,*,单击此处编辑母版标题样式,单击此处编辑母版文本样式,第二级,第三级,第四级,第五级,单击此处编辑母版标题样式,单击此处编辑母版文本样式,第二级,第三级,第四级,第五级,*,Chapter 8Information processing,Learning objective,To understand the importance and benefits of information processing,To learn steps to process an order,To know major information technologies,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,【Para 1】Role in the Supply Chain(在供给链中的角色),Information could be overlooked as a major supply chain driver because it does not have a physical presence.Information,however,deeply affects every part of the supply chain in many ways.Consider the following:,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,Information serves as the connection between the supply chains various stages,allowing them to coordinate their actions and bring about many of the benefits of maximizing total supply chain profitability.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,Information is also crucial to the daily operations of each stage in a supply chain.For instance,a production scheduling system uses information on demand to create a schedule that allows a factory to produce the right products in an efficient manner.A warehouse management system uses information to give the warehouses inventory visibility.The company can then use this information to determine whether new orders can be filled.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,【Para 2】Role in the Competitive Strategy在竞争策略中的角色,Information is a driver whose importance has grown as companies have used it to become both more efficient and more responsive.The tremendous growth of the importance of information technology is a testimony to the impact information can have on improving a company.Like all the other drivers,however,even with information,companies reach a point where they must make the trade-off between efficiency and responsiveness.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,Another key decision involves what information is most valuable in reducing cost and improving responsiveness within a supply chain.This decision will vary depending on the supply chain structure and the market segments served.Some companies,for example,target customers who require certain customized products that carry a premium price tag.These companies might find that investments in information allow them to respond more quickly to their customers.The following examples illustrate this kind of investment.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,【Para 3】Example:Andersen Windows案例1：爱德森制窗公司,Andersen Windows,a major manufacturer of residential wood windows located in Bayport,Mmnesota,has invested an information system that enables it to get customized products to the market rapidly.This system,called“Window of Knowledge,allows distributors and customers to actually design windows to custom-fit-their needs.Users can select from a library of more than 50,000 components that can be combined in any number of ways.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,The system immediately gives the customer price quotes and automatically sends the order to the factory if the customer decides to buy.This information investment not only gives the customer a much wider variety of products,but it allows Andersen to be much more responsive to the customer as it gets the customers order to its factory as soon as the order is placed.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,【Para 4】Another example:Dell案例2：戴尔公司,Dell operates differently from most personal computer(PC)manufacturers in that it has invested in building up its own channela direct channel to the customer.Most PC manufacturers sell their product to a distributor,who then either sells it to a dealer or a corporate customer.Dell takes orders directly from consumers over the phone and via the Internet.This direct channel required an investment to build,given the added functions Dell must perform.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,A large part of that cost can be attributed to information.However,with the direct channel model,Dell is able to view the actual consumer demand much sooner than most PC manufactures,and therefore,the company can respond more quickly to changes in consumer needs.Dell can then modify its product offering to meet these new needs.Dell is not the low-cost provider.The company is,however,the most responsive provider,and a large part of its responsiveness is due to the information flow between Dell and its customers and Dell and its suppliers that is made possible by its investment in information.,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,New Words and Phrases,role n.角色,任务,overlook v.没注意到，无视,driver n.驱动因素,physical adj.物质的,自然的,物理的,presence n.本质，属性,coordinate v.调整,整理,crucial adj.至关紧要的,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,inventory,n.,存货,库存,visibility,n.,可见性，明显度,responsive,adj.,响应的,作出响应的,testimony,n.,证词,(,尤指在法庭所作 的,),宣言,陈述,segment,n.,段,节,片断,v.,分割,customized,adj.,定制的,distributor,n.,分销商,channel,n.,渠道,Text 1 the Role of Information Management,dealer n.经销商,商人,supply chain 供给链,trade-off 交换,协定,交易,平衡,premium price 溢价,information f