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Supply chain from manufacturing to shelf
A Kellogg's case study
Introduction
The Kellogg's Cornflake Company began in 1906 with the Kellogg brothers who originally ran a sanatorium in Michigan, USA. They experimented with different ways to cook cereals without losing the goodness. Their philosophy was 'improved diet leads to improved health'.Between 1938 and the present day Kellogg's opened manufacturing plants in the UK, Canada, Australia, Latin America and Asia. Kellogg's is now the world's leading breakfast cereal manufacturer. Its products are manufactured in 19 countries and sold in more than 160 countries. It produces a wide range of cereal products, including the well-known brands of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Special K, Fruit n' Fibre, as well as the Nutri-Grain cereal bars.Kellogg's business strategy is clear and focused:
• to grow the cereal business there are now 40 different cereals
• to expand the snack business by diversifying into convenience foods
• to engage in specific growth opportunities.
By acting responsibly, businesses win respect and trust from communities, governments, customers and the public. This enables the business to grow. In the community, Kellogg's is known for its approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For example, its programme to promote the benefits of breakfast clubs has provided over one million breakfasts to schoolchildren throughout the UK.Businesses focus primarily on the creation of profit but increasingly understand that their social and environmental impacts are important. Kellogg's believes in acting responsibly in all sections of the supply chain. This is a better long-term business model for both the organization and its customers. Amongst other activities, it aims to do this by reducing energy and emissions in manufacturing and distribution and improving packaging.
Kellogg's Global Code of Ethics demonstrates a commitment to act respectfully and ethically. 'Our mission is to drive sustainable growth through the power of our people and brands by better serving the needs of our consumers, customers and communities.' This case study shows how Kellogg's fulfils this mission in the later parts of the supply chain from manufacturing to shelf.
The supply chain - the secondary sector
Kellogg's is a secondary sector business. It obtains its raw materials of wheat, corn, cocoa, rice and sugar from primary suppliers around the world. These materials help make over 40 different breakfast cereals and snacks to sell to customers through the tertiary sector. It is a large-scale manufacturer and stores sufficient stocks to meet customer orders. As part of its Research and Development (R&D) programs, it develops recipes to extend its range of cereals and snacks.
Large-scale manufacturers like Kellogg's need to consider many different aspects of their operations:
• Where to locate the business - this could be near to materials' suppliers. For example, power stations are often sited near to coal sources to reduce delivery costs. Frozen peas factories may be near farms to ensure the product is fresh. Kellogg's ingredients are grown in many countries. It is more important for its manufacturing sites to be near to distribution channels and customers so products can reach shelves quickly.
• Size and scale - they need large factories with adequate space for equipment and production processes. They also need to accommodate the frequent delivery of incoming materials and outgoing finished goods.
• Where and how materials and finished goods are to be stored until needed for sale - as part of Kellogg's manufacturing process it packages products ready for immediate distribution.
• Where its customers are - Kellogg's does not sell its breakfast cereals directly to consumers. It uses intermediaries like wholesalers, supermarkets, high street stores and hotels. Transportation and storage occur between all stages of the supply chain.
Kellogg's largest UK production plant is at Trafford Park in Manchester. One of its storage depots was 15 miles away at Warrington. Kellogg's moved this storage to a new warehouse site in Trafford Park, only one mile away from its production base. This provides specialist energy efficient warehousing of stock 24 hours a day. To improve its distribution, Kellogg's collaborates with TDG, a logistics specialist. This reduces transport costs considerably and is energy-efficient. Kellogg's has reduced both its carbon footprint and costs as a result.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is an umbrella organization for food and drink manufacturers and has called on its members to improve their environmental performance by reducing:
• levels of packaging to consumers
• use of water during production
• impact of transportation
• waste to landfill
• energy use during production.
Through the FDF, Kellogg's has signed an agreement with 21 major companies to improve water efficiency, reduce wastage and cut CO2 emissions. Together these companies aim to save 140 million litres of water per day. This will reduce their water bills by £60 million each year. Kellogg's has also joined with the international company Kimberley Clark, which makes paper products like tissues, to reduce carbon emissions by sharing delivery services.Kellogg's now has targets in these areas and where possible builds these aspects into Service Level Agreements with partner companies in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.
