APICS CSCP Practice Test - Questions Answers, Page 13

Demand Forecasting: This involves predicting future customer demand using historical data and market analysis.

Impact of Promotions: Understanding how promotional activities like discounts and rebates affect demand is crucial for accurate forecasting.

Demand Shaping: The process of adjusting and influencing customer demand through strategies such as promotions, discounts, and rebates is known as demand shaping. It involves proactively managing demand to align with supply chain capabilities and strategic goals.

Purpose of Demand Shaping: This helps companies manage inventory, optimize production schedules, and improve customer satisfaction by aligning supply with anticipated demand.

Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2016). Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation. Pearson.

Fisher, M., & Raman, A. (1996). Reducing the Cost of Demand Uncertainty through Accurate Response to Early Sales. Operations Research, 44(1), 87-99.

Customer Acquisition: This is the process of gaining new customers or clients for a business. It involves marketing and sales strategies aimed at bringing new customers into the company's fold.

Spending per Customer: During the customer acquisition phase, companies typically invest heavily in marketing, promotions, and discounts to attract new customers.

Profitability Consideration: Measuring spending per customer in this phase helps companies understand the cost-effectiveness of their acquisition strategies and determine the return on investment.

Rationale: High spending is expected in customer acquisition because it is a critical phase for building a customer base. This metric helps in evaluating and optimizing acquisition strategies to ensure long-term profitability.

Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing Management. Pearson.

Kumar, V., & Shah, D. (2004). Building and Sustaining Profitable Customer Loyalty for the 21st Century. Journal of Retailing, 80(4), 317-329.

Win-back Strategy: This involves efforts to re-engage and regain former customers who have stopped purchasing from the company.

Profitability Consideration: When implementing a win-back strategy, it is essential to evaluate the profitability of different customer accounts to ensure that the resources are being used effectively.

Segmentation: This is the process of dividing customers into groups based on common characteristics such as profitability, purchasing behavior, and loyalty.

Neglecting Segmentation: Failing to consider segmentation in a win-back strategy means the company might spend resources on low-profit or unprofitable customers, which can reduce the overall return on investment for the win-back efforts.

Zeithaml, V. A., Rust, R. T., & Lemon, K. N. (2001). The Customer Pyramid: Creating and Serving Profitable Customers. California Management Review, 43(4), 118-142.

Reinartz, W., & Kumar, V. (2003). The Impact of Customer Relationship Characteristics on Profitable Lifetime Duration. Journal of Marketing, 67(1), 77-99.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) focuses on maintaining and enhancing relationships with customers, particularly those who have been profitable over time. By targeting these profitable customers for greater attention, a company can further deepen customer loyalty, enhance satisfaction, and potentially increase their lifetime value. This can include personalized services, special offers, and proactive communication. This approach ensures that the most valuable customers feel appreciated and are less likely to switch to competitors.

Reference:

'Customer Relationship Management: Concept, Strategy, and Tools' by V. Kumar and Werner Reinartz

'The CRM Handbook: A Business Guide to Customer Relationship Management' by Jill Dych

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices enable wireless scanning of products in warehouses. These devices use electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information, which can be read from several meters away without line of sight. RFID improves inventory accuracy, reduces labor costs, and enhances supply chain visibility by allowing real-time tracking of products.

Reference:

'RFID in the Supply Chain: A Guide to Selection and Implementation' by Judith M. Myerson

'RFID Technology and Applications' by Stephen B. Miles, Sanjay E. Sarma, and John R. Williams

Order-fill rate is a key measure of customer service for companies focusing on price and product availability. It indicates the percentage of customer orders that are fulfilled completely and on time. A high order-fill rate reflects the ability to meet customer demand efficiently, which is crucial when emphasizing product availability. This metric directly impacts customer satisfaction and loyalty, as customers expect reliable and prompt delivery of products.

Reference:

'The Supply Chain Management Casebook: Comprehensive Coverage and Best Practices in SCM' by Chuck Munson

'Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation' by Sunil Chopra and Peter Meindl

The best way to manage a business relationship is to measure performance based on agreed-upon metrics. These metrics are established mutually by both parties involved and reflect the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are most relevant to their specific relationship and objectives. This approach ensures transparency, accountability, and alignment of expectations, facilitating a collaborative and effective partnership. By focusing on these metrics, both parties can track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance the relationship.

Reference:

'Supplier Relationship Management: Unlocking the Hidden Value in Your Supply Base' by Jonathan O'Brien

'The Handbook of Supply Chain Management' by James B. Ayers

Source: This is the initial step in the supplier relationship process, where the company identifies and evaluates potential suppliers. The goal is to find suppliers that can meet the company's quality, cost, and delivery requirements.

Procure: After sourcing, the company moves to procurement, which involves negotiating contracts and purchasing materials or services from the selected suppliers.

Fulfill: This step involves the supplier delivering the goods or services as per the agreed terms and conditions. It includes logistics, quality checks, and ensuring that the supply meets the company's demand.

Manage: Effective management of supplier relationships includes ongoing performance monitoring, communication, and collaboration to ensure continuous improvement and address any issues that arise. It also involves developing long-term partnerships and strategies for mutual growth.

Monczka, R. M., Handfield, R. B., Giunipero, L. C., & Patterson, J. L. (2016). Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. Cengage Learning.

Van Weele, A. J. (2018). Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: Analysis, Strategy, Planning and Practice. Cengage Learning.

Strategy Development: Once the supplier relationship management (SRM) strategy is developed, the next step is to establish clear criteria for selecting prospective partners.

Criteria Development: These criteria typically include factors such as supplier reliability, financial stability, quality standards, capacity to meet demand, technological capabilities, and alignment with the company's strategic objectives.

Importance: Developing these criteria is crucial as it ensures that the company selects suppliers who are most likely to contribute to its long-term success and who can form mutually beneficial partnerships.

Next Steps: After criteria development, the company can proceed to identify and evaluate potential suppliers against these criteria before making selections and moving forward with SRM implementation.

Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2016). Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation. Pearson.

Handfield, R. B., & Nichols, E. L. (2002). Supply Chain Redesign: Transforming Supply Chains into Integrated Value Systems. FT Press.