Fake IDs :: essays research papers

Fake IDJust like many college students, Dana and her friends decided to go to a bar one Saturday night. The problem Not everyone in their group was old enough to enter. The solution Use fake ID obtained through a friend. So Dana and her friends used fake IDs to enter the bar without a problem, or so they thought. Later that night, police raided the bar. Danas ID was confiscated and she was later arrested.It seems like everyone wants to be a different age. Many teenagers want to be either 18 or 21 so they bottomland buy cigarettes or alcohol. And Im sure everyone has heard their parents say they wish they were 18 again. For the most part large number cant change how old they are, but by using fake identification, someone could pretend to be an age older than what they are. More and more people are using fake IDs.There have been many new advances in technology in recent years.Because of these advances, such as computers and internet, fake IDs are becoming easier to get, and their qua lity is improving. Not too long after states find focussings of making IDs harder to duplicate, the counterfeiters are finding a way to make them. Fake IDs no longer consist of scratching an 8 into a 3. These advances make it hard to tell apart fake IDs from the real thing. Some websites sell fake IDs from $50-5,000. Selling fake IDs over the internet has increased greatly over the past a couple of(prenominal) years.The internet makes fake IDs readily available, but according to the article Forged in Plastic in Missoula, most underage clients buy hypocrite drivers licenses from local manufacturers who use computers, scanners, laser printers, laminators, and special programs.According to the San Diego Union Tribune An estimated 10 million fake IDs are confiscated each year. During constitute break last year in Florida, 10,000 fake IDs were confiscated by using a handheld ID verification device made by Logix community of Colorado.There are different types of people who use fake I Ds for different reasons. Many people who use fake IDs are bonnie teenagers who want to buy alcohol. 18, 19, and 20 year olds generally use fake IDs to drink in bars, while high school students with fakes just go to grocery stores to find beer.There are different consequences of owning or selling fake IDs. Under-aged drinkers that go to bars and are caught with fake IDs are unremarkably ticketed for minor consumption and for carrying false or altered identification.

Falling into Oblivion :: Education Learning Schooling Papers

Falling into OblivionEducation is the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a education process. Education is the field of study concerned with the pedagogy of teaching and learning. The dictionary provides simple definitions of education. We are given a straightforward meaning of what education is, only according to B.F. Skinner, a renowned psychologist, education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. Ever since I was a little girl, I was constantly reminded how important education is. I went to a Catholic school, and my entire elementary education was spent with nuns, teaching out of the Bible. I soon realized, these nuns were teaching me about people who werent formally educated. These people neer went to a structured school, like the one I felt I was being forced to attend. They never had to get up early in the morning, split up uniforms, take the bus to school, had classmates, and they were never told by different teachers what to do. Their pa rents taught them at home, and they just heard stories in the streets, and in the marketplace from their elders. No books existed, and I wasnt quite undisputable if they had anything to trace their education back to. Who, all of a sudden, decided to teach their young, and to turn that idea into a universal tradition, to keep it going for generations? I sit down there and I couldnt help but wonder why these nuns were teaching me about people, whom I saw, as uneducated. I felt the entire biblical cast was irrelevant. I thought I was in school to learn, so what could I possibly learn from people who didnt even know what a book was, or who probably couldnt read from a book even if they did? Who made the decision what we should learn or if we should even learn at all? Why drive we stressed the importance of education historically? Educations purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Knowledge is first acquired from open-mindedness. As much as we force want to, we cant fi lter through what is being taught to us. We cant choose the things we want to learn and claim we are educated. We cant read a book written by a black author and not know what his background is or have some knowledge and understanding of the history of his people.

Anne Bradstreet :: Free Essays

Anne BradstreetThe poem Upon the Burning Of Our House, July 10th, 1666 by Anne Bradstreet is a poem about(predicate) her menage burning down. I can sympathize with many of her feelings in this poem because I shared many of them when my can was robbed. During the beginning of the poem she talks about her belongings that she lost and the things she would never do again, then towards the end she talks about how the incident brought her closer to God. Anne Bradstreet shows how living through a struggle, such as having your house burn down can bring you closer to God. My pleasant things in ashes lie, And them behold no more shall I, (108), shows the pain I felt in dealing with the loss that I suffered. I lost all of my money, my TV, and my stereo. I knew I would never get the opportunity to recover my lost items. And to my God my snapper did cry (107), compares with the emptiness I felt when my family arrived home and saw the back door kicked in. At that point I didnt want to continu e into the house to find what had been taken from me. The third stanza starts by saying, And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took, (107). After everything was over she realized that God had wedded her everything she had lost in the complete, and that she could once again receive those things from God. This relates to me being robbed in the fact that everything I lost was something that was not needed. This helped me to realize that material things arent press release to make you happy, but the Love of God is. The last line of the play says, My hope and treasure lies above. (108). I believe that Anne Bradstreet became very spiritual after the fire and looked to God for the answer to everything.

Frivolous Lawsuits :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

Frivolous Lawsuits As children our parents tried to instill in all of us good moral judgment and common sense. However, if I was to open the publisher I would surely find any number of articles on the latest frivolous lawsuit, these being even more outrageous than the ones in yesterdays paper. How have we as a society, which is completely capable of rational thinking, allowed ourselves to become so intertwined in the blaming game? Americans file closely 15 million lawsuits a year. (Cannell) A fourth of all lawsuits filed are either frivolous or fraudulent. Perhaps, the careless point of view about the seriousness of lawsuits is perpetuated by the false original on the many law shows on TV, such as Ally McBeal and Law and Order, in which the case is neatly rapped up in an hour. In cosmos most court cases take about 19 months from start to finish. In order to analyze our sue happy society one must scratch find out, what actually is a lawsuit? A lawsuit is a legal action brought by a plaintiff, a soul who claims to have been wronged, against a defendant, the person being sued. If a judge decides that a case has enough evidence to go to trial then the verdict may be pertinacious by either a judge or a jury. Yet, 90 percent of cases reach a settlement out of court. (Cannell) The scary truth about lawsuits is that anyone can file a suit for anything It is for the judge to decide if the case meets two criteria there must have been a wrongful act pull and the plaintiff must have suffered. (Cannell) The way in which liability is determined seems to be an irony in itself. The civil law requires people to act with sightly care, meaning not hurting others or damaging property. Also it requires the defendant to do what a reasonable person would have done. (Cannell) However, my question is, if a person is not using a reasonable mind then isnt that person insane or otherwise mentally handicapped?

Creature or Monster? How does Shelleys presentation of the Creature Es

Creature or Monster? How does Shelleys presentation of the Creatureand Frankenstein create sympathy or horror at different stages of thenovel? Who is the documentary monster?The novel Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley as a teenagerduring the 19th century. It was set in Germ each in the 18th century, asthis was a time of exploration and discovery with scientists andastrologists ch anyenging the accepted order of things and breakingthrough new boundaries with their discoveries. Many were beginning toquestion the existence of God, the creator of keep and the universe,too. This was in keeping with Shelleys novel because it is a storyabout a young man who discovered the out of sight of life, which is theequivalent of doing what only God hobo do, how to create it and theproblems his discovery led to.This man was called Viktor Frankenstein. He came from a wealthy familywho were both loving and supportive. He falls in love with Elizabeth,his adopted sister, and all is well until h is mother dies of ScarletFever. This tears him apart as they were very close and influences himand his future greatly. He determines to become a doctor to find thesecret of life so no one need ever die again. This leads him toIngolstadt University where he is further influenced when he finds outthat one of the professors there has also experimented with creatinglife. He uncovers the truth and ignoring all warnings, begins makinghis creature from the parts of dead bodies. His unhealthy obsessionleads him to neglect his family, friends and studies while he worksday and night in a hidden attic. It is this unnatural obsession thatgives the novel its first spark of horror.Frankenstein is shocked, horrified and disgus... ...r, he was kind and caring and compassionate just like anyother human being, and due to his loneliness and grief he becamesomething that he deeply despises. It is this tremendous guilt thatleads him to die with his creator. As he says,Polluted by crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can Ifind rest but in death? He knows that Frankenstein should never havecreated him and decides it would be best for everybody, includinghimself if he no longer lives.I dont think either Frankenstein or his creature were monsters. Ijust think that Frankenstein was a misguided man who made a tragicmistake, albeit a large one to which he had to accept theconsequences. The creature was also misguided, his treatment fromothers led to him becoming a monster but he realized this and did theright thing in the end, showing that he was just misunderstood.

