Inventory Management Essay (Essay Sample)

Inventory Management Essay
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Inventory Management Essay
Introduction
This paper will explain the inventory management with respect to expertise and frameworks of two manufacturing companies in the United States. The two companies that have been chosen for analysis include Dell Company and Apple Company. Dell is a laptop as well as accessories manufacturing company, which has over time excelled in lean manufacturing. On the other hand, Apple is also a mobile and digital media manufacturing company.
Type and Characteristics of Inventories
Apple Company
Fundamentally, this manufacturing company manufactures as well as markets mobile communication and media technologies, digital music players, and personal computers. In addition, along with these devices, Apple also sells many related software, networking solutions, services, and other applications that can be accessed through these devices. Among the most popular devices manufactured by Apple include, iPhone, iPad, Macintosh computer, as well as iPod. Among these devices, the Macintosh computer is the widely known device, which has been manufactured by the company. When it was released in the year 1984, the Macintosh computer became the first device to successfully use a graphic user interface, which allows the users to activate pictures on the screen using a mouse (Rich, 2013).
This particular success led to the development of the modern computers, which are now operating using graphic user interfaces. The iPhone, which is the world’s first Smartphone, is yet another famous mobile device that is manufactured by Apple. The iPhone allows similar functions as well as features just like those of a computer. The users can send and receive phone calls and messages. In addition, having the same features like those of a computer, the users of iPhones can browse the internet and check their mails in a very convenient way. This device can also well store music and many other audio files, therefore providing music player elements of an mp3 player. In addition to possessing the capacity to store music, iPhones can also store video files, which can be directly downloaded into the device. Users can also download applications by third party programs, which often offer convenience and productivity. Besides, the most popular component of this device comprises the camera, which permits its users to take images directly using the device.
In addition, the iPod is also the most popular and recognized music-playing device across the entire world. It has a very large memory capacity, which permits its users to store large amounts of music as well as audio files into the device. Latest versions of the device additionally allow the users to store video files.
The iPad is the most recent device that the company is manufacturing, which stands a greater market value. The device’s size is 9.7 inches just like the size of a textbook, which allows features like those of iPhones, except the ability to send and receive text messages as well as phone calls.
Dell Company
Dell is a company that manufactures computers and other related devices. Dell usually manufactures these computers and related devices for businesses and government agencies. The company specializes in the production of laptops and desktop computers along with other accessories including computer mouse, keyboards, and storage devices among other devices. Dell’s inventories are used globally due to their high speed as well as excellent performance, which offer convenience to many of its clients (Dell and Fredman, 2000). These speed and performance also allows businesses and individuals to undertake their daily tasks such as storing and retrieving data in a fast manner.
In addition, with the superior technical abilities of these devices, many of the businesses in the world use them in order to perform their important tasks or functions including record keeping and giving presentations competently.
Goods and Service Design Concepts Integration
Both Apple and Dell Companies have convenient or efficient goods and service programs that make each of these two companies highly reliable with outstanding customer care. Therefore, the most important service programs for Apple Company include programs such as Apple Care Products as well as iOS Direct Service Program. These service programs for Apple are primarily designed for institutions, service renders, individuals and businesses. Apple Care Products offers the advantages of integrating 1 year limited warranty as well as three months of complimentary technical support for customers who purchase the company’s products. Here, the customer is able to contact the company whenever they experience issues with the bought company products. The company has in place professional staff in efforts to make this process convenient and to offer its customers with the best possible experiences. The iOS Direct Service Program offers screening for any hardware problems and necessary replacements.
The goods and service program of Dell Company, on the other hand, include Dell PC Diagnostic, Parts and Upgrades, as well as Order Support. The Dell PC Diagnostic offers necessary tools in order to diagnose as well as resolve any performance issues, which the clients might be encountering while using the company products. This service is suitable as it helps in searching for slowdowns and start-up problems as the devices grow old. The technical support also has the capacity to use these results in efforts to resolve issues. The most commonly known diagnosis of this service is the full system diagnosis that is used in order to analyze the whole system in order to identify problems affecting the hardware in addition to the overall performance of devices.
Role Inventory Plays In the Company's Performance, Operational Efficiency, and Customer Satisfaction
Apple Company turns over its inventory approximately once in every five days. Generally, firms or businesses often want to keep as little inventory as possible in order to reduce the risk in case these inventories might lack market, but when a firm manufactures too few units, it then gives up its sales. Because of this, computer companies always prefer a low inventory-on-hand proportion. Thus, Apple Company keeps an average of about five days' worth of inventory on hand for its products even during holiday seasons.
Keeping five days of inventory around is cutting it slightly close. With this, it is clear that Apple Company keeps fewer inventories on hand as compared with its competitors including companies such as Dell Company, which often keeps it inventory for approximately seven days. In terms of inventories, Apple Company has been able to keep these cots at the minimal at least since the pace set by Steve Jobs. Prior to Job’s arrival at Apple, the company’s manufacturing, supply, as well as distribution operations were a total mess. It was Job’s call to withdraw warehouses around the globe that significantly changed the company, while Dell was making a good name during this particular period through the application of build-to-order model with computer assembly, which undeniably became the model of effectiveness for the entire computer industry.
Dell Company’s inventory strategy is developed around four core elements, which include build-to-order manufacturing, just-in-time component inventory, direct sales to clients, as well as partnerships with suppliers. Dell is strategy of just-in-time plays a major role as it generates major cost benefits and shortened time, which the company takes in order to obtain new generations of its products into the market. However, with time Dell has been able to evaluate its inventory and made sufficient changes. Therefore, when appropriate measures are taken, a company is able to accrue tremendous advantages in terms of performance, operations and client satisfaction.
Four (4) Different Types of Layouts Found With Each Company
The four different types of layouts found with each company include process, cellular, product, as well as fixed position. The process layout groups together workers or departments, which undertake similar tasks. Products in process move from one workstation to another. At every position, works apply specialized tools in order to perform particular steps in the production process. The product layout i...