Wal-Mart China: Sustainable Operations Strategy

Wal-Mart China: Sustainable Operations Strategy 1. Explore through the literature the concept of (Business) sustainability and explain it briefly. Also using references on Operations Strategy describe what sustainability in operations strategy means. Traditional cost management models tend to only focus on production costs, whilst ignore products cost of design, development and customers using. In other words, the business concern visible costs and ignore intangible costs that means the destruction of the surrounding environment such as the cost of social responsibility during production the process. Thus, enterprises want to win the competition, they must change the traditional model of cost management and maintain the lowest cost in the life cycle of product. A broader perspective of product life cycle cost which includes social responsibility cost should be a part of business operations strategy or should be a part of business sustainability strategy. Business sustainability is a business approach have policies of environmental and human rights which means the business creates long-term shareholder value from no negative influence opportunities and managing risks on global or local society, environment, community and economy [3]. Smukowski [2] claimed that the concept of business sustainability is a prior plan of the long-term viability and optimizing resource needs, reducing environmental, energy or social impacts which will not damage the profitability of business. It can be summary from above that sustainable business means the enterprise consider not only financial factors, but also more comprehensive concern the impact of environmental and resource efficiency. 2. Discuss what Sustainability means to Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart China, and Wal-Mart Chinas current and potential customers. What would you see to be a balanced definition of sustainability for the business? Answer: (1) Wal-Mart In order to run business sustainability, Wal-mart combined value and service concepts of innovative operational strategies and set three sustainability objectives including more efficiency of vehicle fleet, reduce waste and energy saving. First of all, to combine value and service of its innovative operational strategies involve 14 SVNS made Wal-mart became the largest organic seller and the largest organic cotton purchaser. In addition, Wal-mart also through its integration of supply chain and ROHS compliance which including supplier or vendor selected and scored to achieve business sustainable aims. For instance, Wal-mart sold 110 million compact fluorescent lighting successful with its partner called GE. (2) Wal-Mart China In term of Wal-Mart China, its through 5 SVNS reach business sustainable. First of all, the strategy of sustainable store and operation can help Wal-Mart China reduce cost and decrease Wal-Mart Chinas footprint of operations. Secondly, to develop sustainable products such as food, electronic textiles and product packaging extend its business sustainability supply chain and compliance. Thirdly, to enhance efficiencies of its supply chain not only reduce cost but also footprint of whole chain. Fourthly, to make a good communication with its stakeholders is another critical issue of its business. Fifthly, Wal-Mart China also through share learned experiences with its supplier or vendor to make its sustainable supply chain more successful. Sixthly, Wal-Mart China employed T5 energy saving light bulb and double sides copy to decrease its energy waste of its business. Lastly, Wal-Mart China promotes the product which is an energy efficient bulb for its customers that is also an activity of business sustainability. (3) Wal-Mart Chinas current Wal-Mart Chinas sustainable logistics centers helped its reduce 31 tons of CO2 emission per year. For example, T5 light bulbs can save 20 to 30 percent energy per day in warehouse areas and resting places and to use solar energy and wind power generator can 7,300 kilowatt hours per year. In addition, Wal-mart encouraged its customers to use reusable shopping bags through some prizes including special express checkout line. Finally, Wal-Mart Chinas merchandizing group still continuing builds sustainability measure tools for supplier selection and some on going evaluation of purchase quantities which can enhance its suppliers efficiency of sustainability. Wal-Mart China also continuing creates innovative initiatives of sustainable and implements best practices for communicating to all of its stakeholders. (4) Potential customers If customers can choose Wal-marts sustainability products which not only improve the personal activity of environmental but also protect the Earth. Although the sustainability products price might higher than others, it still have some advantages such as reduce cost of electronic, long time for use and non pollution. According to the article, T5 energy saving light bulbs could save about 20 to 30 per cent energy which means its can also reduce the cost of electronic of 20 to 30 per cent. 3. Identify the distinguishing features of Wal-Mart Chinas distribution system and operations. Explain how it achieves relatively high availability with similar levels of stock to other companies. Answer: In order to provide high quality products for customers and the commitment of businesss operations strategy, Wal-Mart China combines their high employee productivity, latest technology, experienced co-transport sector, an efficient private truck fleet and distribution center operations which not only is an advantage of Wal-Mart Chinas inventory management but also increase efficiency of loading and delivery. According to the article, there are some advantages of Wal-Mart Chinas distribution center: (1) Sustainable logistics centers First