Research Paper on "Abercrombie and Fitch"

Quoted Instructions for "Abercrombie and Fitch" Assignment:

The purpose of the project is to apply the material covered in the course to analyze the operations and supply chain management practices of a specific company. The task is twofold; (i) research the operations and supply chain strategy of a company, and (ii) directly observe and analyze one aspect of the core operational activities of the company. The intent is to develop a broad understanding of the challenges and strategic importance of operations, and to observe how these strategic realities are translated in the design, planning, and control of a specific aspect of the company*****s day-to-day operations. The content and structure of your research depends on several factors, starting with the specific company you choose. To research the operations and supply chain strategy of a company, you will need to consider the internal operations of the company, and how the company fits within a broader industry context.

An interim report is required; in part, this will be used to work out the details of how you structure your research. As a starting point, consider the following topics and frameworks to direct your research. This is not an outline for your report ***** just some areas to consider to get your research started.

ï‚· What are the major external forces that influence the company*****s operations?

ï‚· What are the core operational processes of the company?

ï‚· What do the operations competitive priorities as described in the text and lectures mean in the context of this company? How has the company chosen to compete along these different dimensions (e.g. trade-offs, order qualifiers, order winners).

ï‚· In general, terms how would you characterize the objectives of the company in terms of its efforts to improve the efficiency and/or responsiveness of the supply chain.

The final report,is limited to 15 pages (double spaced, 11-point font, not including exhibits and references),

References in the last page

Below you will find a brief description of certain aspects we will touch on during our project. Our main focus will be the supply chain and how Abercrombie manages to distribute to over one thousand stores around the world from one location in Ohio.

Abercrombie & Fitch was established in Manhattan, New York on June 4th, 1982. The headquarters are also known, as the company*****s *****campus***** which is located in New Albany, Ohio. Its campus consists of two distribution centers, each a million sq. ft., as well as each A&F brand has a store on campus which is used to design the approximately 1104 stores throughout the world. Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie (A&F Kids), Hollister Co., Gilly Hicks, Ruehl No. 925 1are all brands under the Abercrombie and Fitch umbrella. A&F employs about 80,000 people worldwide from executives to sales associates. Sales for Abercrombie for 2009 were $2,928.6 (million).

Abercrombie and Fitch use a push and pull supply system. Technology blessing in their supply chain is oracle Retail Merchandising System. Management Dynamics***** Supply Chain Visibility solution allows merchants to monitor the delivery status of key orders and for the logistics team to proactively manage inbound shipments by milestones. And, with accurate shipment information earlier in the supply chain, Abercrombie & Fitch is able to improve store-level inventory allocations to reduce cycle time and achieve higher levels of availability. This helped them to put a significant impact in the operational capabilities and now for this they can easily manage their inventories and their supply chain system. A more detailed explanation will be explained in the later parts of the project.

They create reliability in the global supply chain with the ability to respond to actual and potential issues tightly collaborated with their merchants, distribution centers and service providers. So, basically they have a balanced push and pull process, depending on their customer request they ship products and the manufacture the same for the stores too . They have accurate shipment information with the Management Dynamics Supply Chain Visibility solution that helps them to improve store-level inventory allocations to reduce cycle time and achieve higher levels of availability.

Abercrombie & Fitch Selects Oracle Retail Suite to Enable Business Growth and Support Continued Industry Leadership. Abercrombie & Fitch has entered into a strategic partnership with Oracle Retail to create a multi-year deployment plan to enable its strategy for long-term business growth and continued retail leadership. As part of the agreement, Abercrombie & Fitch has purchased Oracle Retail*****'s best-in-class merchandising, planning, supply chain and stores solutions while also licensing Oracle technology and back office capabilities.

Quality control : A&F only produces high quality clothing. The manufacture of every Abercrombie line follows strict quality control standards from the integrity of the cloth up to the minutest details of stitches. This dedication to quality makes Abercrombie & Fitch a top player in the clothing industry. Planning: A&F are responsible for driving top line sales and maximizing the profit margin of the company. Planners create sales plans for every product category in our stores and determine and monitor their business from a macro financial level.

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