Retailing is sometimes defined as having the right goods in the right place at the right time. Latest developments in information technology can ensure that the supply chain runs even more smoothly and efficiently, to get those goods to the shelves even faster. This article reviews some of these...

Evidence of the quick response (QR) impact on retail inventory levels is presented. QR involves technology‐driven, co‐operative retailer/supplier relationships. QR enabling technology includes: point‐of‐sale systems, uniform product/article codes, and electronic data interchange. Using...

This paper examines the use of consumer‐driven innovation networks within the UK food‐retailing industry using qualitative interview‐based research analysed within an economic framework. This perspective revealed that, by exploiting information gathered directly from their customers at...

Polarica is a company in northern Europe buying, refining and selling wild berries and other specialty foods. During the last couple of years the volume of wild berries, mostly blueberries, has increased a lot. This expansion forces Polarica to consider investments in freezing‐in capacity and...

Purpose – This paper proposes an infrastructure of a responsive supply chain network, focusing on the deployment of the m‐commerce technology which transforms a traditional supply chain network to be more effective in coping with market changes. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed...

Purpose – Effective inventory management is very critical to market success. The purpose of this paper is to formulate an integrated model for the location of warehouse, the allocation of retailers to the opened warehouses, and finding the perfect policy for inventory control to managing order...

Supply chain management (SCM) encompasses all activities associated with a firm moving its composite flow of information, materials and services from the raw materials stage through production and on to the end customer. This includes sourcing and procurement, production scheduling, order...

To turn today’s challenges and threats into fruitful opportunities, marketing organizations must move away from their traditional modus operandi of closed system approach to an open system where employees, customers, procedures, processes, vendors, and strategies are viewed interdependently....

Discusses Shewhart’s control charts and how they have been confined traditionally to the shopfloor in manufacturing industry. Contends that now practitioners are leading a growing interest in the charts’ wider application in areas such as sales, marketing, customer service, and inventory...