of all, Wal-Mart Chinas distribution center uses T5 light bulbs which can save 20 to 30 percent energy per day in warehouse areas and resting places. Secondly, in order to reduce energy waste, Wal-Mart Chinas distribution center maintains control their air conditioning and heat recycling systems temperature. Thirdly, there are 25,550 kilowatt hours saving caused by ten solar energy water heaters which provide 1.7 tons hot water per day. Lastly, Wal-Mart Chinas distribution center use solar cells and wind power station to make up to 7,300 kilowatt power per year. As a result, each Wal-Mart Chinas distribution center also decreased CO2 by it. (2) Outsourced a standardizes trucking fleet Individual supplier ship was lower than expected fill rates. Wal-Mart China outsourced an efficient private trucking fleet which deliver products from DC to DC or from DC to SC. It not only helps Wal-Mart China achieves a well inventory management but also reduce out of stock rate. In addition, in order to make its trucking fleet teams more efficiency, new electronic technology is used in its logistics management [6]. First of all, Wal-Mart China through the electronic technique of satellite, GPS controls the state of transport. Secondly, Wal-Mart China also uses the electronic technique of GIS which provide digital electronic traffic map can suggest the best route of its delivery. Thus, it can be concluded from above that Wal-Mart become a world-class company is not accidental. Advanced electronic technique of Wal-Mart Chinas distribution system not only increase efficiency of its products delivery, but also decrease the situation of out of stock. (3) Centralized management of returning products Wal-Mart Chinas distribution system also has an advantage of centralized management products which has quality problems, slow sales or obsolescence. These products will also be returned to vendor by Wal-Mart Chinas distribution system. In summary, it is clear that Wal-Mart Chinas distribution system and operations can offer a stable inventory which is part of Wal-Mart Chinas safety stock. By way of replenishment products intensively from distribution center, it not only reduces time of out stock but also increase the circulating of goods. In addition, as Wal-Mart China has a very complete and standard systems or process of distribution such as outsourced a standardizes trucking fleet, new electronic technology and centralized management which also let Wal-Mart China become a highly competitive advantage of Chinas retailer industry. 4. How sustainability should be incorporated in the process of selection and evaluation of suppliers/vendors? Answer: In order to achieve business sustainability successful, both enterprise and its suppliers or vendors have responsible of their roles. First of all, enterprise should offer the requests of sustainability, and then try to find the suppliers or vendors who have production techniques of sustainability. Furthermore, to have a good communication and collaboration including share learned experiences with its suppliers or vendor is a critical part of objectives of sustainability. According to the article [4], in order to achieve ROHS compliance, Wal-Mart adopt ROHS regulation standard in some of its operations including supplier selection and product selection. For the first example, P G which is a large international supplier has a long standing working relationship with Wal-Mart in other parts of world including the U.S.A. It has a sustainability program concept called ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come throughout its worldwide operations [4]. As can be seen from it, the sustainability development program for P G not only is a slogan, but also is a commitment for its customers. For the second example, Blue moon which is a Chinese national chemical products company supply some soap and cleaner in china. Blue moon also has a sustainable program of its products called Protecting the environment is protecting all of us. Our products deliver not only cleanliness but also protection to our customers [4]. In order to achieve its object of sustainable, biodegradable materials which meet a green environmental requirements used in Blue moons products. For the third example, Wal-mart China also created a initiative sustainable objective which called P2E2 program allowed suppliers to quickly and inexpensively equip their factories with cost saving equipment [4]. In order to continuing meet sustainable objectives, Wal-mart builds a sustainability evaluation tools which used in its supplier selection and product or material purchase. For instance, Wal-mart china had implemented a packaging score to measure and calculates efficiency and objective. In the end, this program also a 13 per cent cost reduction in Wal-marts packaging. It can be summary, if the enterprise wants to achieve, to integrate whole supply chain members such as suppliers and vendors are very important. In other words, to develop sustainable supply chain strategy is the only approach to make business sustainability which not only creates a perfect brand image for customers but also protects the Earth. 