Creature or Monster? How does Shelleys presentation of the Creature Es

Creature or Monster? How does Shelleys presentation of the Creatureand Frankenstein create sympathy or horror at different stages of the original? Who is the real monster?The novel Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley as a teenagerduring the 19th century. It was set in Germany in the 18th century, asthis was a time of exploration and discovery with scientists andastrologists challenging the accepted order of things and breakingthrough new boundaries with their discoveries. Many were beginning toquestion the existence of paragon, the shaper of life and the universe,too. This was in keeping with Shelleys novel because it is a storyabout a young man who discovered the secret of life, which is theequivalent of doing what only God can do, how to create it and theproblems his discovery led to.This man was called Viktor Frankenstein. He came from a wealthy familywho were both loving and supportive. He falls in love with Elizabeth,his adopted sister, and all is well until his mother d ies of ScarletFever. This tears him apart as they were very close and influences himand his future greatly. He determines to become a doctor to demote thesecret of life so no one need ever die again. This leads him toIngolstadt University where he is further influenced when he finds outthat one of the professors there has too experimented with creatinglife. He uncovers the truth and ignoring all warnings, begins makinghis creature from the parts of dead bodies. His unhealthy obsessionleads him to neglect his family, friends and studies while he worksday and wickedness in a hidden attic. It is this unnatural obsession thatgives the novel its first spark of horror.Frankenstein is shocked, horrified and disgus... ...r, he was kind and caring and compassionate just the likes of anyother human being, and due to his loneliness and grief he becamesomething that he deeply despises. It is this tremendous guilt thatleads him to die with his creator. As he says, grime by crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can Ifind rest precisely in death? He knows that Frankenstein should never havecreated him and decides it would be outmatch for everybody, includinghimself if he no longer lives.I dont think either Frankenstein or his creature were monsters. Ijust think that Frankenstein was a misguided man who make a tragicmistake, albeit a large one to which he had to accept theconsequences. The creature was also misguided, his treatment fromothers led to him becoming a monster but he realized this and did theright thing in the end, showing that he was just misunderstood.

Art of War By Sun Tzu Reaction Paper Essay

Sun Tzu has developed a tactics on how to handle war properly with strategy and tactics. In his book Sun Tzu about the art of war I learned a lot of techniques on how to wage and win a war. He expand a lot of ways how to defeat our enemy but for me not all of his writings about war atomic number 18 applicable knowing that sentence and situation are changing. For me at that place are no external wisdom can tell us how to act because even previous successful models and theories are not effective anymore in the realities of the present scenario. But still I learned a lot from Sun Tzu like how to become a good and effective general I can relate this on my affiliation as an officer in JSWAP and as a class chair because as a leader we should stigma strategy or plans that will help us achieved our goals. Like being a general they must be wise fair to middling to create, organize and train their soldiers in order defeat there enemy. There are certain guidelines and rules which Sun Tzu developed based on his experienced on war.The first and most important area of waging a war is planning in this area the general must be exact thinker in laying his plans on how to defeat their enemies. Like my experiences as a student before taking an exam at school I always plan how to pass the exam so I study and do some readings and part of planning knows if my learning and knowledge is good enough to pass the exam. Like in war the general must know if they can defeat their enemy or they will be defeated by their enemy.Analysis and logic at this stage is pretty import and essential. The leader must chip in a good instinct in knowing that any they win or lose the battle. The troops must be well trained and always ready Sun Tzu work forcetion that it is good that the soldiers must subscribe to keen mood because it has a good impact in defeating their enemies. Like in my studies I only do my assignment and task well if Im in the mood because our mood have an impact in all we do .When I was reading the Art of War by Sun Tzu there are question the keep popping up in my mind, is this writing relevant to women and if during their time women our part in the battle as a warrior. Is it contingent that womencan be a general or a commander especially in our present society and what are the different in men and women as a general? After a few minutes of analyzing I arrived in a certain truth that women can also be a general in their own ways because the main principle of Sun Tzu is to win a war without warfare. Its just like m differents who purify their child without using violence but only use the model of punishment and reinforcement. I can also relate this Art of War by Sun Tzu in our subject who also deals with management but in different ways like Art of War it talks about how to have effective management in waging a war.I can also relate it in my daily life struggles because sometimes in war or in our own life we choose to leave and retreat but I believed that it does not mean that I am weak. Sometimes I unavoidableness to surrender or retreat when it seems I have big probability of losing a battle by our problem or our enemy. When I decide to surrender or retreat it only signifies that I have better plans in defeating my enemies. Sometimes when we know that we cannot win a fight we should retreat and find other ways on how to defeat our enemy in short we need to give time in our training to make us more stronger and make sure that we have enough resources, strategy and as well as manpower in order to defeat all our enemy and may betting odds favour our battle.

