Introduction
When you ask anybody from outside the UK “Can you tell one of the most famous shop in the UK?” Majority of people answers is Marks & Spencer. The history of this company starts in 1884 when the Michael Marks was founded the company. In 1894 Thomas Spencer became a partnership with Mark. Nowadays the Marks & Spencer company is one of the biggest multinational retailer from the UK. This report will focus on online clothing sales.The main distribution center of M&S is located in Castle Donington where one of the department is packing online orders. I would create a process network maps, discover perspective of operation strategy. Get know the planning and control activities and how M&S manage its supply chain. In the next section I would like present and prove that M&S deserve to be called the most famous company in the UK. The Marks and Spencer have 914 UK stores, including 222 owned and 349 franchise Simply Food stores.
(Rowe, 2016)
1. Process network maps
1.1 Supply network level
Below I made a supply network level maps for online packing in Marks and Spencer Company. To make an online order the worker need clothes, invoice , bags or boxes and label. The Labor are supply by M&S or recruitment agency. The things what the worker need to make an order are provided by suppliers. When the order is ready to go is deliver by DHL, Royal mail, parcel force or UKmail to customers or to shop and then to customer.
2. Operation strategy of Marks and Spencer
The M&S is still developing company. Priority for the company is customers, they encourage to leave a feedback after every order. In the annual report they said that they would like to improve quality and make more fit for the a customer needs. The price will be lower and clothes more suitable. (Marks and Spencer, 2016)
The M&S is also knows from their care of our planet. They have a special program called “Plan A’. For example the company by the reducing waste to comply with the main goals of this program. They provide the partnership with organization such as: Breast Cancer Now, Macmillan, Unicef, WWF and much more. (spencer, 2017)
The M&S can be proud from their delivery strategy, because they are very flexible The online order has three delivery option to choose: first is the UK Home Delivery , second is collect order in store and the third is international Delivery. The UK Home clothes deliver have two options. IF customer would like get their order next day they need did order online up until 10 pm and pay £3.99 and another is Standard home delivery by this method the clothes can be delivered within 8-10days. When the customer spends more than 50 pounds he has delivery for free. The second option is the most flexible. A person who order the order online to with the option collect to store. In checkout this person will has the free delivery and can choose which day would like to collect order. Sometimes customer can collect order in the next day , but if is Christmas period it take more time. The third option is an international delivery, The Company deliver their product to over 30 countries around the world. (marks and spencer, 2017) All customer have right to return their order within 35 days from the purchase day with the invoice or receipt.
3. Planning and control activities
3.1 Definition of Control and planning
Control and planning activities try to reconcile requirements of market and availability to achieve goal in operation. However the control and planning have few differences. The planning consider which activities should be do in their organization and when take place. Furthermore plan to which recourses will use. On the other hand the control is not consideration it is understanding what is happen in operation on this moment and decide what should be do. Planning is rather a long-term activity, organization use the demand forecast for this. Short-term activity characterized more control because do not have time to long consideration on operations, the company need to make decions very quickly. (Niegel Slack, 2016)
4. Supply chain management
4.1 Definition
Supply chain management is management is a flow between the supply chain.
It allows to design, planning, implementation, control and monitoring on supply chain. It take care of flow of information, products and services. The supply chain management main objectives are delivering products in good condition and on the right time, doing the operation in the lowest cost and be an efficient.
4.2 Supply chain management of Marks and Spencer
The most important things for Supply chain manager of M&S is quality, innovation and sustainability. Marks and Spencer cooperative with supplier of their products long time, they know them very well. Company does not own any farms or factories.
Items what M&S sell comes from around the world, top of the supplier are: China, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. (company, 2017) The M&S restrict keep them quality policy , do not include any compromise. That is why we can always enjoy from the quality from M&S. Company can be proud from their support programs the global supply chain.In the assistance with Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh they try improve working condition in this country. Every person also could check on marks and spencer website https://interactivemap.marksandspencer.com/ the supply interactive map. We can get knowledge where the M&S product are produced. The quality is save by
Clothing & Home Terms and Conditions. For example they use a policy such as Packaging, Ethical Trade, Non-Food Products Animal Welfare. The ‘’ Plan A’’ is required to all M&S suppliers.