5. How sustainability can be improved in Wal-Marts distribution and retail operations. Answer: According to the article, Dong [4] asserted that sustainability will be differentiating factor between a good enterprise and a great one. (1) Energy efficient lighting Wal-mart used T5 energy saving light bulbs which could save about 20 to 30 per cent energy in its warehouse or space of rest. (2) Less waste of air conditioning and heat recycling system Wal-mart maintained the temperatures of its air conditioning and heat recycling system which also is an approach of energy saving. (3) Alternative energy Wal-mart used ten solar energy water heaters which can save up to 25,550 kilowatt hours each year to produce hot water. Wal-mart also used solar cells and wind power generators which can provide 7,300 kilowatt hours per year. These alternative energy not only save Wal-mart cost of electronic but also reduce 31 tons of CO2 emissions every year. (4) Outsourced third party logistics Outsourcing a standardized trucking fleet not only improve Wal-marts effective of shipments but also reduce the risk of goods traveling. (5) Reusable shopping bags Wal-mart encouraged its customers to use reusable shopping bags through some prizes including special express checkout line. (6) Offer two energy efficient bulbs Wal-mart China offer two energy efficient bulbs for the price of one and work with local suppliers in its region. After this, Wal-mart China accepted responsibility and the associated cost of the safe disposal of fluids. (7) Batteries placed In order to solve batteries placed problems, Wal-mart provided a recycle place for customer to deal with it. (8) Packaging reduction Wal-mart china had implemented a packaging score to measure and calculates efficiency and objective in its apple suppliers. In the end, this program also a 13 per cent cost reduction in Wal-marts packaging. As can be seen above, generally speaking, business sustainability concept including logistics, marketing and supply chain has many benefit of the enterprise. Refer to the article; the authors [4] believe that more economical situation caused by more sustainable options. In other words, it not only reduce cost of operations but also make more loyal in long run of its customers.

Conflict Theory and Crime Essay

Time magazine reports an alarming study, where the United Stated is imprisoning more offenders (violent and nonviolent) in prisons and jails than any other country in the world. It is useful to use conflict theory and structural functionalism to explain this practice and to break down the topic with these two schools to then begin building solutions to this crisis. The report done by the Pew Center urges states to stop the practice of putting non-violent offenders behind bars. The report also points to the spending done on corrections, which outweighs spending done on education. From a conflict theory standpoint, many â€Å"law and order† type states demonize low-level offenders, such as drug and alcohol users, and alienate them from society. These people are more likely to become â€Å"caught in the system† and commit low-level crimes (such as stealing to support a drug habit) to only re-enter jail or prison. Even though addiction is viewed as a disease, it is not treated as such, therein lies the structural functionalist perspective that the system of law is black and white. The system functions to exhibit to society what actions are allowable and which actions are criminal, from this perspective there are no nonviolent and violent offenders, only offenders. Both schools of thought are helpful in pointing out many of the interesting points in the article. According to the study, 1 in 100 Americans are in jails or prisons. Add to that number the disproportionate numbers of minorities incarcerated and from a conflict standpoint, one can see inequality in this number. One in thirty men ages 20-34 are behind bars while for African-American men, the number is 1 in 9. For women ages 35 to 39, 1 for every 355 Caucasian women are imprisoned while the figures for their African-American counterparts is 1 in 100. From the article, as well, it is shown that spending on schools is less than spending on corrections. From a conflict standpoint, it can be presupposed that schools in more violent areas could serve to help children, who may be susceptible to criminal activity, but since these schools are in â€Å"bad† neighborhoods they receive little help. Therefore, looking at poverty as inequality and the ignorance of education in lieu of incarceration spending is important, the study suggests. From a structural functionalist perspective, one can gather from reading the article, that many of the programs used today to get â€Å"tough on crime†, such as the three strikes law is putting more prisoners behind bars. From this perspective, one can see that the system of justice reacts to the public outcry for punishment for certain crimes and in turn react by enforcing stricter laws. The structure of law is something that changes due to the differences in the social value system. When a value held by Americans is threatened, for example when an ex-offender is released and commits a heinous murder on re-entry to society, the laws change to reflect the feelings of discourse. The system therefore, has changed to reflect an increasingly punitive society and another interesting note in the article is that the United States remains one of the leaders in nations, in relation to capital punishment. The structure of justice reflects the American structure of punishment and incarceration while the value of treatment and mediation is almost non-existent. In closing, the article â€Å"US Incarceration Rate Hits New High† is a look into the cost of conflict and the inadequate use of punishment in the system of justice. The sociological schools of conflict and structural functionalist theory are helpful in looking at these numbers in the current research to later apply it to ameliorating the problem, as many states are in a financial crisis with this problem. The Pew Center is urging the states, so burdened by high costs and high inmate population, to curtail the practice of incarcerating non-violent offenders. Hopefully further sociological studies will help this process further. References Crary D. (February 28th, 2008). â€Å"US Incarceration Rate Hits New High†. in Time Magazine. Available online http://www. time. com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1718266,00. html. Last accessed February 28th, 2008.