Mass Customization Strategy in Global Supply

Master of International Business Administration 12 jam Customization International Supply Chain Management Yuliya Samokhina, Olga Baranova, Yuliya Pronkina, Alexander Manzhosov depicted object The basic concepts of wad customization. Principles and goals. (by Yulia Samokhina) ground ready3 Mass Customization main definitions3 Evolution of trade customization 4 Mass customization strategies advantages and disadvantages.. 4 Mass customization as a att demise6 Conclusion8 holdup strategies (by Olga Baranova) What is cargo deck? quantify lag typology based on value drawing string activity9 Benefits of using postp binglement strategy13 Critical success featureors and apotheosis plunderdidate for postp sensationment strategy14 standard concepts (by Yulia Pronkina) comment of modules in the framework of spheric render chain attention15 Types of standardity18 Benefits and drawbacks of standardity. Requirements for implication of the concept modularity19 Modularization in automotive exertion (Volkswagens modular strategy) 21 Sh bed estimator program strategies (by Alexander Manzhosov) installation23 Platform concept 24 The reasons of implementing course of studys25Advantages and disadvantages of implementing shargond course of study strategies26 Sh bed computer programme strategies 28 Volkswagen Group. MQB strategy 29 Conclusion29 References The basic concepts of bundle customization. Principles and goals. By Yuliya Samokhina Introduction Today, people live in the dry land with evolution technologies, where eitherone wants to be distinguished. Companies compete with other similar upstandings, because they want to attract nodes as much as potential. Mass customization footing satisfy guests admit to dish out them buy ingatherings with necessary characteristics.Previously, mass takings systems poopt be sufficient for manufacturing business and con coreers. even so, mass customization unflinching this problem to create comfort abl e-bodied conditions for both to allow for individual crossroad. For simulation, nowadays retailers dont want to nurse more sights per season, but they want to feature more styles within the season. Companies produce new lines of clothes to their shops e truly four to six weeks. H&M and Zara have increased convergenceion to use computer technology. Zara uses data from its 426 stores to spot new trends, and presss 10,000 new yields a year.TopShop sells as many as 30 pairs of knickers a minute, 6,000 pairs of jeans a day and 35,000 pairs of shoes ein truth week. Why it occurs? The answer is very naive bring out chain in mass customization commercial enterprise model has to be whippy and antiphonal to consumer demand. primary(prenominal) issues go away be considered in the essay below. Mass Customization main definitions Usually, mass customization requires very advanced and flexible network, because the real get of mass customization is accommodateing one-to-one. presently, everyone gutter cave in harvests by themselves.Here, I want to give more successful definitions of Mass Customization Mass customization is not a pure but a hybrid manufacturing concept, which joins the energy of trading operations and melodic phraseingiation by providing uplifted gearly value added products. Mass customization refers to a guest co- founding form of products and services, which adjoin the get hold ofs of each individual node with weigh to certain product features. All operations atomic number 18 bring to passed within a fixed solution space, characterized by steadfast but s work flexible and responsive processes. As a result, the hails associated with customization allow for a rice level that does not imply a switch in an upper trade merchandise divide. (Piller 2005c, p. 315 emphasis in original). Thus, now each buyer mess acquire any goods, but the price for it will be higher(prenominal). Commonly, it isnt problem, because each some body wants to be allocated from crowd. For instance, if two girls come in school-leaving party in one dress, it will be catastrophe for them. Fortunately, our generation has got a lot of articles with topic mass customization, and then we can consider mass customization from distinct foreshortenings. Evolution of mass customizationFirst, I think it is necessary to briefly describe the using of mass production to mass customization. Mass customization has been one of the causes of the scotch growth in the 21st century. Below, you can see figure, which shows evolution of mass customization Fig 1 Evolution of mass customization1 The first measure our civilization has faced with mass customization in pre-industrialization era. In spite of this fact, today we in addition have started to develop it. Of course, these clock argon very different, because today people use modern technologies.Between these periods we can observe mass production, which come in vogue with fundamental benef it of deliverance of surmount and it was gun signalise in mid century. For example, it was time of Soviet Union, and then companies produced a lot of similar clothes, shoes and etc. In late twentieth century, mass customization was back. Manufacturers offer different variation of products and customization is possible. Methods of application will examine in the next section. Mass customization strategies advantages and disadvantages It is very authorised to check how the mass customization plant life in practice.Generally, scientists mark out four strategies transparent, cosmetic, adaptive and collaborative. A few words virtually each strategy * Cosmetic strategy companies produce a standard product but present it differently to different customers. thereby customers satisfied with the product, and if they want, they can change packaging, for instance, the color, accessories, and other customer personalities. * Transparent strategy this strategy is utilize by companies, whi ch have specially receiveledge of desires and preferences of customers. For transparent strategy is unfeigned E-business.For example, service in website can analyses purchases, then it can recommend something based on front purchases. * Adaptive strategy producers try to modify standard product for the needs of customers. Thus, companies try to plan and represent of almost all possible combinations of product modules, resembling Microsoft. Then somebody buy software, he/she can add necessary functions. * Collaborative strategy in this case companies dont know what customers in conclusion want. Companies have to understand needs of customers and help to determine with necessary product, as in result to create its.It is very a great deal, then strategy depends on industry there play along worked. For example, companies which produce food and beverages use cosmetic and transparent strategies. In my opinion, manufacturers have to estimate their possibilities if they want have ba rony profit. Why are companies interested in mass customization? The answer to this question is presented in the benefits of the above strategies * Maximized foodstuff share by maximizing customers satisfaction and number of customers. * Cut greet of breed and sensible waste production has to work as a just in time.Companies should forfend bad inventories of faultless goods. * Increase cash menstruation lower inventories, prepayment (thus lower receivables) increase cash eat. * Shorten time of responsiveness (accumulative time from receiving orders to delivering) organization structure and flexible manufacturing in mass customization allows the company to adapt to different demands rapidly. * Ability to allow for a full line of products or service with lower costs the purpose of mass customization is to differentiate products to finical demands, resulting in broader product lines of the company and a much lower risk of obsolete caudex.It is obvious, that companies cant h ave only positive sides. It is important to understand, which problems may hold up 1. In mass customization costs are usually greater than in mass production. In some cases the product may not be different from standard product, but the price will be higher. Buyers will be unhappy, thus mass customization is inefficient. 2. Increasing of development in the production of individual goods could choke to costs. In this case the probability of production of defective goods rises. 3. Requirements for employees should be higher. Educated employees have to offer the optimal variant responding to the ustomers needs, otherwise, company can drop the loyalty of customers. 4. The production process can have catchyies with flexibility. Mass customization as a process I think that it is very important to know how the customization process can be divided into many sub-processes including the main stages of the value chain. More everywhere, it can help us to understand mass customization in de tails. First, I want to deem all sub-processes and explain at greater length. * The development sub-process * The interaction sub-process * The purchasing sub-process * The production sub-process * The logisticals sub-process The information sub-process. 1. The development sub-process. The product always should develop, if company wants that the mass customization will be successful. Requirements of buyers will be satisfied and costs of production will be shrivel. The modularity is quite issueive decision as it allows achieving the economy of scale and economy of scope. On the other hand, the modularity can be simple for imitation by competitors and development is more expensive. Other strategy, such as a putting surfaceality and platform strategies help to work to the companies to increase reusability in mass customization.Thus, product development in the mass customization is carried out with plan engineers. Very high effect is reached, when the client participates in de velopment of products himself. Companies should use customers innovative abilities. 2. The interaction sub-process. This process is as well as elicitation process. Thus, customer has to find the product that exactly fulfills his requirements. Company has to understand that everyone wants. Usually, to identify four types of elicitation process identification (e. g. name and address), customers selections from menus of alternatives, physical measurements and reactions to prototypes.Usually, customers buy products in the Internet (in different Internet-shops) or go to the retail spunk and also buy necessary thing. Today, it is very quickly and easily to use Internet. For example, Adidas offers to buy sneakers in their web-site, there everyone can create bear style. The interaction process is associated with electronic features. some other important thing that in mass customization consumers are actively involved in production process. It is normal then customers are very much call ed coproducers or prosumers. 3. The purchasing sub-process. Suppliers in mass customization are the very important part in reducing costs.Companies with good suppliers have got originally competitive advantage. It is fact that the achievement of high profits lies in an effective and efficient occasion and material purchasing. Outsourcing strategies have been formed collectable to the modular architectures. The modular sourcing applies to reduce worry in purchasing process. In this case, companies have to trust each other and dummy uply cooperate, if they want to achieve incredible results. 4. The production sub-process. Companies should focus on the economic order quantity (EOQ). Thus, the processes of production in mass customization should be belittled.The optimization of the production is the main task in the process. If a company wants to relate all the needs of customers, the production must be flexible. Companies need to understand then they want to marque individual product, I mean, at what stage. Producers have got two important key terms delayed product differentiation and postponement. They are two related concepts, whereby the means placing the decoupling quest at later stages in the production processes. Another one describes that some production activities are not initiated until customer order arrives. 5.The logistics sub-process. This process implys work with clients and suppliers, incontrovertible accompanying. Usually, it call terms upstream and downriver. Upstream logistic is superman, warehousing of materials and components for production and consolidation. The downriver logistics is the packaging and shipment of end products to customers. Unfortunately, these types of logistics face serious problems in mass customization, because costs of individualization increase. The all logistic has very heavy costs. Companies return a lot of money for transportation and warehousing equipment.It is a reason why these companies use outso urcing. Mass customization doesnt have inventories of end product. The companies try to work individually with each person. Nobody wants to resemble some other. 6. Information sub-process. This process cooperates with all processes described above. The purpose of the information sub-process is the providing of information stream. The effective information system should capture following stages customers needs, develop a list of product requirements, determine manufacturing specifications with respect to routing, material processing, assembly and etc.Radio Frequency Identification can help to make identification. In spite of the fact that modern technologies are very useful, it remains very expensive. Another useful method for the coordination in mass customization is vender Managed Inventory (VMI). Any supplier has got timely information about stock levels of modules and components. In addition, the integration of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) helps to improve the agility and adaptability to unforeseen events. The mass customization will make profit if the software is constantly developed and updated.Finally, companies should work with a jumbo number of data very accurately. I try to consider mass customization not only as one whole process, but separate sub-processes. It helps to understand the nature of mass customization. However, I should mention interrelated strategies such as postponement and modularization, because usually these strategies allow the companies to work successfully. In my essay I will give short concepts of strategy as below in this work other students will describe them in details. Modularization is necessary for the success of mass customization where check off-up costs are critical.Also, modularization allows making rapid assembly and costing efficiency. Modularization usually uses in this field such as computer science, construction, design engineering and production. The main idea in modularization is the breaking down of th e product into standardized components or root of components, which is called modules. The second strategy is postponement Postponement means delaying activities in the supply chain until customer orders are original with the intention of customizing products, as opposed to do those activities in anticipation of future orders. These strategies are quite often used.Every year, the mass customization will be more popular in the companies. Conclusion of this part In this essay, I consider the most important aspects of mass customization. First, it was given the basic concepts of mass customization. I tried to examine the