In the past, companies have designed intricate products that markets did not perceive any need for. They have aired promotional campaigns that have offended audiences. They have priced products out of reach of the target market. Marketing experts defend the importance of , the process of gathering all sorts of information about customers and products in order to make informed decisions about the product, price, place, and promotion.

Walmart’s scm system walmart is famous for its low prices, and you may have experienced its low prices first-hand. at least, you have probably seen its motto, “always low prices— always.” one of the biggest reasons walmart is able to sell at prices lower than almost everyone else is that it has a superefficient supply chain. its it-enabled supply chain management system is the envy of the industry because it drives excess time and unnecessary costs out of the supply chain. so, because walmart can buy low, it sells low. as a matter of fact, if your company wants to sell items to walmart for it to sell in its stores, you will have to do business with it electronically. if your company can’t do that, walmart won’t buy anything from you. log on to walmart’s web site (), search for supplier information, and find out what walmart’s requirements are for its suppliers to do business with it electronically. prepare a brief summary of its requirements for presentation in clas

Fanning books buys books and magazines directly from publishers and distributes them to grocery stores. the wholesaler expects to purchase the following inventory: april may june required purchases (on account) $ 111,000 $ 131,000 $ 143,000 fanning books accountant prepared the following schedule of cash payments for inventory purchases. fanning books suppliers require that 85 percent of purchases on account be paid in the month of purchase; the remaining 15 percent are paid in the month following the month of purchase. required complete the schedule of cash payments for inventory purchases by filling in the missing amounts. determine the amount of accounts payable the company will report on its pro forma balance sheet at the end of the second quarter.

Thomas kratzer is the purchasing manager for the headquarters of a large insurance company chain with a central inventory operation. thomas's fastest-moving inventory item has a demand of 6,000 units per year. the cost of each unit is $100, and the inventory carrying cost is $10 per unit per year. the average ordering cost is $30 per order. it takes about 5 days for an order to arrive, and the demand for 1 week is 120 units. (this is a corporate operation, and the are 250 working days per year.)a) what is the eoq? b) what is the average inventory if the eoq is used? c) what is the optimal number of orders per year? d) what is the optimal number of days in between any two orders? e) what is the annual cost of ordering and holding inventory? f) what is the total annual inventory cost, including cost of the 6,000 units?