on the performance of the furniture company. The supply chain involves the process of
getting raw materials from the suppliers, manufacturing of the products, transportation of the
products and further the delivery of the products to customers or end users of the company.

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This process also involves the analysis of the needs of the consumers and manufacturing the
products accordingly. This entire process ultimately ends at the supply of the furniture to the
customers (Dyckhoff, Lackes and Reese 2013). The effective management of the supply
chain of the company will ensure the delivery of the products to the customers and in turn it
will impact the customer satisfaction. This entire process will impact the sales of the furniture
company and the profits made.
Question 5
The use of modern equipment and technology has changed the furniture industry
totally. The modern technology has profound effects on the design of the furniture with the
help of materials that are innovative and the processes that are used by the modern designers.
The use of computers in the manufacturing process of furniture has totally changed the ways
by which the furniture company works (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012).
The design that could be drawn manually, can now be achieved with the help of the
computer programs and the process of manufacturing these designs is also received with the
help of the software. The process of manufacturing the furniture with the help of modern
technologies is useful for the designers, however it requires an adequate amount training to
implement these technologies. The technological environment related to the manufacture of
furniture is continuously changing and new technologies are evolving (Wisner, Tan and
Leong 2014).
Discussion and analysis – From the answer it can be said that the advances in modern
technologies and the invention new equipment have an impact on the furniture company. As
is evident from the website WTP, the company creates furniture which have a flavour of the
past and are also modern in nature. The furniture that is manufactured by this company is

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custom made according to the needs and desires of the consumers. The furniture
manufactured by this company are distinct in nature and their presence can be felt
(Wtpstyle.com 2017). This company uses modern technologies to design the custom made
furniture according to the needs of the consumers.
References
Ashby, A., Leat, M. and Hudson-Smith, M., 2012. Making connections: a review of supply
chain management and sustainability literature. Supply Chain Management: An International
Journal, 17(5), pp.497-516.
Barney, J.B., 2012. Purchasing, supply chain management and sustained competitive
advantage: The relevance of resource‐based theory. Journal of supply chain
management, 48(2), pp.3-6.
Brandenburg, M., Govindan, K., Sarkis, J. and Seuring, S., 2014. Quantitative models for
sustainable supply chain management: Developments and directions. European Journal of
Operational Research, 233(2), pp.299-312.
Dyckhoff, H., Lackes, R. and Reese, J. eds., 2013. Supply chain management and reverse
logistics. Springer Science & Business Media.
Green Jr, K.W., Zelbst, P.J., Meacham, J. and Bhadauria, V.S., 2012. Green supply chain
management practices: impact on performance. Supply Chain Management: An International
Journal, 17(3), pp.290-305.
Mangan, J. and Lalwani, C., 2016. Global logistics and supply chain management. John
Wiley & Sons.

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Monczka, R.M., Handfield, R.B., Giunipero, L.C. and Patterson, J.L., 2015. Purchasing and
supply chain management. Cengage Learning.
Ross, D.F., 2013. Competing through supply chain management: creating market-winning
strategies through supply chain partnerships. Springer Science & Business Media.
Seuring, S. and Gold, S., 2012. Conducting content-analysis based literature reviews in
supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 17(5),
pp.544-555.
Tayur, S., Ganeshan, R. and Magazine, M. eds., 2012. Quantitative models for supply chain
management (Vol. 17). Springer Science & Business Media.
Wisner, J.D., Tan, K.C. and Leong, G.K., 2014. Principles of supply chain management: A
balanced approach. Cengage Learning.
Wtpstyle.com (2017). About us | WTP. [online] Wtpstyle.com. Available at:
https://www.wtpstyle.com/about-us/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2017].