Strategies and systems
Strategies and systems
Name
Institution
Strategies and systems
A marketing strategy is one that defines the goals and objectives of a firm or departments that deals with the marketing of goods or the provision of services to clients. It describes how best can satisfy the clients’ needs and wants wholly. On the other hand, a manufacturing strategy is one that focuses largely on product quality as a qualification to be fit for the market and also grow to be a competitor for many other companies. A firm’s marketing strategy has much effect on the manufacturing strategy since both are geared towards appealing to the customer and satisfying them (Jagdev et al, 2004).
If a firms marketing departments adopts and online strategy for advertising the goods, the manufacturing department is also propelled to adapt to new techniques so as to keep up and also produce quality goods for the market. Also, a marketing strategy that focuses on customer satisfaction and is keen on getting feedback and responses from clients prompts the manufacturing strategy to create room for constant change and improvements. Alignment of the marketing strategy with the manufacturing one increases the firm’s competitive capabilities as well as enhancing its successes (Gunther et al, 2003).
An advanced planning and scheduling system, (APS) is one the focuses on tracking the costs and expenses of activities that are ultimately responsible for the driving coast in the production of manufactured goods. It is a chain supply management strategy that enables manufacturers to optimally exploit their supply chains so as to reduce costs, increase manufacturing output, lower inventories and ultimately improve products profit margins. The system requires various market variables to be known and these are then used to predict the forces in the market. The APS system comprises of the keen analysis of available raw materials as well as labour and plant capacity.
The main challenge in the implementation of an Advanced Planning and Scheduling system is that large number of market variables involved which means the firm has to invest in optimization of its technology so as to be able to analyse it and give credible results and prediction. This is expensive and ends up lowering the profit margins for the firm (Pinedo, 2009).
References
Günther, H. O., & Beek, P. (2003). Advanced planning and scheduling solutions in process industry. Berlin: Springer.
Jagdev, H. S., Browne, J., & Brennan, A. (2004). Strategic decision making in modern manufacturing. Boston: Kluwer Academic.
Pinedo, M. (2009). Planning and scheduling in manufacturing and services. Dordrecht: Springer Verlag.