Using The Internet For Research: How Many Suppliers Are Typi

Using The Internet Research How Many Suppliers Are Typically Used For

Using the internet, research how many suppliers are typically used for manufacturing large commercial aircraft. List 10 such suppliers and what they do. How would an integrated ERP system, such as the one at Lockheed Martin help manage all those suppliers? Assume you own and run a small local coffee shop. You do all your ordering of ingredients for your coffee shop by hand-using pencil, paper, mail, and telephone. All your sales are recorded by hand in a book, and transcribed for filing of small business taxes. How could a small ERP system help your business become more efficient? What would an ERP system allow you to do? Research the topic of ERP contracts on the Internet. How could ERP vendors make it easier for customers to understand their licensing models? What could customers do to ensure a contract contains all possible eventualities?

Paper For Above instruction

The manufacturing of large commercial aircraft involves a complex and extensive supply chain, typically comprising numerous suppliers contributing various essential components. On average, the number of suppliers for such aircraft can range from a few hundred to over a thousand, depending on the aircraft's complexity and the manufacturer's supply chain management strategies. For example, Airbus and Boeing, the two leading aircraft manufacturers, work with hundreds of suppliers worldwide to source parts such as engines, avionics, landing gear, fuselage components, and interior furnishings (Gao et al., 2020).

Below are ten notable suppliers involved in the manufacturing of large commercial aircraft, along with their primary functions:

1. General Electric (GE): Supplies aircraft engines, notably the GE9X engine for Boeing's 777X series, providing propulsion power.

2. Rolls-Royce: Another major aircraft engine manufacturer, supplying engines like the Trent series for wide-body aircraft.

3. Honeywell Aerospace: Provides avionics systems, auxiliary power units, and environmental controls.

4. Safran: Supplies landing gear systems, aircraft wheels, and brakes.

5. Liebherr-Aerospace: Provides flight control systems, landing gear components, and actuation systems.

6. UTC Aerospace Systems: Specializes in aircraft safety systems, electric systems, and actuation.

7. Indra Sistemas: Supplies avionics and electronic systems, including cockpit displays.

8. Magellan Aerospace: Provides aerospace materials and structural components.

9. Parker Hannifin: Supplies fluid conveyance systems like fuel and hydraulic tubing.

10. Meggitt: Provides fire detection, crash sensors, and aircraft braking systems.

Managing such a diverse and extensive supply chain requires sophisticated coordination and real-time data sharing to ensure timely deliveries and quality control. An integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, like the one used at Lockheed Martin, plays a pivotal role in managing multiple suppliers efficiently. Such ERP systems facilitate real-time data sharing across various departments and suppliers, ensuring procurement synchronization, inventory management, quality assurance, and compliance with manufacturing schedules (Nair & Nguyen, 2021). This integration enhances visibility across the entire supply chain, reduces delays, minimizes costs, and improves overall supply chain resilience.

Transitioning from aerospace to a small local coffee shop illustrates the potential benefits of implementing an ERP system at a smaller scale. Traditionally, small businesses like coffee shops rely on manual record-keeping, which is prone to errors and inefficiencies. By adopting a small ERP system, the shop owner can automate inventory management by tracking ingredient usage and automatically reordering supplies when stock levels are low. This reduces the risk of running out of essential ingredients and streamlines the ordering process. Additionally, recording sales digitally allows for accurate tracking of revenue patterns, simplifies tax filing, and provides insights into customer preferences—enabling better stock and staffing decisions (Bing et al., 2020).

An ERP system at a small business can integrate sales, inventory, procurement, and financial data into a centralized platform. This integration empowers owners with real-time access to critical business metrics, enhances decision-making, and improves operational efficiency. Tasks that previously required manual effort, such as inventory restocking or tax preparation, become automated and more accurate. Furthermore, ERP systems can support customer relationship management, scheduling, and marketing efforts, fostering growth and customer satisfaction (Khan & Sharma, 2019).

The complex licensing and contractual models used by ERP vendors can be confusing for customers, often involving multiple license types, subscription models, and varying support options. To improve clarity, vendors could develop straightforward, standardized licensing agreements with transparent pricing models, clearly outlining different levels of access, user limits, renewal terms, and support services (Ribeiro et al., 2011). Providing comprehensive documentation and interactive tools or calculators to help customers understand the total cost of ownership and potential future costs can further demystify ERP licensing.

Customers can protect themselves by thoroughly reviewing and negotiating contracts to include all potential scenarios. This includes requesting detailed Service Level Agreements (SLAs), specifying upgrade and support clauses, and understanding licensing rights and restrictions. Engaging legal counsel experienced in IT contracts and requesting clear documentation of all possible expenditure, including renewal terms, penalties, and scalability options, ensures contractual coverage of future needs (Gibson et al., 2013).

In conclusion, the supply chain for large commercial aircraft involves hundreds of specialized suppliers, each contributing critical components managed efficiently through advanced ERP systems. Small businesses benefit significantly from similar ERP implementations, gaining automation, improved accuracy, and enhanced decision-making capabilities. Clearer ERP licensing models and comprehensive contracts further support organizations in leveraging ERP solutions effectively and securely.

References

• Bing, W., Liu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2020). The impact of ERP on small business operational efficiency: A case study. Journal of Small Business Management, 58(3), 434-450.
• Gao, P., Wang, Y., & Zhou, Q. (2020). Supply chain management in aerospace manufacturing: Challenges and solutions. International Journal of Production Economics, 227, 107659.
• Gibson, D., Miller, P., & Johnson, S. (2013). Negotiating IT service contracts: Strategies for success. International Journal of Information Management, 33(3), 543-549.
• Khan, S., & Sharma, P. (2019). Small business automation through ERP: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Business Research, 98, 284-293.
• Nair, A., & Nguyen, T. (2021). ERP in aerospace supply chain management: A review. Supply Chain Management Review, 25(4), 10-17.
• Ribeiro, J., Andrade, J., & Oliveira, R. (2011). Licensing models for enterprise software: A comparative analysis. Communications of the ACM, 54(7), 80-86.