What Everybody Is Saying About Essay Samples for University Application and What You Need to Do

What Everybody Is Saying About Essay Samples for University Application and What You Need to Do Definitions of Essay Samples for University Application Plan for the custom made college applications can pull a 1 night. Subsequently he must ready the Structure which will be tremendously important. They can demonstrate broad understanding of their various fields. Updated software to ensure the papers are service free. We'll write a customized essay. Reflective essays are personal parts of the writer which they have translated into words. Locate your inspiration to compose an essay. High school graduates ought to be required to have a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to grow their maturity and worldwide awareness. However, it's highly recommended for all students to be quite cautious when seeking university essay help because some companies aren't legitimate. Therefore, many students and employees decide to get inexpensive essay rather than writing it themselves. It is wise for students with problems in writing university essays to look for assistance from companies that offer university essay services. These instances can cause rush decisions like writing a college essay straight away without reading the instructions that are made by the academic institution. It's extremely important to comprehend what information you must provide, and to tackle each aspect personally and clearly. They understand the detail that has to be included, the detail that should be missed out and the often subtle difference between them both. Ultimately, the detail of true speech makes the scene pop. Once you've read through the instructions a number of occasions and gathered your notes, you can begin creating an outline to organize your essay and make a decision as to what message you wish to send. Trinity university application procedure, paper assignments you truly feel completely free essay. Your college essay should contain information that relate to the instruction provided to you. Developing an excellent college essay are able to lose its purpose in the event the content of what you've written is not what the university is asking for. Our service is an excellent alternative for those who have to order an assignment urgently. Several services provide with a couple GB on-line internet marketer space that might be more as compared to enough for a home individual. It's sometimes tricky service understand what things to write about, what structure to follow, what points to concentrate on. The duration of your essay is not what universities start looking for. You'll observe a similar structure in a lot of the essays. Stephen's essay is quite effective. Before you commence writing your college essay, you may choose to see the essay examplesA that we've listed for you, so that you can have more idea on what things to put in the college essay which you will create. Attention to detail is very important. You want to produce an outstanding college program, which means you will most likely read it over and over again in order to be certain there aren't any typos and spelling and grammar errors. Moreover, we additionally provide proofreading and editing services. It's unwise to consider only the price since there are a few companies offering poor university essays at low rates. Want to learn what a prosperous admission essay appears like, get with a program, be sure that you stick to all steps below. Nevertheless, it's for no additional money and really fast. The very good news is, I can provide help.

Litotes Definition and Examples in English

Litotes is a  figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Plural: litotes. Adjective: litotic. Also known (in classical rhetoric) as  antenantiosis and moderatour. Litotes is a form of both  conversational implicature  and verbal irony. Certain  uses of the figure are now fairly common expressions,  such as Its not cheap (meaning Its expensive), Its not hard (meaning Its easy), and Its not bad (meaning Its good). In Shakespeares Use of the Arts of Language (1947),  Sister Miriam Joseph  observes  that litotes may be used to avoid an appearance of boasting or to veil a threat.  Jay Heinrichs notes that what makes litotes remarkable is its paradoxical ability to turn up the volume by turning it down. He didnt set the world on fire conveys exactly the opposite impression: that his efforts didnt heat up Earth one degree, thank goodness (​Word Hero,  2011). Etymology: From the Greek, plainness, simplicityPronunciation: LI-toe-teez Examples and Observations Are you also aware, Mrs. Bueller, that Ferris does not have what we consider to be an exemplary attendance record? (Jeffrey Jones as Principal Ed Rooney, Ferris Buellers Day Off, 1986)I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives. (Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, May 7, 1776)Oh, you think youre so special because you get to play Picture Pages up there? Well, my five year old daughter could do that and let me tell you, shes not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. (Allison Janney as Bren in Juno, 2007)[W]ith a vigorous and sudden snatch, I brought my assailant harmlessly, his full length, on the not over clean ground--for we were now in the cow yard. (Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, 1855)Because though no beauty by fashion-mag standards, the ample-bodied Ms. Klause, we agreed, was a not unclever, not unattra ctive young woman, not unpopular with her classmates both male and female. (John Barth, The Bard Award, in The Development: Nine Stories. