Instructions: Find a peer reviewed/academic article on the related to the subject in each number and relate it to the auto parts manufacturing industry and cite the article in MLA 7th edition format. Each number is treated separately, and the academic article should be numbered accordingly to that section number. Each number should be 2-3 paragraphs long totaling about half a page single spaced. 1-2 paragraph summary of the article and 1 application paragraph to the auto parts manufacturing industry. An example of the format is below the numbered section. Each one is a separate discussion post.

Instructions: Find a peer reviewed/academic article on the related to the subject in each number and relate it to the auto parts manufacturing industry and cite the article in MLA 7th edition format. Each number is treated separately, and the academic article should be numbered accordingly to that section number. Each number should be 2-3 paragraphs long totaling about half a page single spaced. 1-2 paragraph summary of the article and 1 application paragraph to the auto parts manufacturing industry. An example of the format is below the numbered section. Each one is a separate discussion post.

 

1. Materials Handling and Warehousing

In this post, you should find a refereed academic journal article that helps to understand how firms in your industry use or interact with warehouses and distribution centers.

 

2. Outsourcing, Offshoring, and Procurement

In this post, you should find a refereed academic journal article that helps to understand how firms in your industry use outsourcing, offshoring, and procurement.

 

3. Data Flows and Digitization

In this post, you should find a refereed academic journal article that helps to understand how firms in your industry tie data to the flow of goods. This can vary considerably from industry to industry

 

4. Management Science Applications

In this post, you should find a refereed academic journal article that helps to understand how firms in your industry use modeling–or don’t–in managing their supply chains and logistics operations. Keep in mind that logistics is heavily laden with data, but turning data into information can be a challenge

 

5. Social Responsibility and Sustainability

In this post, you should find a refereed academic journal article that helps to understand how firms in your industry deal with ethical issues and the environment. In most industries, you can find major problems

 

 

Example of discussion posting format from professor:

 

 

EXAMPLE DISCUSSION POSTING

 

Summary:

Authors De Keyser, Schepers, and Konus discuss the use of segmentation to develop channel focus in post-sales service channels for Dutch Telekom. Channels identified by the authors were in-store, web, and call center. In addition, the article sub-segments these channels by different stages of the customer service journey, such as research/info search, purchase, and post-sales service. The others compare these segments against perceived values of innovativeness, risk, product complexity, price, involvement, age, gender, sex, loyalty, and average revenue. What the authors found in this experiment is that different segments  found different level of values for different channels for different purposes. In reviewing the three-stage approach, the others identified 6 specific segments. As such, marketers could predict psychographic attributes for users of certain channels and market appropriately. In addition, authors identify that no one channel is significantly more important than any other, and that an appropriate mix must be maintained by an organization for full success. Another interesting find is that innovativeness does not significantly affect perceived value of any particular channel for any of the segments.

Application:

 

While this article does not call out the commercial banking directly, the concept is applicable across industries. Particularly important to the commercial banking industry, post-sales service is one of the major differentiating factors for firms. In order to compete effectively, commercial banks will need to create programs across multiple channels: call centers, in-store, and online (if not more such as mobile, chat/email, and letter writing). Furthermore, the author suggests that the service strategy for each channel should be developed differently.

 

De Keyser, A., Schepers, J., & Konuş, U. (2015, October). Multichannel customer segmentation: Does the after-sales channel matter? A replication and extension. Intern Journal of Research in Marketing (32)4, 453-456. Retrieved June 14, 2016 from Science Direct.