The supply chain - the tertiary sector
The final stage in the industrial supply chain is the tertiary sector. The tertiary sector provides services. It does not manufacture goods. This sector involves:
• retailers like supermarkets that purchase manufactured goods from secondary sector businesses and sell them to the consumers
• service companies who may deal in, for example, finance, computer systems, warehousing or transportation.
Storing stock and transporting it are key activities that link all three parts of the supply chain.Kellogg's employs specialist transportation and storage companies to be responsible for all the logistics aspects of its business. One of Kellogg's partners, TDG, stores and transports pallets of Kellogg's cereals. This allows Kellogg's to concentrate on its specialist area of manufacturing cereals and other food products.
Kellogg's also shares transportation with another manufacturer, Kimberley Clark. This has reduced distribution costs, helping keep Kellogg's products competitive. The system helps reduce the number of part-full or empty vehicles on the road. This saves time, road miles and provides additional benefits of reducing CO2 emissions.
Kellogg's has major relationships in the tertiary sector. These include the major retail supermarkets such as Tesco and ASDA and some of the wholesale sector such as Makro. Kellogg's relies on retailers to help them promote a good relationship between the consumer and its products.To drive sales, Kellogg's is involved in initiatives that help add value for retailers. An example of this is the Shelf Ready Unit that Kellogg's developed with Tesco. This displays Kellogg's products easily and effectively. This means that the supermarket uses less staff time (and cost) in setting up a display. The display is attractive and easier for consumers to choose from, increasing turnover for Kellogg's and Tesco.
Managing the supply chain effectively
Having the right marketing mix ensures businesses have the right product, in the right place, at the right time. Kellogg's manufactures the right products based on research into consumer needs. It manages the distribution channels to place its products in stores. Its focus on cost-effective systems ensures its prices are competitive. It works with retailers to improve promotion of its products. Retailers want to hold limited stocks of products to reduce warehousing costs.Kellogg's uses a system called just-in-time to provide an efficient stock inventory system. Just-in-time means that just enough productsare made to fulfil orders and limited stock is kept, Kellogg's needs to get the balance right at each section of the supply chain. Late deliveries or inability to deliver due to a lack of products might make retailers buy from competitors. Through its collaborations with TDG and by relocating some of its warehousing, Kellogg's now has a more efficient distribution system. Computerized stock holding systems ensure shelves are always full and orders are delivered on time. This helps Kellogg's to keep stocks to a minimum. It also helps customers like ASDA and Tesco to reduce their stocks too.
This illustrates the effectiveness of Kellogg's supply chain management (SCM). This was achieved by a collaboration of industries within the supply chain. Each company works within their specialist area to provide products and services to consumers. Distribution has improved through the collaboration of Kellogg's, Kimberley Clark and TDG. Storage, in itself, is investment without returns. Every day materials or products are on a shelf, they are costing money without earning any profit. Retailers do not want a warehouse that is unnecessarily full and neither do manufacturers. When deliveries are made, lorries need to be full to minimize unit costs of transportation.
This collaboration has helped all of these aspects. Customers are guaranteed deliveries on time because stocks are monitored effectively. Deliveries are cost effective as lorry capacity is used effectively. Retailers like ASDA and Tesco benefit as they are kept stocked without storage costs. Therefore their advertising yields good returns, as customers are always able to buy Kellogg's products.The lean production system streamlines processes and eliminates waste. Computerized warehousing means that products are manufactured efficiently, then transported straight from the warehouse to retail customers. This avoids delay to customers.
TDG keeps the warehouse costs low through computerized heating and specialist transportation skills. The computerized stockholding shows immediately when shelves are empty. This then automatically generates orders to the manufacturing base at Trafford Park to replenish stocks. This minimizes waste and the lower costs have increased Kellogg's profits. This also helps the company to keep prices competitive, which keep customers happy and loyal. The effect on the environment is good too as heating and fuel costs are minimized.
Conclusion
The three sections of the industrial supply chain need to interact to ensure goods or services reach consumers.The efficient delivery of the product to the consumer at the right price, in the right place and at the right time will result in good business for each link of the chain. This takes strategic planning and effective collaboration with all partners.Specialization is more cost-effective for Kellogg's and partnering with other industry specialists reduces costs to the business, the customer and the environment. Kellogg's champions socially responsible operations. Through effective supply chain management, it benefits itself, the environment and other businesses.