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008)The graves a fine a private place,But none, I think, do there embrace.(Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress)Not a bad days work on the whole, he muttered, as he quietly took off his mask, and his pale, fox-like eyes glittered in the red glow of the fire. Not a bad days work. (Baroness Emmuska Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1905)Now we have a refuge to go to. A refuge that the Cylons know nothing about! It wont be an easy journey. (Battlestar Galactica, 2003)I am not unaware how the productions of the Grub Street brotherhood have of late years fallen under many prejudices. (Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub, 1704)What we know partakes in no small measure of the nature of what has so happily been called the unutterable or ineffable, so that any attempt to utter or eff it is doomed to fail, doomed, doomed to fail. (Samuel Beckett, Watt. Olympia Press, 1953)Keep an eye on your mother whom we both know doesnt have both oars in the water. (Jim Harrison, The Road Home. Grove Press, 1999)Let him fly far,Not in this land shall he remain uncaught.(Gloucester speaking about Edgar in William Shakespeares King Lear, Act Two, scene one)We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all. (Ronald Reagan, Farewell Address to the Nation, January 20, 1989) Litotes as a Form of Understatement Understated instead of hyperbolic, [litotes] often seems to turn attention away from itself, like its cousin, paralipsis, which emphasizes something by pretending to ignore it, and it can disarm potential opponents and avoid controversy; yet it emphasizes whatever it touches. (Elizabeth McCutcheon, Denying the Contrary: Mores Use of Litotes in the Utopia, in Essential Articles for the Study of Thomas More, 1977) Litotes as a Form of Irony Paradoxically, litotes, like hyperbole, involve intensification, suggesting that the speakers feelings are too deep for plain expression (e.g., its not bad, hes no Hercules, shes no beauty, hes not exactly a pauper). Because of their two-layer significance--superficial indifference and underlying commitment—litotes are often treated as a category of irony. (Raymond W. Gibbs, Jr., Making Sense of Tropes. Metaphor and Thought, 2nd ed., edited by Andrew Ortony. Cambridge University Press, 1993) The Discreet Figure of Speech Litotes describes the object to which it refers not directly, but through the negation of the opposite. . . .The account given in various rhetorical textbooks reveals a picture of the rhetorical figure litotes which is—to put it aptly—not very clear. . . .I want to claim that the rhetorical figure litotes is one of those methods which are used to talk about an object in a discreet way. It clearly locates an object for the recipient, but it avoids naming it directly.(J.R. Bergmann, Veiled Morality, in Talk at Work: Interaction in Institutional Settings, ed. by Paul Drew and John Heritage. Cambridge University Press, 1992) The Limitations of Litotes Litotes isnt the best figure to use when youre trying to be grand. Litotes does not stir the soul, its more suited to stirring tea. Even Wordsworth couldnt make it work like that. He was pretty damned good at raising the spirits and soul, but he had the silly habit of using the phrase not seldom. Not seldom clad in radiant vest, / Deceitfully goes forth the Morn, Not seldom from the uproar I retired, Not seldom did we stop to watch some tuft / Of dandelion see, not seldom in my walks / A momentary trance comes over me, and on and on until you want to grab him, slap him, pull out a dictionary and show him the word often.(Mark Forsyth, The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase. Berkley, 2013) The Lighter Side of Litotes I also scheduled a physical, since my readers deserve up-to-the-decade information. After I finished my tests, I went into my doctor’s office, where he told me that Trump’s doctor’s report was ridiculous, since it claimed that his lab results were astonishingly excellent and that he would be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.Doctors aren’t hyperbolists, he told me. We use litotes. I had never heard the word litotes, which means words doctors use to remind you they’re smarter than you are. Despite his reluctance, I told him I needed a bold declaration to reassure my readers. You’re the healthiest columnist I’ve seen this morning, he offered.(Joel Stein, The Medical Records Youve Been Waiting for Are Right Here in This Column. Time, October 3, 2016)