Many small business owners are overwhelmed by the mere thought of going international. The process is easier and quicker than you might believe. Thanks to the growth of technology your business can go overseas.
The internet has probably had the greatest effect on international business. I am not just talking about ecommerce sites. The internet is an amazing place to find resources of how to go international. There are government and local sites with a wealth of information. I have listed these resources for you at the bottom of the post.
Dependable shipping is a must have for any business especially when it comes to international affairs. The ability to track a package can put the customer and business at ease. Shipping companies also are able to give a shipping destination date for the product. This reduces the amount of inquiries and tedious tracking efforts for a business.
Another way technology has benefited international business is through outsourcing. People have mixed views of outsourcing. Some see it as good while others see it as horrible. If you have dealt with calling a customer service line for a product then you have probably dealt with a person who is overseas. Technology has made it possible to outsource customer service support to places such as India and the Philippines. High speed communication systems have made it possible to send these jobs outside of the U.S.
The internet, shipping, and outsourcing are just some aspects where technology has assisted in international businesses. Taking your business international is a great opportunity to take your company to the next level. Make sure you use these resources to get a better feel for regulations, processes, and additional information that you might not be aware of.
http://export.gov
http://exim.gov
http://buyusa.gov
Sunday, March 8, 2009
"Just in Time" Inventory
In many manufacturing industries there are problems between production scheduling and the ability for purchasers to wait for a product. A solution to this problem is called the just in time scheduling system. This type of inventory management has gained greater popularity over the recent years.
The whole purpose of JIT inventory control is to eliminate inventories altogether. The way to do this is by producing goods to correspond with projected shipping dates. This means that products are shipped directly to the purchaser as they leave the assembly line. This type of inventory control reduces production costs greatly.
Just in time inventory management is great for a stable economy and demand. However, it should not be used if the demand changes, which is often seen in a producer of consumer goods. The industry in which the manufacturing takes place cannot have problems with supply or unreliable shipping. You must remember that your supplier has to be dependable and there is enough lead time for the transportation of goods.
As you can imagine, the JIT inventory control would be extremely difficult to coordinate without the use of technology. Just in time inventory has to be controlled by a complex computer based system. Although these systems tend to be expensive, the money saved using JIT inventory control outweighs the cost of the computer system.
Just in time inventory control is a great alternative for manufactures. Like I said before, you have to make sure your industry is stable along with supply and shipping. JIT inventory control reduces costs, virtually eliminates inventory, and diminishes inventory handling.
The whole purpose of JIT inventory control is to eliminate inventories altogether. The way to do this is by producing goods to correspond with projected shipping dates. This means that products are shipped directly to the purchaser as they leave the assembly line. This type of inventory control reduces production costs greatly.
Just in time inventory management is great for a stable economy and demand. However, it should not be used if the demand changes, which is often seen in a producer of consumer goods. The industry in which the manufacturing takes place cannot have problems with supply or unreliable shipping. You must remember that your supplier has to be dependable and there is enough lead time for the transportation of goods.
As you can imagine, the JIT inventory control would be extremely difficult to coordinate without the use of technology. Just in time inventory has to be controlled by a complex computer based system. Although these systems tend to be expensive, the money saved using JIT inventory control outweighs the cost of the computer system.
Just in time inventory control is a great alternative for manufactures. Like I said before, you have to make sure your industry is stable along with supply and shipping. JIT inventory control reduces costs, virtually eliminates inventory, and diminishes inventory handling.
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