Comparison of Supply Chain Management Practices Essays -- Wal-Mart and

This report provides a comparison of the supply chain management practices of Wal-Mart and Toyota. Comparison was done after researching, examining, and analysing each company’s supply chain management practices, in relation to each company’s values and philosophy. Comparison was done in five sections, by examining strategic alliances, procurement and outsourcing, challenges and risks, sustainable strategies, and efficient supply chains in relation to technology. Additional figures and references used can be found in the appendix and reference list. Comparison of the two supply chain management practices showed that despite being from different industries, with different company philosophies, Wal-Mart and Toyota both have similarities in their supply chain management practices. In particular, the two companies are similar in their responses to challenges and risks faced, as well as the incorporation of sustainable strategies in their supply chain practices, and their usage of technology to increase the efficiency of their supply chains. In conclusion, a number of recommendations are presented for each firm. Wal-Mart is advised to foster a more collaborative supplier relationship, especially with local entities in unfamiliar markets, as well as encouraging suppliers to build more sustainable operations through the research of efficient packaging designs. Recommendations for Toyota include revising contracts and risk management with Toyota’s current and future suppliers for stricter quality control along their supply chain, so as to ensure delivered materials are standardised. Moreover, Toyota could also enter new geographic markets though a strategic alliance with existing companies. By doing so, Toyota is able maintain thei... ..._philosophy/toyota_global_vision_2020.html. Toyota Global. (2013, September). Sustainability Report 2013. Retrieved from http://www.toyota-global.com/sustainability/report/sr/pdf/sustainability_report13_fe.pdf. Trudell, C., & Hagiwara, Y. (2014, April 10). Toyota Recalls More Than 6 Million Vehicles Worldwide. Bloomberg. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-09/toyota-recalls-6-76-million-vehicles-worldwide-including-rav4.html. Useem, J., Schlosser, J., & Kim, H. (2003). One Nation Under Wal-Mart. Vitousek, P. M. (1994). Beyond global warming: ecology and global change. Ecology, 75(7), 1861-1876. Waller, M., Johnson, M. E., & Davis, T. (2001). Vendor-managed inventory in the retail supply chain. Journal of business logistics, 20, 183-204. Want, R. (2004). RFID: A key to automating everything. Scientific American,290(1), 56-65.