SummaryThe configuration under which manufacturing companies operate has a significant impact on their efficiency, costs, benefits and productivity. This article will focus on two companies, namely Kellogg and Proctor and Gamble. Additionally, it will discuss inventory management practices and their impact on overall business efficiency, operational costs, sales levels, product availability and overall success. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Traditionally, the way of managing inventory would be called Retailer Inventory Management System or (RMI) for short. With this system, retailers track inventory received and sold; therefore, reorder as they see fit. More recently, companies such as Proctor and Gamble have adopted a system (VMI) which stands for Vendor Managed Inventory System. The four different types of presentation are product presentation, process presentation, cellular presentation and fixed position presentation. “The importance of store design and atmosphere and their implications for customer experience in the era of omnichannel and technology-driven shopping environments have been recognized in the marketing literature” (Krasonikolakis, Vrechopoulos, Pouloudi and Dimitriadis, 2018). Inventory ManagementThe configuration in which manufacturing companies operate has a significant impact on their efficiency, costs, benefits and productivity. This article will focus on two companies, namely Kellogg and Proctor and Gamble. Additionally, it will discuss inventory management practices and their impact on overall business efficiency, operational costs, sales levels, product availability and overall success. These two companies are relatively large and, as a result, have certain points in common in their operation; however, they also have differences. An analysis of how their concept of designing goods and services is integrated will be discussed as well as the role their inventory plays on business performance, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Finally, metrics will be assessed for supply chain performance and improvements will be suggested. Competition increases when a customer switches to another brand simply because their favorite brand or product is out of stock. If they like the new brand and it is generally easier to acquire, they may switch brands and products permanently. Inventory management plays a vital role in keeping a business operating at optimal levels and maintaining sales at the highest possible levels. Very often a retailer sells many brands. For example, Target, Walmart, and K-Mart all sell products from multiple brands. Traditionally, the way of managing inventory would be called a Retailer Inventory Management System or (RMI) for short. With this system, retailers track inventory received and sold; therefore, reorder as they see fit. More recently, companies such as Proctor and Gamble have adopted a system (VMI) which stands for Vendor Managed Inventory System. Rather than placing the burden of tracking and ordering on the retailer, this burden is then placed on the seller. When two different manufacturers sell similar interchangeable products, it is imperative that the manufacturer ensures that its product is still indepartment in order to guarantee the loyalty of its customers to the brand. The retailer will not necessarily lose money by not having that particular item on their shelves, but the manufacturer will (Mishra and Raghunathan, 2004). “Inventory management systems and dynamic reliability measurements and controls remain challenging at every stage, especially when temporal variations and operating conditions are taken into account” (Almaktoom, 2017). Technology has helped immensely in managing inventory and tracking circumstances such as weather conditions or traffic delays. With the speed at which information is transferred, initial planning and contingency planning can be better utilized. This still does not take into account circumstances beyond our control such as abnormal weather conditions, road accidents, natural disasters, human elements such as employees arriving late or sick days, etc. Technology can only solve so many aspects of planning in general, but so can inventory management as a whole. Once inventory is well managed, how the layout is planned and implemented is equally important. The four different types of layout are product layout, process layout, cellular layout, and fixed position layout. “The importance of store design and atmosphere and their implications for customer experience in the era of omnichannel and technology-driven shopping environments have been recognized in the marketing literature” (Krasonikolakis, Vrechopoulos, Pouloudi and Dimitriadis, 2018). In typical physical stores or businesses, the previous four types of presentations are used. A product display is where products are arranged according to a sequence of operations, such as in a sandwich shop or pizzeria. The order of events determines the arrangement. This works well for places such as Subway, Baskin Robbins or Dion's Pizza. This is also evident at buffets. A process map consists of grouping by business function, such as a Home Depot store or a mechanic shop. By separating processes such as tire alignment and perhaps window tinting services for example, businesses can be more efficient in what they are able to achieve in the shortest possible time. This is also true for car washes, whether self-service or not. “Process layouts provide greater flexibility and lower investment in equipment” (Li, Tan, & Li, 2018). How inventory is managed and arranged in stores, retailers and restaurants depends largely on the needs of not only customers, but also employees and the business as a whole. For example, by grouping equipment needed for the same processes, such as all cash registers in one area, it not only makes it easier for all customers, but also management and profitability, as IT equipment requires specific connections which would cost more. throughout the store in many locations. Some stores, however, decide that it is in their best interest to do so, for their own reasons and for the convenience of customers. This depends heavily on the cost-benefit scale. Cellular layout essentially dissects products and services by purpose and distributes them into cells. Managers are then assigned to certain cells or departments as they are often called. This allows employees to become experts in the “cell”. This is evident in department stores, like Dillard's..