Saturday, March 21, 2020

Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice

Company Characteristics and Products Janine Allis founded Boost Juice bars in 2001. The company’s home country is Australia. Janine’s aim was to provide a healthy alternative to fast food, especially for children. She enlisted the help of a nutritionist and came up with several menus. Thereafter, she raised funds from friends and with the help of her husband set up the first Boost Juice Bars Store.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has grown through franchising and now has 190 stores spread all over the world. Initially, the menu consisted of various types of juice and smoothes. Today, snacks, soups, banana bread and wraps are served alongside the juice and smoothes. These are popular with customers especially during the winter. Boost Juice focuses on providing healthy snacks and fast food that can be eaten quickly or taken to the office. The company avoids using preservatives and other additives to food. Instead, natural cultures are used to preserve the food. This means that the company needs a constant supply of fruit and milk. Theirs is a short supply chain. It consists of the farmers who provide the milk and juice, the Juice Bars and finally the consumer. The farmers deliver the milk and fruits to the bars daily. Each bar has a cold room to preserve the products. The juices and smoothes are all made in the bars. The processes are standardized and this increases the employees’ efficiency in preparing them. A customer will usually wait an average of five to seven minutes for their order (Franchise Expo,3). Customers can now get some of the Boost Juice products from supermarkets as well as the Boost Juice Bars. This is quite convenient as there are more supermarkets than Boost Juice bars. This is a new distribution channel and has opened up new opportunities to the company (Kirby,23). T he Supply Chain The aim of Supply Chain Management is to provide value for the customer while minimizing the cost to the members of the supply chain. In the case of Boost Juice, customers would like to get healthy products at an affordable price. The task for the company therefore is to provide this healthy food and drink at that affordable price. This can only be done if all the components of the supply chain work together efficiently and effectively. Boost Juice operates a just in time system of procurement, purchasing only when absolutely necessary. The company has created excellent supplier relationships which are crucial to the success of this strategy. This system supports their low cost strategy as it helps in reducing the holding cost for inventory.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The company has also managed to do away with a substantial proportion of the cost of r otten fruits and milk, which is common in the industry especially during summer. The company also operates an Electronic Data Interchange and an Intranet which aids communication with suppliers. Orders are placed automatically when inventory runs low and suppliers confirm whether or not they will be able to deliver (Boost Juice Bars Limited,2). The company bargains with suppliers for lower prices in return for purchase in bulk. This is possible only in Australia where their operations are large scale. In other countries like South Africa, suppliers have more power than the buyer, Boost Juice Bars. The company employs several tactics to find out what the customer wants. Research is done on focus groups and customers are encouraged to give their feedback via email. This has ensured Boost juice stays ahead of its competitors and satisfies its customers’ needs. Knowing what the customer wants and delivering it creates competitive advantage. Boost Juice has managed to succeed in t his area due to excellent management of its supply chain. The company’s supply chain management can be said to be effective as it has enabled it to meet its goal of venturing into the international market. The company also earns a profit of more than $10million annually. This indicates that whatever strategies they are employing are actually succeeding. Their good people skills have enabled them to recruit suitable people who share the vision of the company. Their Love Life philosophy also draws people to their Bars. Illustration Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Importance of Supply Chain management to The Company Supply Chain Management can be classified as a core competence for any business in today’s world. Failure in any part of the supply chain will usually result in customer dissatisfaction and loss of revenue. Thus, Boo st Juice needs to invest in management of information and materials that flow in its supply chain. Customer satisfaction is a critical success factor in business, without it, Boost Juice would be put out of operations in a short time. Customers require service and product providers to be responsive to their needs. Supply Chain Management empowers companies to respond promptly to their customer’s needs. Establishing open communication channels with consumers helps in predicting their needs and thus creating products that satisfy these needs (Boost Juice Bars Limited,4). Changes in supply and demand can be anticipated and dealt with in the best way possible as early as possible. This is also a result of management of the flow of information in the supply chain. Instances of stock outs or over production can be avoided through Supply Chain Management. It also leads to better supplier relationships which lead to credit and discounts. Supply Chain Management helps Boost Juice to s ave time and money. Information is available therefore reducing the uncertainty in the planning process. Efficiency in procurement and transport help in lowering operating expenses. This in turn raises the profit margins (Boost Juice Bars Limited,3). The Practise of Supply Chain management at Juice Boost Bars The company’s supply chain management is evident in the database and IT system LeaseEagleâ„ ¢. This system enables the company to manage its franchises all over the world while keeping in touch with suppliers and other business partners. Multiple users can work on the system simultaneously, improving information sharing. The selection of partners who will own the franchise stores is also an element of supply chain management. There is a set criterion that prospective partners have to meet before joining the Boost Juice family. This is an attempt at ensuring efficiency in the production stage. New partners are required to work in their juice bars (Boost Juice Bars Limi ted,1).