Channels of distribution

Quality control is usually thought of in terms of control during production, and in some industries this may be all that is required. In the food industry such control must extend into the channels of distribution. The highly perishable nature of frozen foods makes this phase extremely important. It deserves a great deal more emphasis than it has received in the past. 

We expect that the focus of pharmaceutical QC/QA will be broadened in the near future. Traditionally we have concentrated on the quality of products at the time manufacture is complete, with stability being very largely evaluated from retained stability samples. It is probable that more attention will be given to monitoring the quality of products in the channels of distribution and even, in some instances, under conditions... 

Market assessment in the pharmaceutical sphere is not an exact science it has an element of educated guesswork overlaid on hard market statistics. This is partly because of the wide variations between market conditions in different regions of the world and individual countries within those regions. This is also partly due to the many different ways by which pharmaceutical products travel from manufacturer to consumer, so that it is almost impossible to keep close watch over all the channels of distribution. 

Carroll NV. Changes in channels of distribution wholesalers and pharmacies in organized health-care settings. Hasp. Pharm. Rep. February 1997 48-57. 

According to the Natural Foods Merchandiser (30) in developed marketplaces, there are primarily six channels of distribution at the retail level. These include the natural products retailers/health food stores, mass market retailers (drag, grocery and discount stores), multi-level marketers, mail order, health care practitioners and the internet. The recent survey pointed out that nearly half of the natmal products are sold through natural products... 

Will it be possible to sell the product through our sales force and channels of distribution If not, what will be the cost of promoting and establishing new channels ... 

These coatings may be stock type or shelf goods. They differ from general architectural or product finishes in that they are formulated specifically for field application, usually refinishing, and for special applications and/or special conditions in the environment, for example, extreme temperatures or corrosive-chemical atmospheres. Many channels of distribution are used. 

As a result, it was decided to adopt a trade-in system in which battery manufacturers are discharge companies as the best collection system. According to this system, the battery manufacturers collect spent batteries traded-in by battery sellers through reverse channels of distribution and deliver them to lead recycling and refining companies as intermediate treatment companies. 

The supply chain was complex and involved seven countries, two plants, twenty-one distribution centers, ten candidate distribution centers, 5,700 SKUs, and multiple channels of distribution. There was substantial overlap in plants and warehouse locations across both companies, with the US company having six plants and eight warehouses and the European company having four plants and seven warehouses. 

Stock J.R., and Lambert, D.M. Channels of Distribution. Strategic Logistics Management, 70-109, 1993. 

The building of market-driven value networks is a critical part of channel strategy design. When implemented correctly, it exploits (or influences) the strength of an existing brand or segment to propel or pull products through the channels of distribution. It is outside-in. When successful, the data has minimal latency. 

Eliashberg, J. and R. Steinberg. 1987. Marketing-production decisions in an industrial channel of distribution. Management Science, Vol,33, 981-1000. 

Horizontal coordination refers to the coordination of different functional areas (for example, marketing and production) of the same firm to achieve better performance of the whole firm. Recently, many models have been developed to identify the benefits of coordination between the marketing and the production departments. We only review papers on horizontal coordination in a particular channel of distribution general papers on horizontal coordination are included in earlier sections. 

K. R. Kumar, A. P. S. Loomba, and G. C. Hadjinicola. Marketing-production coordination in channels of distribution. European Journal of Operational Research, 126(1) 189-217, 2000. 

Frazier, G.L., Organizing And Managing Channels Of Distribution, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 27,2 (1999), 226-241. 

How frequently do you analyse channels of distribution up- and downstream in the supply chain ... 

A distribution strategy is significantly influenced by economic factors, channels of distribution and their location, location of service centres and warehouses. Shorter channels are ideal especially for perishable items, services... 

It is important for a manufacturer of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), that the distribution strategy should consider the opportunities for both present and future business through an appropriate mix of the channels of distribution. Examples are ... 

Once the products and goods are ready for transfer downstream, the firm and its allies work on outbound logistics. Here the emphasis is again on efficient movement and storage, but a closer look is given to order fulfillment. With many channels of distribution being considered today, the advanced firm is matching the best delivery method with the needs... 

Spurred on by the arrival of the Internet, there has been a dramatic growth In recent years of the use of alternative channels of distribution. Whilst the old routes to market may still be used, they have been augmented by these new channels which more often than not bypass traditional intermediaries and enable a direct contact between the supplier and the customer/consumer. 

Frazier, G.L. and Summers, J.O., 1986, Perceptions of interfirm power and its use within a franchise channel of distribution, JMR, Journal of Marketing Research, 23 (2) 169. 

Hunt, S.D., and Nevin, J.R., 1974, Power in a channel Of distribution sources and coaseqyeaces. Journal of Marketing Research, 11 186-193. 

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