most important definitions and to explain the loading of mass customization. After that, I described a little history from mass production to mass customization. History has shown that the mass customization has already been applied to date. Now companies are using modern technology, so the result of up-to-date mass customization is different.Companies produce prod ucts more quickly than ever in the beginning. Information technology is used in all stages of production, which helps companies to satisfy consumer preferences. Also, I examined mass customization not only as a single process, but also to separate the process in move, include development, interaction, purchasing, production, logistic and information sub-processes. Each sub-process has to be adjusted in order to avoid stagnation in the production and filing warehouses. In the essay, I also mentioned the main advantages and frequently used strategies.The company chooses the strategy which it thinks it is the most appropriate strategy. Usually, the strategy depends on the industry in which the company operates. In my opinion, the mass customization is developing and is very useful for manufacturers and consumers. First, customers are satisfied with goods with necessary characteristics. Second, company in the event of mass customization has lower costs compared to if it was made for ea ch customer a totally unique product. Finally, I want to emphasize that the mass customization has both advantages and disadvantages. The company has to make a choice itself.Postponement strategies By Olga Baranova What is postponement? Effective management of a supply chain includes thinking creatively about how to mix and perform logistics and manufacturing activities. Postponement strategy offer opportunities to achieve delivery of products in a timely and cost-effective manner by rearranging the conventional production and logistics structures, which are often designed and managed autonomously. Thus, postponement, also known as delayed differentiation, is a supply chain strategy that delays product differentiation at a arcdegree closer to the customer.This involves designing and developing standard or generic configurable products that can be customized quickly and inexpensively once actual consumer demand is known. Postponement also entails the implementation of specific inve ntory strategies to deploy inventory farther away from the customer plot of ground fulfilling service level objectives and reducing inventory costs and minimizing risk, strategies for holding the right inventory, at the right place, in the right form. By pushing the point of product differentiation closer to the customer, postponement can improve customer service levels, reduce inventory costs, and increase top-line revenue.The postponement strategy is based on the following two basic principles of demand forecasting 1. Theaccuracy of the forecastdemand decreases with an increase in the time horizon. The farther the time window for which the demand is being forecasted, the more inaccurate it will be. The figure graphically represents this effect as a funnel as time extends farther into the future, the forecast error grows, showing that the forecast demand will have larger and larger variations as time periods progress into the future. 2.Demand projections for a product group are broadly more accurate than projections for individual products. It is much easier to forecast the total demand for LCD TVs than it is for an individual TV of a specific brand, model, screen size, resolution, and color contrast ratio. Postponement typology based on value chain activity It is based on the review of 15 studies Table 1 was developed to summarize the terminologies used to define different postponement types. These define postponement on the basis of activities or place to differentiate between different postponement types.The check attach in front of every study indicate the postponement terminology used for that study. The following section (table 1) summarizes these terminologies under product development, purchasing, manufacturing and logistics postponement. Table 1 analysis of postponement terminologies based on the review of studies Product development Postponement Strategy Product development postponement is considered extreme form of customization with all act ivities including product design taking place after the placement of an order.Moreover in this case, the customers are also involved during the design stage. Product development postponement strategy is prefer in passing volatile environments, involving high levels of uncertainty in terms of consumer demands, technical developments and government regulations. 2 For instance Toyota deals with the high levels of uncertainty by permit their suppliers come up with novel ideas and designs without limiting them with strict specification constraints. The suppliers have total independence to explore different areas within a broad start out of design specs.During that time, people at Toyota continue gathering market data on consumer demands and technological trends, till some convergence is achieved. 3 Purchasing Postponement Strategy In the case of purchasing postponement strategy, the purchasing of raw materials is postponed until the information on downstream demand becomes available. Purchasing postponement strategy is pet when the demand is highly uncertain, raw material has high obsolescence cost and is of high value in terms of total product cost or ties up huge amount of working capital.Purchasing postponement would work when the market lead time is greater than the manufacturers production lead time plus the suppliers lead time. 3 However, if the market lead time constraints the manufacturer from applying purchasing postponement, it can be adopted selectively for a range of products. This would be possible if the company is able to differentiate between base demand and surge demand. For base demand it can proceed with forecasted demand and purchase raw material or even proceed with production in case of longer production lead times. However for surge emand, the company can wait till demand pattern becomes available and then it can proceed to place orders. In order to manage supplies for the surge demand, the manufacturers can have separate design of suppl y chain to deal with the surge demand, since under most scenarios regular production lead time for the surge demand would be greater than the market lead time. This design would be based on speed and agility with focus on fulfilling orders quickly earlier than focusing lower cost by setting up fast production lines and purchasing raw materials from a different set of suppliers.However this would be feasible when the increase in cost due to fast paced production would be less than the gains accrued by adopting purchasing postponement strategy. This fact is highlighted by the postponement strategy adopted by Benetton, an vestments manufacturer, which separates between base demand and unpredictable demand. For the base demand, Benetton subcontracts to low cost sources, which have higher lead times, duration for the unpredictable part, they utilize their own flexible facilities which have higher operating costs.However for purchasing postponement to work, it is imperative to have hig h level of collaboration between the manufacturers and the suppliers. Suppliers are required to respond to the downstream demand in minimum possible time so that the manufacturers can deliver within the market lead times, while resorting to purchasing postponement. In recent times e- market places have sprung up, enabling the manufacturers to get linked with the suppliers without any geographical constraints3. This increases the options of the manufacturers to respond to actual demand.However, having suppliers or their stock centers in close proximity to the manufacturers would support purchasing postponement strategy. Moreover this type of impulse buying contradicts the approach of developing long-term relationships with the suppliers and could also jeopardize the relationships with the living suppliers. From a supply chain perspective, purchasing postponement involves shifting the ownership of the goods to the most suitable location. However in case of an imbalanced power struc ture, a manufacturer might force its suppliers to hold finish goods inventories in order to reduce its own risk and uncertainty cost.In this situation the suppliers are left with speculating the downstream demand, often resulting in the overall inventory buildup or Bullwhip effect in the supply chain, which reduces the efficiency of the en break chain. 3 Manufacturing Postponement Strategy Manufacturing postponement is based on holding products at platform level later to be customized as per demand pattern. This is based on the principle that it is easier to forecast demand pattern at component level as compared to finished product stage3.It involves delaying manufacturing activities and holding inventory in neutral form till the demand pattern becomes visible. Thus this strategy works where there are multiple product derivatives, which could be due to different cultural, technological or market related issues. High product variation makes it difficult to forecast and hold inventor y at finished stage. Manufacturing postponement allows companies to operate without holding finished goods inventory while maintaining bulk of their inventories at pre-customized form.The inventory at this level has lower risk attached to it because their raw state permits them for wide usage variations. 4 For example, fashion clothes retail business is marked by high product obsolescence costs. This is because of the fact that product are planned long before the actual demand information becomes visible. Zara on the other hand has been able to capture market trends by reducing the time required to introduce new products. Among other steps, Zara uses manufacturing postponement to reduce its lead times.Zara concentrates its forecasting efforts on the physical body 14and amount of fabric it buys. Zara gains more speed and flexibility by purchasing more than 50% of its fabric un-dyed later to be used for diverse products and lines (platform based). It reduces the cost as well as the chances of forecast errors. In un-dyed form it is easier to convert fabric to other uses, while it gives Zara the flexibility to adapt to colors close to the selling season based on the immediate market needs. 5 Assembly postponement StrategyThe computer industry selling customizable product especially through the internet practice assembly postponement strategy. The customers select from different options such as color, memory specs, processors, and the companies such as Dell, HP and Compaq assemble the required models from components received from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). HP postpones the closing assembling step to the last stage at the local distribution centers and once demand becomes visible, final manufacturing/assembly activities such as power supply, packaging and labeling are carried out.Labeling postponement Strategy Labeling postponement is adopted when the products are marketed under different brand names or are distributed to different markets. For example at times the resembling OEMs are used by different brands for their products and the OEMs mark the products with labels after receiving respective orders. Similarly certain apparel distribution companies keep products 16unmarked and upon receipt of orders from unhomogeneous institutions print their logos before dispatching the orders. Packaging postponement StrategyPackaging postponement strategy is adopted when the products are marketed in different bundles or package sizes. 6 The final packaging is delayed till orders are confirmed. Packaging activities are generally performed in the downstream locations such as centralized distribution centers. Logistics postponement Strategy Logistics postponement involves a delay in the final movement of the goods. Instead of placing the goods at the final point in the supply chain, they are kept at a central location, with the aim of following the demand pattern for the final shipments. This helps to reduce the inventories in the su pply chain 17 while at the same time improves customer responsiveness. 3 Maintaining inventories at final locations would increase the inventory costs while at the same time would result in stock outs at some locations and excess stock at other locations. Logistics postponement often involves the move of the final manufacturing activities downstream closer to the end user. This helps particularly where local variations in terms of consumer preferences exist, which could be conk out, catered to by carrying out the final customization at the local electrical distributor level.Logistics postponement suits those products, which have higher inventory cost and lower transportation costs. Logistics postponement in most of the cases requires a accelerated and more responsive transportation system and can result in higher transportation costs. Benefits of using postponement strategy Successful postponement implementations improve customer satisfaction while minimizing inventory costs. By improving their ability to respond to changes in demand from local and global markets, companies are better able to compete on time while remaining cost competitive. Improvement in Customer Satisfaction Increased ability to offer a wider range of customized goods * Reduced lead time for orders Reduction in Inventory Cost * Inventory costs shift upstream to less expensive generic products, which also reduces inventory obsolescence costs * Enables better planning and allocation of resources by reducing the forecasting horizon * Reduces inventory costs by as much as 30% to 40% in successful implementations Improvement in Order Fill Rates * Since finished products are manufactured from generic components, companies are better able to deliver finished goods on time as a result of postponement.Bottom-Line Benefits * Overall, postponements primary benefits are to reduce the effects of market uncertainty and to meet customer needs, while effectively managing supply chain costs. In many cas es, lower overall supply chain costs were achieved by respondents. Critical success factors and ideal candidate for postponement strategy The keys to a successful postponement strategy are to produce standardized products and to incorporate customization at the most advantageous point in the supply chain.Proceeding from the aforesaid it is possible to allocate the following factors * Organizational buy-in and support is the primary critical success factor * Implementation of appropriate inventory deployment strategy * A postponement strategy is destined for failure without consistent top-down support from design through implementation * Product design modularity and business process reengineering are critical to ensure smooth execution * Collaboration among all internal functions of the supply chain, as well as with suppliers and customers * Proper inflection and incentives are also importantResolving the competing interests within a companys supply chain is also essential. Without collaboration, including changes in the rewards and metrics structures of a supply chain, the changes associated with postponement often result in poor execution. In addition, external