How do Firms such as Uber, AirBnB, and Upwork Compete in the New Digital Economy ?
Introduction Most of us would have heard of companies such as Uber, AirBnB, and Upwork that have emerged in recent years and are now raking in profits in the Billions of Dollars. If you live in a metropolitan area, the chances are that you would have taken an Uber ride wherein you book the cab […]
Apple’s Trillion Dollar Achievement and Also Some Forthcoming Challenges
Apple Inc. is the largest company in the world today. In Aug 2018, the company became the first in the world to reach a trillion dollar valuation! This meant Apple was ahead of its competition by at least $150 billion. Other companies such as Alphabet have a market capitalization close to $850 billion. The reactions […]
Role of Customers in Total Quality Management
Total Quality management refers to a continuous effort of management along with the employees of a particular organization to improve the quality of products and services. Businesses need to emphasize on quality of their products rather than quantity to survive the fierce competition. Remember in today’s scenario, there is no dearth of competitors in the […]
Lack of Regulation as a Cause for the Global Financial Crisis
The previous article had touched upon the lack of regulation as a cause for the global financial crisis. This article looks at this aspect in detail. To understand why the lack of regulation was one of the contributory factors for the crisis, one has to view the issue starting with the repeal of the Glass […]
Does India Inc. Have a Diversity Problem? Should Indian Firms Do More for Inclusivity?
What Do Recent Events Indicate About How India Inc. Has a Diversity Problem? It is a well known fact that Indian Corporates often pay lip service to Diversity and Inclusivity and most D&I initiatives often exist on paper with little to show in terms of actual achievements. Apart from culturally shaped attitudes towards women and […]
Facility Location is the right location for the manufacturing facility, it will have sufficient access to the customers, workers, transportation, etc. For commercial success, and competitive advantage following are the critical factors:
Overall objective of an organization is to satisfy and delight customers with its product and services. Therefore, for an organization it becomes important to have strategy formulated around its manufacturing unit. A manufacturing unit is the place where all inputs such as raw material, equipment, skilled labors, etc. come together and manufacture products for customers. One of the most critical factors determining the success of the manufacturing unit is the location.
Facility location determination is a business critical strategic decision. There are several factors, which determine the location of facility among them competition, cost and corresponding associated effects. Facility location is a scientific process utilizing various techniques.
For a company which operates in a global environment; cost, available infrastructure, labor skill, government policies and environment are very important factors.
A right location provides adequate access to customers, skilled labors, transportation, etc. A right location ensures success of the organization in current global competitive environment.
A geographic area becomes a focal point for various facility locations based on many factors, parameters and issues. These factors are can be divided into primary factors and secondary factors.
A primary factor which leads to industrialization of a particular area for particular manufacturing of products is material, labor and presence of similar manufacturing facilities. Secondary factors are available of credit finance, communication infrastructure and insurance.
Facility location is critical for business continuity and success of the organization. So it is important to avoid mistakes while making selection for a location. Errors in selection can be divided into two broad categories behavioral and non-behavioral.
The goal of an organization is customer delight for that it needs access to the customers at minimum possible cost. This is achieved by developing location strategy. Location strategy helps the company in determining product offering, market, demand forecast in different markets, best location to access customers and best manufacturing and service location.
If the organization can configure the right location for the manufacturing facility, it will have sufficient access to the customers, workers, transportation, etc. For commercial success, and competitive advantage following are the critical factors:
Customer Proximity: Facility locations are selected closer to the customer as to reduce transportation cost and decrease time in reaching the customer.
Business Area: Presence of other similar manufacturing units around makes business area conducive for facility establishment.
Availability of Skill Labor: Education, experience and skill of available labor are another important, which determines facility location.
Free Trade Zone/Agreement: Free-trade zones promote the establishment of manufacturing facility by providing incentives in custom duties and levies. On another hand free trade agreement is among countries providing an incentive to establish business, in particular, country.
Suppliers: Continuous and quality supply of the raw materials is another critical factor in determining the location of manufacturing facility.
Environmental Policy: In current globalized world pollution, control is very important, therefore understanding of environmental policy for the facility location is another critical factor.
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