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Sunday, January 8, 2017

Factors Affecting Distribution Network Design

By Christine Smith


For a firm to be successful in its operations, it has to make sure that its products are well distributed until they reach the final consumer. The firm has to set up a functioning system that includes a network of people, storage facilities and transportation that will efficiently move its products, otherwise known as a Distribution Network Design.

The reason some products do not reach some destinations is because the makers of that product do not market it well and have not specified an approach for them to get to that destination. Different products need different approaches to supply them successfully hence firms should be very cautious of the approaches they implement.

Selecting the right plan will be crucial for the business. The design chosen will determine how the product will be handled and how fast it will reach its desired target. To select the right system, one has to understand the product, is it perishable or does it have a long shelf life. Again if the product is for consumption, one has to make sure that proper retailers are involved in the process to ensure the product reaches its market.

Before selecting a design to implement, a business first has to market its product in all the areas it wants the product to reach. With products being almost similar, most companies use same techniques to market them and this makes competition fierce. A focused business will look for alternative methods of marketing which will give it an edge over its competitors and have its product gain more audience.

As the purpose of doing business is to satisfy customer needs and make profits at the same time, a firm should carefully examine how much will be spent on the process. After a particular method has been settled on, the firm has to set up the system and this may include training employees. As this might be expensive and time consuming, it is paramount to weigh the cost that will be incurred against the benefits before committing funds to it.

All companies want to spend the least amount of money when implementing a supply strategy, but this should not mean that the service and value are compromised. After a firm has selected a strategy to use, it should stick to the set guidelines of operation and under no circumstance should it deviate else it may find itself unable to operate normally.

The way the government is involved will also be a major factor. The authorities involvement comes in terms of the laws set that affect taxes, labor as well as transportation restrictions. Firms have to be aware of such things and must be up to date with the current regulations to ensure that they make well informed decisions and avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law.

Firm heads are advised to have a list of possible strategies to use and from that list they can rate the strategies from the one they feel will be most suitable to the one they feel will be least suitable. After a strategy is implemented and is working properly, they are allowed to look for other strategies that complement their main plan in order to increase service and profitability.




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