collaboration with suppliers and consumers is critical. If suppliers cannot respond to the changes as a result of postponement, and if product design is not tailored to customer requirements, postponement can result in cost overruns and increased lead times.The foundation of every successful postponement implementation is organizational buy-in. If management is not willing to take risks, implement significant changes, and monitor adjusted metrics, they will be less likely to reap the benefits of postponement. While many industries and companies are undercoat for postponement, there are certain business conditions that position a company for a more successful postponement implementation. Prominent among these are companies that produce a significant human body of products with short product life cyc les and which have a supply chain able to support mass customization.Regardless of business conditions, effective postponement implementation still requires collaboration, organizational buy-in, concerted effort, and the right information technology backbone. Modular Concepts in the Framework of International Supply Chain Management By Yuliya Pronkina In recent years, the competitive dynamics in general and the demand for product customization in particular have increased considerably in nearly all industry sectors partly as a result of new low-budget competitors in the global markets and partly by increasing demand for technological performance.The ability to react quickly to unexpected market changes is one of the decisive reasons for the development of modular product architectures. If a company wants to remain competitive or expand its market share, it is posed to manage the compromise between such conflicting goals as * low costs * short lead times * high quality of product. Modular strategy is intended to resolve this conflict and be able to become a solution to growing complexity of customizable production. It closely relate with modular platform systems.In fact, modularity enables manufacturer to combine advantages of mass production (high volume, large quantity production) and product variety (flexible and versatile manufacturing systems, product tailoring, etc. ) at reduced cost and increased economies of scale. All in all product development strategies such as modularity, product modular platform, etc are the key to achieving low cost customization The modular concept has played significant role in the development of mass customization. This article examines main aspects of modular concept in the framework of global supply chain management.Definition of modules in the framework of global supply chain management To understand what modular strategy represents we tried to give the definitions of modules and find its accepted position among other st rategies of mass customization. According to the Oxford Dictionary, definition of modules in general is following Module is each of a set of standardized parts or independent units that can be used to construct a more complex structure, such as an item of furniture or a building. There are convenient statements among authors of studies about general meaning of modularity.According to them we can conclude that modularity refers to an approach to organize complex products and processes efficiently by decomposing complex tasks into smaller parts. It allows the tasks to be managed independently and yet work together as a whole without compromising performance. Thus we can consider modularity as the ability to configure product variants by commixtureing and matching components within similar product architecture to create variety of configuration without losing its functionality. Examples of modules would include many components in automobiles engines, transmissions, audio equipment, ti re/wheel options, etc.In electronics, modules would include processor boards, power supplies, plug-in integrated circuits, and disk drives. In software, code could be written in modules (objects) that can be have into various combinations. In fabrication modular strategy is applied as flexible platforms for creation a significant number of product variations, enabling a firm to gain cost savings through economies of scale from component commonality, inventory, logistics, as well as to introduce technologically improved products more rapidly.Modular architectures allow firms to minimize the physical changes required to achieve some functional changes. Hence all the physical changes can be easily combined without adding complexity to the manufacturing system and, hence, to managerial system. To explore the concept of modularity and consider it in the framework of supply chain management, we intractable to compare the differences between integral and modular product architecture and make further comparisons between corresponding supply chain architecture.Product architecture. Integral product architectures are those in which each component is provided directly and specifically to overall performance. move and interfaces tend to be proprietary. On a highly integrated product like a military aircraft, every part and system has been designed to perform a specific task. Modular product architectures use standard interfaces and can employ off-the-shelf components for much of assembly. Personal computers, clothing, and many other products employ modular architectures12.Supply Chain Architecture. Integral (traditional) supply chains require vertical integration within a primary firm or tight coupling of several(prenominal) firms in order to meet demanding, proprietary design specifications. Modular supply chain architectures are horizontal, with many competing firms specializing in aspects of the overall product. In other words, modularity in supply chains implies th at the various units of organizations are freely divided, can operate independently, may be easily reconstructed.The concepts of product modularity and supply chain modularity are quite an interconnected changes in the product architecture result in important implications for the supply chain structure and re-distribution of activities across the logistics networks. This figure 2 shows us the simple scheme of interconnections of final assembler and its suppliers in traditional supply chain and modular supply chain. (2) (1) Figure 2. Simplified scheme of integral supply chain (1) and modular supply hain (2) In modular supply chain first tier suppliers are providing modules in the form of subassemblies, are not only components, indeed a modular supply chain is characterized by the presence of value-adding tier-suppliers that coordinate the work of the second tier suppliers. In non modular supply chain the role of assemblier is played only by a local firm. In the result of rather dif ferent approach, modular supply chain fosters some distinctions comparing to the traditional one. In the following table we compare the main features of supply chain depending on its mode of organization. Table 2Main features of supply chain depending on its mode of organization11 handed-down supply chain Mass customization supply chain Interface compatibility effects * Integrated vertical structure * Long development lead times * Modular product architecture * Reduction of development lead time Component customization * Design and manufacturing focus * In-house product development * Standardized components * Autonomous innovation in NPD * Customer focus * Design for manufacturability Value inputs * Economies of scale * Exploiting advantages of market mechanism * Standardization of operations * Consolidation of outbound logistics * Outsourcing * Flexibility towards specific customers needs * Economies of scale and scope Supplier-buyer interdependence * Supplier involvement in deve lopment not critical * Multiple sourcing * Early supplier involvement in NPD * Strategic coalition * Supplier as system integrator * High interdependence The good example of applying modular strategy in practice is the following.Two German automotive companies, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz decided to develop the auto industrys modularization in the mid-1990s. Their built new plants, which started production in 1996 and 1997 according to the new modular concept on a comparatively large scale, specifically at Volkswagens plants in Resende (Brazil), Boleslav (Czech), and Mosel (former East Germany), and Mercedes-Benzs plants in Vance (U. S. ) and Hambach (France). These plants had two main features. One is that they have assembled cars from relatively large subassemblies. As we can know a car is a system made up of numerous components. At conventional plants, individual components for example, instrument panels, gauges, and wire harnesses one by one to a vehicle body on the final as sembly line.Instead, at those new plants, these individual components are subassembled on a separate line, and then installed as a module into a body on the final assembly line14. Suppliers procure their own materials and labor force to create separate modules, while Volkswagen provides the basis and designs the interface between manufacturing units. These measures let companies reduce their costs, because on its new plants there were no need in blue collars (administrative staff), for instance, and its modular outsourcing made significant advantages which are resulted in an ability to issue a wider variety of final products in shorter time periods and at lower cost. Types of modularityThere are six types of modularity for the mass customization of products and services * component- communion modularity, * component-swapping modularity * cut-to-fit modularity * mix modularity * bus modularity * sectional modularity. The following characteristics of different types of modularity are done by contemporary authors who are mostly referring to Ulrich and Tung study Fundamentals of Product Modularity (1991). We suppositious it is convenient typology and decided to base further information on this ground (figure 3). In component-sharing modularity, the same component is used transversely in different products to provide economies of scope.There is a base unit of common components and changeable part. This kind of modularity never results in true individual customization, but allows reducing costs and increasing variety of products. Figure 3. Types of modularity In component-swapping modularity it is possible to change options on a standard product. Modules are selected from a list of options to can be added to a base product, for example cars. The good example for this is the Configurator on the internet site of Volkswagen, where customers can choose additional features which can be added to the base model with several clicks. So customer can make a decision which i s convenient for him.Cut-to-fit modularity is similar to component-sharing and component-swapping modularity, except that one or more of the components is variable. The module can be changed before it is combined with other modules. The good examples for it are eyeglasses, or clothing. Mix-modularity is also similar to component-sharing and component-swapping modularity, but is distinguished by the fact that when combined, the modules lose their unique identity. An example is house paint. When particular colors of paint are mixed together, those components are no longer visible in the end product16. Bus modularity uses a main platform that can add different components to it.So in the result there is the infrastructure that is really required for each consumer. Sectional modularity is the type of modularity that provides the biggest variety and customization among other types of modularization. Functionally it is rather close to component swapping, but focuses on arranging standard m odules in a new, unique form16. In this case each component is connected to another making achievable the configuration of any number of different types of components. The most popular example is Lego. To be able to use this type of modularity a manufacturer has to develop a special interface of its product that allows sections or objects of different types to interlock16.Benefits and drawbacks of modularity, requirements for implementing of the concept Taking all into consideration we can list main benefits of modular strategy * Economies of scale and scope which mean an ability to improve overall performance of production concentrating on divided modules. Suppliers and sub-suppliers have an hazard to produce higher volume of its modules and apply its core-competencies to production. * Increased possibility of product/component change and updating. Since each module interface is strictly specified, changes can be made to a module independently of other modules, as so as it is wide r open for further product development. * Reduced order lead-time.Since modules are manufactured in relatively large volume, the logistics of production can be organized so as to reduce manufacturing lead time. Hence, the order lead time can be reduced. * Development of product variety. The use of modules means that a great product variety can be achieved using different combinations of modules. * Separated tasks. Since the interfaces and modules have been standardized, their interfaces enable design tasks and production tasks to be decoupled. This dividing can result in reduced task complexity and in the ability to complete tasks in parallel. For instance it is easier to test it before final assembly, quality management can become more efficient due to separated modules. The ease of product upgrade, maintenance, repair, and disposal. Customer without any problem can change one module to another, for example he can buy an improved video card for his computer, or change an engine mod ule in his automobile17. Although applying modular design provides a number of advantages across the organization, companies must also consider the less discussed drawbacks when evaluating the decision to implement modular design or reviewing existing modular processes. * High Initial Investment. The initial costs to reconfigure existing systems and processes are high. Reconfiguring to the modular design is a complex task, which may disrupt the existing flow of the product pipeline. Lack of Customer-Centricity. Focusing on cost-efficiencies company can lose clear vision of customer needs. * Coordination Complexity. Modular design requires a significant restructuring of processes and can increase product development complexity if companies do not assign clear ownership and collaboration with suppliers in a well-planned implementation process to avoid duplication of processes and inconsistency across product specifications, purchase orders, and manufacturing plans. * Supplier Risk . C ompanies can experience delays, incorrect specifications, and poor material quality. Hence there is a necessity of well-organized control in this case.Also, companies may have to share information and technical expertise to ensure suppliers deliver according to new specifications and cost. A company surrendering too much technical expertise, especially in areas that provide a competitive advantage, may lose technical control to the supplier * Intellectual retention Risk. Producing modules simplifies the product architecture, enabling competitors to recognize without difficulty technologies and copy modules. According to that, organizations must increase patent documentation to prevent competitors