Vaccine Supply Chain Management in covid-19 perspective

It has been found that 27.97 million vaccines are being administered every day. But only 2.3% of people in low-income countries received at least a first vaccine by September 2021, according to official reports from national health agencies, which is collated by Our World in Data. Concerns exist about whether some countries producing vaccines may impose protectionist controls by export restrictions. So that it would stockpile a COVID 19 vaccine for their own population. In June, the Serum Institute of India – a major manufacturer of global vaccines – reached a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca to make 1 billion doses of vaccine for low-and-middle-income countries, of which half of the doses would go to India. This is an issue of supply chain management to manufacture and send it to the end-user.In the United States, restrictions on vaccine eligibility have been lowered. And wealthier individuals from other countries with unhurried vaccination rates were reportedly traveling to the United States to be vaccinated.

United Parcel Services. Inc. (UPS): A supply chain management case study

The American Messenger Company, founded in 1907, primarily focused on package delivery to retail stores and special delivery mail for the U.S. Post Office. In 1913, it acquired a Model T Ford as its first delivery vehicle. In 1919, the company expanded to Oakland, California, changing its name to United Parcel Service. UPS became one of the only companies in the United States to offer common carrier service, expanding to areas up to 125 miles outside the city. UPS faced direct competition with USPS and the Interstate Commerce Commission, but the common carrier service was applied in cities where UPS could use the service without the authority of the ICC and state commerce commissions. In 1953, UPS resumed air service called UPS Blue Label Air. UPS expanded its operations to serve all 48 contiguous states in the United States, Canada, and West Germany. In 1991, UPS relocated its headquarters to Sandy Springs, Georgia, and acquired Haulfast and Carryfast, rebranding them UPS Supply Chain Solutions. UPS offers international package services to over 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company faces competition from major domestic carriers like the United States Postal Service (USPS) and FedEx, as well as regional carriers like OnTrac and LSO. UPS has partnered with the US Postal Service to offer UPS Mail Innovations and “SurePost,” which use the UPS Ground network to deliver packages weighing under 10 pounds to the nearest UPS Package Center. UPS has received a “striding” environmental scorecard and received the Clean Air Excellence Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Supply Chain Analytics: A conceptual discussion

A study supports the concept of an analytics culture built on advanced data management processes, technologies, and talent. SCAG can strengthen firms’ core features, such as ambidexterity, adaptability, and swiftness, enabling them to upgrade their performance in terms of sales, profit, and return on investment. SCAC can improve end-to-end supply chain productivity and eliminate market fragmentation. The study finds a significant positive relationship between SCAC and firm performance, with a mediating effect on supply chain agility. This could guide managers in investing in SCAC and considering complementary assets like supply chain agility to achieve a continued competitive advantage. SCAC can accelerate FPER by establishing robust agility in operations.

Weather impacts on supply chain management: An analysis

Supply chains engender great opportunities for the weather forecasting industry to advance. Those who can utilize these kinds of forecasting, are beneficial to some extent and preserved from loss of weather disruptions. On one hand, the impact of weather in many cases increases the cost of the supply chain, on the other hand, it decrements the visibility of the supply chain due to inclement weather. Various weather stations measure weather data such as rainfall, shipping, etc. Weather cognate courses are being evolved for supply chain managers to tackle weather disruption issues well. The other utilization of weather reports from third-party companies can help forecast early solutions and point out the affected areas.

Tesla’s supply chain and logistics: A case study

The company was incorporated as Tesla Motors, Inc. on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Eberhard verbalized he wanted to build a car manufacturer that is additionally a technology company, with its core technologies as the battery, the computer software, and the proprietary motor. Tesla Motors has become kenned for engendering well-designed and innovative electric conveyances. To assemble its cars, Tesla sources components from a range of Tesla suppliers. Some suppliers provide mundane car components; others provide electric conveyance components.

Letter of Credit and blockchain technology in a Supply Chain

A letter of credit(LC) is also named a documentary credit(DC) in globalized international trade. In recent times blockchain technology is utilized by banks regarding the formulation of letters of credit. The ICC regulates market practices (Documentary Credit 600) in this regard. These include the advising bank that will give the documentary credit to the beneficiary or their nominated bank and provide their nominated bank with any amendments to the letter of credit. A certain percentage of the letter of credit value is retained by the bank for security purposes. Blockchain technology is available for the letter of credit procedure and trade finance is related to it. Commerce and international trade finance include products such as issuing letters of credit, indemnifying Bills of Lading, etc. Although the letter of credit was created in the old world methods managing the shipping of goods and related accommodations. But there is a great potential to supersede these paper processes with digitized operations utilizing blockchain technology. International trade requires a number of participants to interact with one another i.e., the exporters, importers, banks, shipping companies, port-related entities, and customs. Trade finance in supply chain management(SCM) includes products such as lending, issuing letters of credit, factoring, export credit, and indemnification.