Answer

Return Flow and Technology

Manufacturing

SBS Seating should acquire an enterprise accounting software such as Intacct. This is sophisticated software that shall allow it to carry out various accounting activities on a large scale. These accounting activities include core accounting activities, tax accounting, billing and invoicing, and reporting. SBS Seating could also use Netsuite Financial Management systems that would perform the same accounting activities as Intacct. These include financial reporting, core accounting, tax accounting and billing together with invoicing (Kuei, Madu & Lin, 2011). SBS Seating can apply robotics within its manufacturing activities in order to ensure the smooth operation of its industrial activities. The robots applied in the manufacturing process can be used to assemble the electronic parts within the seats made by the company as robots are much better at such assembly as compared to human beings. The supply chain management activities in the manufacturing sector are similar to those in the healthcare sector where there are both suppliers and business partners who must be managed effectively in order to have a sustainable system (Chan & Chong, 2013). However, the key difference here is that there are raw materials whose inventory levels must be monitored in order to ensure the smooth operation of the manufacturing facilities. This is the main differentiator between manufacturing SCM and retail and healthcare SCM.

Healthcare

MLD Hospital should acquire a modern inventory management system such as the SAP technology system that should enable them to manage their inventory better. This system can help them keep track of the inventory levels of different hospital supplies and serve their clients better. The hospital could also use Oracle database systems to keep track of its inventory as well as to track suppliers and other business partners (Eckler & Schneller, 2015). MLD Hospital can implement a queuing system at all points at which patients are served within the hospital premises in order to have an orderly system of service delivery within the hospital. This system shall ensure that services are disbursed on a first come basis at all service points within the hospital system. The difference between SCM at the hospital and SCM within the manufacturing facility is that SCM within the hospital also involves monitoring and assessing the movement of patients seeking services at the hospital premises. The difference between the supply chain management at the hospital and Walton’s Department Store is that the medical suppliers for the hospital are highly regulated as opposed to the suppliers at the retail store who do not have to deal with human life and welfare.

Retail

The retail company known as Walton’s Department Store should adopt supply chain management software such as Sage X3 to manage their supply chain systems and boost their service delivery to their clients. The company can also use accounting software from Sage in order to meet all their accounting needs including billing and invoicing, core accounting, taxation accounting and financial reporting measures. Walton’s Department Store could decide to implement a new and highly attractive interior design redesigning the layout of their stores as well as the display of items on shelves and racks around the store (Fu, Ionescu, Aghezzaf & De Keyser, 2016). The new store layout is likely to attract more customers to the store as they would want to see what was new at the store. The store could also conduct sales on some of its old stock in order to attract customers to its newly redesigned stores. The difference between SCM in the retail sector as opposed to the manufacturing and healthcare industry is that most retail outlets deal in consumer goods that might either be fast moving or slow moving. These are usually ready for consumption by the final consumer as opposed to the manufacturing sector which mostly deals in raw materials that are being turned into finished goods.