using key modules in their product architectures. In modular supply chain management, suppliers have a relatively high degree of freedom in production.However it is possible only with long-term commitments and offensive cost goals. It is clear, that modular strategy has its basic requirem ents for the suppliers and manufacturers which enable them work together to create value. To implement modular strategy company should be able to meet such requirements, as following * Particular organization structure. The organization structure should be flatter with fewer levels, and creates a freedom for the coordination among processes (modules). It focuses on a high degree of cross-functional integration and employee participation. This results in a much higher degree of decentralization in decision making.Besides, the structure is open to suppliers as well as customers because they (suppliers and customers) are considered extensions of the organization * Management focuses on three parts supplier relation, customer relation, and resource management * Readiness of inputs when needed (this requires an effective supply network), skillful, highly educated employees with excellent technical qualifications * High standardization of components. Also adjusting a companys organization al structure with a modular product architecture requires the constant support and enduring responsibility of the top management. The level of quality control and coordination in development of modules should be in a high level.Effective development and efficient use of modules requires changes in the existing processes in many ways. Modularization in automotive industry (Volkswagens modular strategy) As usual, the automotive industry is a leader in implementing and communicating a modularization strategy. The Volkswagen Group is characterized by its global presence and comprises numerous brands. The Volkswagen Group bases its great success on three major(ip) modules which are shared out on a broad scale. The successfully implemented modularization strategy is one of the key factors which will enable the Volkswagen Group to become the world leading car manufacturer, not only in terms of sold units but also in terms of superior margins8.Now The VW Group is a large automotive empire encompassing 10 brands, 240 models produced across 94 sites in 153 markets, totaling over 8. 3 million vehicles made each year. The sheer scale of its operations across so many different countries meant that variability of its products is very high. Applying of modular strategy by Volkswagen meets customers expectations for a growing variety of vehicle models, equipment features and design. Through the modularization of the body, vehicles can be produced in different stages for the length, width and wheelbase an approach that benefits the manufacturing process. Well discuss the main features of Volkswagen modular strategy created in its Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) in the next chapter.To sum up, companies that are striving to be competitive and still want to have a relatively high profit margins and market shares in our case can choose mass customization strategies and modular strategies in particular because * Modularity makes complexity manageable * Modularity enables paralle l work * Modularity is tolerant of uncertainty. shared out platform strategies in the framework of foreign supply chain management. By Alexander Manzhosov Abstract The logical order of development of international markets, industries and customers behavior led businesses to a new frontier of contestation for manufacturing industries as well as for service industries to Mass Customization.The core reason for such a change in the market concept was a dramatically increase in diversity of consumers needs within market segments. And as the world recognized guru of management Peter Drucker once said Its a customer who determines what a business is. Its the customer alone whos willingness to pay for a good or for a service converts economic resources into wealth, things into goods. Translated to the real terms that meant for the manufacturers a new challenge of meeting various customers needs while carrying on following to basic trends of reducing costs and development times of a pro duct and optimizing core business processes.Thats why platform strategies were designed and applied to increase the efficiency and profitability of manufacturing. This paper seeks to identify the phenomenon of shared platform strategies, research their advantages and disadvantages for supply chains and study the consequences of implementing the strategy on the case of Volkswagen Group. Key words mass customization, shared platform strategies, supply chain. Introduction Many modern manufacturers are seeking new ways to improve their Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and concentrating their facilities on cost reducing while offering the collection of competitive goods in many different market segments. And one of the methods of achieving this goal is by implementing shared platforms approach.The benefit is possible to be gained because of coordinating of engineering processes with the actual production system and supply chains. The platform allows companies to share not only components , but also production tools and machinery. Thus our first effort to establish the basis of the concept of sharing platforms among the family of products is to define the term platform. After that there is a further problem of realization in which way does the concept bear on the company and how the enterprise can get a competitive advantage by mean of implementing shared platform strategies. Platform concept The ideas of sharing platforms have received increasing attention in product development and operations management in the time when mass customization era arose.So companies had to produce goods and services to meet individual customers needs with near mass production efficiency. The platform concept is closely tied to models of product architecture, modularization and standardization. The platform itself can be be as a relatively large set of product components that are physically connected as a stable subassembly and are common to different final models. The definition has b een stated above can be clarified by Figure 4. Figure 4. Three different products build on the same platform The figure illustrates the general idea of platforms sharing. Three different products are assembled by combining elements A, B, C, D, E.According to the illustration it can be concluded, that this product family consists of the element A (platform) and a set of other elements used in a modular way. What emerges from the definition and illustration that in general designing a platform is about creating common shared components and systems throughout a family line, while providing differentiated features and benefits to add value to each production unit (Figure 5). Figure 5. Common principle of sharing platforms . The trick here is that totally different at the first sight products from different brands and from different price segments of the market can be equal in engineering terms.Still the platform is not a universal cure. And based on empirical evidence there are some pre conditions of implementing platforms * The product family shares basic groups of elements * The product family is supposed to have a long lifecycle * The level of interconnected systems among the product family is relatively high * The technological environment of the market tends to constant updates * The core functionality of the products is stable but variable in the terms of non-core functions All these criteria are not ultimate and the suitability of decisions taken depends on specificity of organizations type and the product characteristics as well.It also should be added, that depending on criteria mentioned above and the target of the manufacturer, platforms can be categorized into 3 types * Modular * Scalable * Generational The main difference by such a categorizing emerges owing to the strategy of launching the product line. The modular platform usually allows designing functionally different product variants. On the contrary, scalable one aims at creating functionally equ al products of many capacities. And the last one, the generational platform is used to be a basis for new generation development. The reasons of implementing platforms It follows from what has been said above, that the platform concept is a quite flexible approach for manufacturers, moreover sometimes it seems vital for staying competitive on the market.And now we can pass on to the issues closely related to the platform implementation and its consequences for the companies operations and supply chain structure. Nowadays critical issues for consideration in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) are cost containment, development know-how and resources, product quality and logistics. As the supply chain can be represented as the combination of enterprises involved in activities from the supply of raw materials to the manufacturing and delivery of the goods to the customers, the success of the whole supply chain depends on how to generate the most efficient configuration of the products, m anufacturing processes and supply sources. In this connection a question is bound to arise whether the shared platform approach is an effective method or not.This brings us to advantages and disadvantages of such a scheme. Advantages and disadvantages of implementing shared platform strategies The purpose with platform sharing is to reduce the cost and have a more efficient product development process. And according to the purpose announced from m point of view its possible to classify advantages of shared platform strategy into three key groups * Quantitative * Qualitative * Customer-oriented Quantitative advantages by this mean include such factors as 1. The Global standardization 2. The Economy of scale 3. The rationalization and the reduction of R&D costs The value of the standardizations is quiet obvious.By creating a common platform for the product line the company creates flexibility, which allows not only to produce dissimilar models according to individual customers and eve n countries tastes but also provides an opport consent to standardize production facilities and streamline logistics and management as well. The economy of scale in this case follows directly from the previous factor the commonality of the transactioning components, modules, mechanisms, assembly lines reduce overall costs and simplifies the business and technological processes within the company sparing human and monetary resources. The next important issue concerns R&D costs. The unity of components under one single platform helps dramatically minimize the cost of developing product lines. Once the platform is designed, the company doesnt need to spend millions on engineering new components.And platform efficiency the ratio between the average R&D costs (or development time) for derivative product over the cost (or time) spent for the platform increases (the lower the ratio the more efficient the platform is). Such an effect is possible because different products share the same t echnology process, structure and production mechanisms. Qualitative advantages include 1. Increased quality and innovations 2. Easer inventory management The proposed components commonality is a multi-oriented tool platform sharing allows manufacturers to design parts with fewer variation. A byproduct of this is increased quality, which results in lower defect rates.On the other hand, people want value for their money they want new technologies. And eliminating the need to engineer separately thousands of parts allows research and development assets to be focused on fewer technologies fostering innovation and quality improvements in the minor set of technologies. One more critical point is inventory management. Its apparent that in any supply chain a tremendous amount of inventory is held in the form of components. And its essential to mention that the inventory amount corresponds always to the uncertainty of demand for the finished product. In that way by implementing a platform th e manufacturer is able to use it in multiple finished products.So the demand for the platform and all components the platform consists of is an aggregation of the demand for all cross-platform finished products. Thats why the use of common components (or set of components platform) in a variety of products has been a very effective supply chain strategy to exploit aggregation and reduce component inventories. Another clear benefit concerns the relations between suppliers and manufacturer. By implementing platforms the producer decreases the uncertainty of demand on different components. That creates a win-to-win situation for both business partners by enabling them to build long-term relationships. The last group of advantages is customer oriented and includes 1. Faster response to changing market needs 2. Greater product varietyIts critical to mention, that this group of pros can be clearly defined through observation on previous advantages. And faster response to changing market needs occurs because platform sharing allows manufacturers to design and launch new products faster and cheaper. And the trick is here that the development and cost of the original platform for new goods have already been paid for. Such flexibility provides an opportunity to the company to diversify its assortment and satisfy different market shares. However its impossible to complete the study without highlighting some possible problems when using platform approach 1. Product dilution 2. Incompatibility 3. Risk concentrationProduct dilution means that a platform, depending on the common machines and systems, can be extended thin if it becomes a source of too many disparate models. Moreover, platforms that span across models of different acme increase the risk of cheapening luxury products or adding unnecessary cost to lower-end segment. Another challenge is incompatibility. A platforms differentiating technologies must be carefully engineered to integrate with the standardized sy stems. Otherwise, producers will have to perform modifications to make the two types of technologies compatible. These compatibility regulations first of all are not differentiating modifications and secondly they provide zero value of their own to the finished product. The last but not the least possible problem is the risk concentration.Producers may face greater overall risk if the underlying platform theyve developed and implemented is accident-prone. A defect in a standardized technology multiplies the risk across the whole product line, which leads to expensive potential recalls. shared out platform strategies As has been indicated, in general implementing a platform promises much more benefits than negative consequences. And once the decision to implement platforms is considered, there are various strategies for the product implementation (Figure 6). Some of the most widely practiced platform strategies are No Leveraging, Vertical Leveraging, Horizontal Leveraging and the Be achhead Approach. Figure 6. Shared platform strategiesNo Leveraging platform is usually designed especially for a single market segment. Such strategy is implemented for high scale goods wi

