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Choosing A Functional Distribution Network Design

By Christine Smith


For a firm to be successful in its operations, it has to make sure that its products are well distributed until they reach the final consumer. The firm has to set up a functioning system that includes a network of people, storage facilities and transportation that will efficiently move its products, otherwise known as a Distribution Network Design.

The reason some products do not reach some destinations is because the makers of that product do not market it well and have not specified an approach for them to get to that destination. Different products need different approaches to supply them successfully hence firms should be very cautious of the approaches they implement.

Most production businesses are situated quite a distance from the clients who use their products, meaning that they have to put up a strategy that will ensure the goods reach the clients in timely fashion. For companies dealing in perishable goods, they must make sure that the goods are transported fast enough and are stored in cool places to ensure they last longer.

Since there are many companies distributing their products at the same time, competition is always tough but this should not be a turn down. A firm can find out the strategies competitors are using to do their distributions and capitalize on areas where they are making mistakes, or they can also implement techniques that the competitors are not using to gain an upper hand.

As the purpose of doing business is to satisfy customer needs and make profits at the same time, a firm should carefully examine how much will be spent on the process. After a particular method has been settled on, the firm has to set up the system and this may include training employees. As this might be expensive and time consuming, it is paramount to weigh the cost that will be incurred against the benefits before committing funds to it.

Many organizations settle on a distribution plan that will cost them the least to implement. When cost is the major factor in making such a decision, often the efficiency of the system will be put to the test. An organization should do all it can to ensure decisions are not based solely on revenues and after a decision is made, the selected design should be followed religiously to ensure the organization stays on course.

The way the government is involved will also be a major factor. The authorities involvement comes in terms of the laws set that affect taxes, labor as well as transportation restrictions. Firms have to be aware of such things and must be up to date with the current regulations to ensure that they make well informed decisions and avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law.

Firm heads are advised to have a list of possible strategies to use and from that list they can rate the strategies from the one they feel will be most suitable to the one they feel will be least suitable. After a strategy is implemented and is working properly, they are allowed to look for other strategies that complement their main plan in order to increase service and profitability.




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