It is critical that the supply strategy of the company supports the overall competitive strategies. It would not make sense for someone who competes in their market by being a premium brand to have a supply strategy that focuses on cheap, interchangeable suppliers.
Businesses make strategic choices in order to earn competitive advantages within the marketplace against their competition. One way to do this is to focus on differentiation, asking, “How is our business different than our competitors?” One of the current driving strategies within the supply chain is known as the “need for speed.”
For this discussion, research news articles and provide an example of a company where there is a very good or a very bad match between their goals and their supply strategy. Provide the following details:
Who is the company and how would you characterize their strategy of competing in their marketplace?
Is the company primarily focused on the concepts of time or speed as their main competitive advantage within the marketplace? Why or why not.
Explain their supplier situation and why you think they have a good/bad match with their goals.