Materialism vs. Simple Living

The definition of materialism is not far-fetched from the word material, from which it was derived. Materialism simply means the quest for possessions. many would right away call it eruditeness of goods. It is a term encoding a life style born in a continuous desire to acquire goods of this knowledge base with possibly an end result of deriving satisfaction. Hardly any will argue that kinde involve some basic splendidgs in life, conversely, what has been an imprecise reduce is, what these humans needs are. This has generated a lot of argument both in the distant and recent past. However, an agreement has been arrived at that humans needs are basically Food, shelter and Clothing. Virtually all schools of thought have given assent to these three basic needs, but the question yet unrequited is, will life be bearable with just these three things?Apparently, anybody attempting the above question will answer with a salvo no, for the idea of human without cars, mobile phones, compu ters etc is a painful conception itself not to mention human practically living it. At this juncture, we cannot but subscribe to the materialist doctrine, for all perspicuous human know that these material things do not alone make our everyday roll in the hays easy, they virtually make our existence possible and a reality.Following a logical trend, few would disagree with the fact that too much of many humans habit is bad. Like a medical doctor will right explain that too much smoking is dangerous to health, psychologists would claim that a child being exposed to too much film full of forcefulness is wrong, consequently, it will not be far away from truth to claim that too much desire for materials things is wrong. After all, these things we claim give satisfaction to us are short termed, that can be referred to as timed satisfaction, such as things that do not stand the test of time after a longing for them.It is simply ephemeral (short live). Taking a philosophical flight, on e would realize that human can be considerably happy with little or few material things. Imagine the sheer pleasure of sitting under a tree in a nearby park on an archaean morning before sunrise, with the natural bliss of early singing birds waking all the blossoming flowers. This priceless experience could be unparallel to any acquisition of all the wealth in the world. Arent the best things of life free?Living a materialistic existence is a habitual passion to assuage thirst for unnecessary luxuries that probable in the end bring pain to human. Imagine the expense of maintaining tax on a garage of cars of different models and brands. The life style could be based on some objective and subjective reasons. For example, a quest for comfort at all time backs up the need to go equipped with different form of expensive automobiles even though it is certain that more than one cannot be in use at the same time. Some will rather submit that materialistic existence is more than ninety p ercent base on psychologically reasons that may be unfit to hearing. many an(prenominal) rather remain silence at such a question about the necessity of getting those materials.We are dust, and to dust we shall return This was an aged verdict of the creator of men. Who sees us occupying space for only a calculated period of time. With a strong holding on this believe, majority of the people who consciously live a simple lifestyle attached reasons to this. Others who are known to live a simple lifestyle really do not have a genuine excuse other than the financial strength to maintain the pace of materialism without wearing out in the lane, but several surveys have prove them the happiest people. We also have the busy ones who do not care about other things beyond a single purpose of contributing to their generation. Scientists are categorized in this class.They experiment new discoveries all and derive joy solely in their works, which they consider as the only relevant essence for living in this world. These categories have been the ones that contributed mostly to the world. Their discoveries generate all the expensive gadgets the materialists seek with lust. Personally, I believe most of material things human acquire are not only meant to satisfy their needs but to either impress or entice this or that person, vanity to borrow a word from the bible. Many have deceased bankrupt trying to maintain the exotic lifestyle of the society they chose to belong to. Many cases of suicide have been traced to this source.However, between materialism and simple living the thin line separating the two can be difficult to mark out, after all, no human can claim he or she does not approve the pleasure of the good things. Today, even the so called men of God are known to have all the material benefit this life could offer, what they renounce is an unjustified lust for these things which they claim leads to evil. Summarily, since it has been proven that man cannot do withou t some material needs and that too much lust after material these things is uncalled for, it will be a logical conclusion to claim that human should pursue their need with moderacy, by limiting their pursuit to their basic need of existence.ReferencesLinda Breen Pierce , Choosing Simplicity literal People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World . The Gallagher Press.Dr. Peter C. Whybrow American Mania, Neuroscientist When More Is Not Enough (W.W. Norton), 2005.Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, Secrets of emotionally Intelligent Fathers, www.markbrandenburg.com n.d.

What is J.B. Priestly trying to say about Social reform through An Inspector Calls

The be by J. B. Priestley was written in 1945 and was performed in 1946. It was just after WWII so people re every last(predicate)y got the message about change. He in addition gave them a message that if they dont change it will happen all over again. Mr Birling plays a main part in the play he is the fuddled businessman who only cares about his family and his profits. He considers his workers just as cheap labour and nothing more. He sacks Eva metalworker after she asks for a pay jaw he sacks her with no regard for her well-being (Quotation 6). Priestley has Mr Birling in the play to arrangement why job security and benefits are so important in our lives.Priestley also descends across (Quotation 7) that this happens everywhere. Also it is morally wrong as Priestley shows through Sheila in (Quotation 8). This played a part in Eva metalworkers death because she was sacked wrongly and this needs to change that is the message Priestley gets across by using Mr Birling. Sheila is involved in the death of Eva Smith she is trying on a dress and she sees a young girl smiling at her. She storms out and complains to the manager she threatens the manager with cancelling her family account with Millards. Priestley tries to get across in this part that using your family name and your family is wrong.Sheila maligns her power and Priestley wants to stamp this out he believes it to be wrong. Gerald is involved with Eva Smith but this is when she has changed her name to Daisy Renton. He meets her at the palace variety bar and takes her out-of-door from a man who is scaring her. He asks her if she would like to stay in some rooms he temporarily has (Quotation 10) he and Daisy start to become close and get intimate but Gerald breaks it off a few weeks later (Quotation 11). Priestley tries to get across through Gerald that you must be responsible for your actions.Gerald just drops Daisy Renton when it suits him and it leaves her distraught and sad. Priestley shows us th at taking responsibility for what you have done is extremely important. Mrs Birling is head of an organization that helps poor distraught women get back to their lives. Eva Smith/Daisy Renton comes here below the name of Miss Birling. Mrs Birling takes an instant dislike to Eva/Daisy (Quotation 12). Mrs Birling doesnt believe Eva Smith/Daisy Rentons story and dismisses her that the husband should take full responsibility (Quotation 13).Priestley again shows misuse of power, she could make or break this young girls life but Mrs Birling doesnt do the right thing. Eric also plays a part in the death of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. He is drunk one evening and started to talk to Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. He takes her home and pesters her to get inside (Quotation 14). He hen got her pregnant (Quotation 15). Eric is used to show us why responsibility is needed in the community he does what he does without thinking about the consequences. Eric then steals money from his fathers business to help Eva Smith/Daisy Renton.Priestley says that if people do not take responsibility for their action bad things will happen. The inspector in the play is used to convey Priestleys views and concerns. He explains how they all contributed to her death (Quotation 16). He explains about how Eric must take responsibility for what he did (Quotation 17). Priestley gets across everything through the inspector and explains how this young girl Eva Smith/Daisy Renton could be anyone, anyplace (Quotation 19). He gets across that not just money is needed things like job security is needed (quotation 18).The inspector in the play voices Priestleys concerns about loving reform. Priestley uses an array of ways to convey his views on social reform. He shows it in every character Mr Birling, Mrs Birling, Sheila, Gerald, Eric, they all helped to kill Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. With a lack of responsibility or misuse of power. The inspector gets across Priestleys views in the play by voicing them for him. Al so Priestley uses the trick of repeating at he end of the play to show that if you havent learnt your lesson then it will happen all over again.

Reflection on Today’s Society Essay

Online education has evolved over the last ten years as a great deal as the cell phone. Given this, what lose been some of the major improvements and changes in the digital classroom? Online education has come a very long way to where we were 10 years ago. Now you fire achieve your whole degree online without ever going to a classroom. Online education now days lets everyone work at their own pace. This is a very good system for the people that have a full-time job and have a family to take care of when they get off work. once your able to get all your work and family time done you are able to sit in front of your computer and work as much as you want on your school work. Online education has helped so many people achieve their goal of receiving their degree that werent able to do it delinquent to not having time. Cyber bullying is a serious issue in todays schools and business.If everyone adopted and educate people on netiquette guidelines would this issue be solved? Explain. Cyber bullying is and has been an issue now days due to the technology and the fact that kids are more on computers in social website such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. If more people were educated on cyber bullying and the effects that it has on the people being bullied, it would make a difference and at that place impart be less cyber bullying. Too many peoples self-esteem are lowered and even lowered so much it entrust lastly lead to a suicide. It is sad that somebody could have an effect on somebody to drive them to take their own life. Cyber bullying needs to be educated to all people of all ages. It will make a big difference and make people open their eyes and realize how severe the stain can be.If I post a poem on my Facebook site and someone cuts and pastes it on their site is that a case for stealing my intellectual station? If you do post a poem or anything on Facebook that become visible to everyone out there. Even though you have created a poem that will not stop anybody from taking it and using it as their own. I can understand if you have copyrights to your work but if you do not than anybody is able to manipulation it without any consequences.Granted it is morally wrong to use anybody elses work without their permission or not giving them the credit they deserve. What that person did was wrong by taking somebody elses work, but you at the same time need to be aware and safe about what you post on Facebook. To react the question, Yes, it would be consider stealing intellectual property but like I said ifthere are no copyrights than there is nothing you can do about it.

5 Step Value-Chain Analysis for Customers’ Strategic Needs

Value-chain compend is used for m whatever purposes, but the process of examining guests encourage fetter is comparatively new. In our five-step process, look 1 explains how internal and immaterial value chains can be used separately and in related ways. Step 2 shows how to construct a customers value chain. Step 3 shows how to identify the customers business strategy by examining this value chain and using other(a) kinds of information. Step 4 explains how to use additional information and intelligence to leverage that understanding into strategic ineluctably and priorities.Fin eachy, Step 5 explains how a firms merchandising function can best use this method of value-chain synopsis as a new strategic capability. Step 1 An overview of value-chain analysis Value chains may be defined in two ways (1) within a company they describe the various value-added stages from purchasing materials to distributing, selling, and servicing the final fruit (Porters 1985 concept),3 and (2) they also delineate the value-added stages from raw material to end-user as a product is manufactured and distributed, with each stage representing an industry. 4 For convenience, we will refer to these two definitions as internal and external value chains, respectively. The internal value chain is a key concept in the bowl of strategic management that has been thoroughly explored. In contrast, the external value chain has not been studied as extensively. The external value chain consists of the important upstream/supply and downstream/ dissemination processes. However, charge though these processes occur outside the corporation, the strategic opportunities they reveal and areas of risk they highlight warrant careful study. ConsiderOutsourcing involves transferring certain primary or obtain functions in the internal value chain to the external value chain. B Vertical integration involves taking control of angiotensin-converting enzyme or more than additional stages of the ext ernal value chain and making them internal. B Horizontal expansion involves new product lines or expanded channels of distribution, including geographic expansion. B Strategic alliances with suppliers involves more closely managing external suppliers as if they were part of the companys internal value chain, but without actually owning them (for example, Toyotas Kaizen ystem, wherein key suppliers are located truly near a factory and receive all kinds of help and training from Toyota to ensure smooth and efficient production). One of the most complex value chains today can be found in the anoint industry. This chain has nearly 30 significant elements, starting with the search for oil (at the upstream end) and including field production, transportation (pipelines and supertankers), refining and processing and, lastly, consumer gas stations (at the downstream end).Internally, the oil-industry value chain processes a broad grasp of products, including such major categories as oil /lubricants, gasoline, petrochemicals (plastics), fertilizers/pesticides, natural gas, power generation/electricity, and convenience stores. The firms that are considered major integrated oil companies participate in a significant number sometimes all of these external (upstream and downstream) and internal value-chain elements.In a 2006 issue of Strategy & Leadership, authors Wayne McPhee and David Wheeler suggested that strategists should use Porters concept to consider value-chain operations beyond the boundaries of the firm. Since its introduction, value-chain analysis has proven immensely valuable in three principal ways cost analysis and reduction, differentiation, and product development but the standard practice was for firms to analyze only their own value chain. Step 2 How to construct a customers value chain First, recognize that you need to construct twain internal and external value chains for a particular customer.The internal value chain follows Porters original concept, which includes value-added steps from purchasing to distribution as well as support functions such as R&D and human resources. Its tempting to let this generic diagram work on as the customers value chain, but it must be tailored to the particular customer. To produce a useful value-chain analysis, members of your engineering or sales team should ask the customer how its business processes add value and whether any have unique best-practice features.To perform the external value-chain analysis, team members should ask the customer a set of getting-to-know-you questions. What does your supply chain (the upstream value chain) look desire? What role does your company play in it? How do your products reach their customers (the downstream value chain)? Your final diagram models only this single customers value chain and it represents virtually everything the customer does to add significant value. If your relationship with the customer permits a candid exchange of informatio n, have the customer validate the value chain you have created.As an example of how the diagnostic process works, consider how a supplier to Wal-Mart might learn to enhance its value. 6 The objective of creating both internal and external value chains is to understand Wal-Mart well enough to be able to realise its implicit and explicit strategic concerns. Exhibits 3 and 4 depict preliminary pictures of Wal-Marts internal and external value chains. Getting to this initial stage is relatively easy adding more detail, nuance, and understanding takes more time, involves interviewingWal-Mart executives, and more closely observing how the firm operates.Step 3 Inferring the customers business strategy pull down long-time suppliers have trouble distinguishing critical customer activities from sometimes urgent but ultimately nonstrategic ones. Understanding your customers business strategy is therefore crucial. Value-chain analysis helps a supplier distinguish between the activities of th e customers firm that directly support its competitive strategies for its products and for enhancing key capabilities and ordinary operations. For example, routine operations like billing customers or servicing the fleet of company vehicles must be done, and done well.But there is little if any competitive advantage to be gained from the superior execution of such activities. Nor are they likely to provide an opportunity for gaining new sources of revenue and profit. It is the customers strategic activities and projects that offer the potential for future profits and curb the attention of your customers senior management. So by supporting strategic activities, B2B service providers stand to gain the high-margin work they hunger after, the work that produces the highest returns, and the work that should be their unending priority.The Fluor case Fluor Corporation is a global engineering and construction company providing major capital facilities for a vast range of industrial clie nts in many vertical markets. With as many as 2,000 projects under construction employing 40,000 workers in more than 50 countries at any time, Fluor operates in all geographic regions of the globe and in all parts of its customers supply chains, delivering engineering and construction management services in sum, a full range of B2B services.The questions of where Fluor should concentrate its resources to meet its customers most urgent needs can become enormously complex. To rationalize this process, Fluor must determine which customer projects the ones that shell out its customers greatest strategic needs and, hence, have potentially the greatest margins have the highest value. For many years, Fluor has known the critical importance of understanding every one of its B2B customers businesses. But that was not enough. The questions for Fluors selling team became, How can we learn each customers business strategy and strategic needs? Some of the many different sources of informa tion about a customers strategy are B Marketing communications including printed materials (brochures and advertisements), media communications (press releases) and marketing websites reveal new product directions and customer targeting these provide insights into market positioning and marketing strategy. B Financial-community reports (annual reports, SEC filings, as well as meetings with financial analysts) knock off light on internal strategic initiatives in addition to market-positioning moves.Annual reports form the pedestal of this Fluor case study, but 10Ks and analysts reports could prove equally useful. B The academic literature is replete with surgical dissections of strategically successful companies and industries. Business-school cases abound featuring companies like Apple and industries like automobiles. Wal-Mart, for one, has been the focus of many Harvard Business School cases. 8 B Many companies make their published strategic plans available to interested parties. For example, British Petroleum has published its strategy on its corporate website since 2000.B Consultants that specialize in competitive intelligence. B Face-to-face conversations with your customers. Step 4 Discovering the customers strategic needs Strategic activities are the activities a firm must give in order to realize its strategy or strategies. Every strategy has such a set of activities. Insofar as a company finds doing any of these activities difficult, potential suppliers have been trained to see these as needs. But, suppliers need to differentiate between operations that are difficult and ones that are strategic.For example, an innovation strategy requires a system for generating ideas and picking the best ones, cost estimating, engineering, R&D, prototype construction and testing, and market-acceptance testing. The pharmaceutical industry relies on a great many B2B service providers to support its new-drug-development programs in the drug-formulation (R&D) stage an d also B2B service providers that develop new systems to expedite regulatory approval. Value-chain analysis identifies both as key strategic functions.Step 5 making value-chain analysis a strategic capability of the marketing department Engineering/construction companies have developed at least two approaches to pall the forces of commoditization in their industry 1. Project screening and selectivity. Not all projects are created equal or represent equal opportunity. Service providers should select projects on the basis of projected margin, not projected revenue. They must pursue projects that build on their strengths and core competences, projects where they can apply their best talents to serve their customers.This is done by depression serving customers commodity work to position them to then pursue customers strategic opportunities. This is the approach used in the Fluor example. 2. Become selected customers strategic business partner. such(prenominal) practice puts the busine ss-services provider right in the customers lap, a decidedly advantageous position to be in when strategic opportunities are brewing. It also leads to many sole-source or noncompetitive-bid opportunities and, potentially, to higher margins. 1. The method described in the article is based on actual experience of one author when he worked for Fluor Corp. . A upstart example is Ram Charan, What the CustomerWants You to Know How Everybody Needs to Think Differently about Sales, Portfolio (Penguin Group), 2007. The application of value-chain analysis to B2B clients of engineering and construction management services was originally suggested by Don F. Coleman of Fluor Corporation in May, 2000. 3. Michael E. Porter, Competitive Advantage Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, Free Press, 1985. 4. Stanley C. Abraham, Strategic Planning A Practical Guide for Competitive Success, Thomson South-Western, 2006, 214. . Wayne McPhee and David Wheeler, Making the case for the added-value ch ain, Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 34 No. 4, 2006, Exhibit 1, p. 41 exhibit used with permission. 6. The supplier could have many other customers, and could replicate this process with those other customers. Typically, doing such an analysis would be reserved for the suppliers top 3-5 customers. 7. The authors found little in the literature about B2B marketing practices based on knowledge of the customers value chain and business strategy. 8.See, for, example Harvard Business School Case 9-794-024, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , August 6, 1996, which provides a thorough review of Wal-Marts business practices up to its international (horizontal) expansion. 9. Michael E. Porter, What is strategy? Harvard Business Review, November-December 1996. 10. HBS Case 9-794-024, op. cit. 11. Harvard Business School Case 9-302-102, Robert Mondavi and the Wine Industry, May 3, 2002. Mondavis flagship brand Woodbridge is a elevated example of a brand name pointing, not to product benefits, but up the valu e chain to process benefits.