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finance flows along the supply chain in the same way as information. Boost Juice ensures it pays its suppliers promptly in order to keep them in business. The company recognizes that they need the farmers if they are to continue in operations. Late payment of suppliers is poor practise in Supply Chain Management as it leads to poor supplier relationships. This will impact negatively on the supply chain and result in poor value for the customer with high cost on the members of the supply chain. The company relies on customer feedback in order to create new products. This feedback is collected by the individual Juice Bars and analysed centrally. If the juice bars fail in their duty to collect customer feedback, the company may find itself losing revenue to competitors. Suppliers are crucial because they provide the raw materials necessary to make the food and drink. Recommendation Boost Juice should consider vertical integration as a means of securing a constant supply of fruits and m ilk for its juice bars. This is a form of backward vertical integration. The implementation of such a plan would require the company to purchase fruit and dairy farms. Owning the farms will enable the company to control the quality of produce delivered to its Juice Bars. High quality raw materials should lead to high quality end products and greater customer satisfaction than before. Transport costs can also be minimized by locating the Juice Bars close to the farms. The company can also benefit from the profit margins on the milk and fruits. The coordination between the farms and the juice Bars can also benefit greatly from such an arrangement. There are several considerations Boost Juice Bars has to make before adopting this proposal. The company should consider whether it has or can obtain the necessary manpower to manage the farms. Vertical integration is expensive and suitable sources of funds would have to be sought. In case the company finds vertical integration to be too exp ensive or unsuitable to its mode of operations, then other options can be sought. This would include long term contracts with the best suppliers or joint ventures with the farm owners (Franchise Expo,4). Works Cited Boost Juice Bars Limited. Boost Juice Bars. 6 March 2005. 12 February 2011 https://www.boostjuice.com.au/#/home. Franchise Expo. Boost Juice Bars. 16 May 2010. 12 February 2011 https://www.franchiseexpo.com.au/franchise_locations/new-zealand. Kirby, James. Janine Allis: Business Secrets of the Woman Behind Boost Juice. Chicago: John Wiley and Sons, 2005. This report on Supply Chain Management at Boost Juice was written and submitted by user Madeline Albert to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Axolotl Facts (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Axolotl Facts (Ambystoma mexicanum) According to Aztec legend, the first axolotl (pronounced axo-LO-tuhl)  was a god who changed his form in order to escape being sacrificed. The sneaky transformation from terrestrial salamander to a fully aquatic form did not save later generations from death. The Aztecs ate axolotls. Back when the animals  were common, you could buy them as food in Mexican markets. While the axolotl may not be a god, its an amazing animal. Learn how to recognize an axolotl, why scientists are fascinated by them, and how to care for one as a pet. Fast Facts: Axolotl Scientific Name: Ambystoma mexicanumCommon Names: Axolotl, Mexican salamander, Mexican walking fishBasic Animal Group: AmphibianSize: 6-18 inchesWeight: 2.1-8.0 ouncesLifespan: 10 to 15 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Xochimilco Lake near Mexico CityPopulation: Less than a hundredConservation Status: Critically Endangered Description Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. andrewburgess / Getty Images An axolotl is a type of salamander, which is an amphibian. Frogs, newts, and most salamanders undergo a metamorphosis to transition from life in the water to life on land. The axolotl is unusual in that it doesnt undergo a metamorphosis and develop lungs. Instead, axolotls hatch from eggs into a juvenile form that grows to become its adult form. Axolotls keep their gills and permanently reside in the water. A mature axolotl (18 to 24 months in the wild) ranges in length from 15 to 45 centimeters (6 to 18 inches). An adult specimen weighs anywhere between 2 and 8 ounces. An axolotl  resembles other salamander larvae, with lidless eyes, a wide head, frilled gills, long digits, and a long tail. A male has a swollen, papillae-lined cloaca, while a female has a wider body that is full of eggs. The salamanders have vestigial teeth. Gills are used for respiration, although the animals sometimes gulp surface air for supplemental oxygen. Axolotls have four pigmentation genes, giving rise to a wide range of colors. The wild-type coloration is olive brown with gold speckles. Mutant colors include pale pink with black eyes, gold with gold eyes, gray with black eyes, and black. Axolotls can alter their melanophores to camouflage themselves, but only to a limited extent. Scientists believe axolotls descended from salamanders that could live on land, but reverted to water because it offered a survival advantage. Animals Confused With Axolotls This is not an axolotl: Necturus maculosus (common mudpuppy). Paul Starosta / Getty Images People confuse axolotls with other animals partly because the same common names may be applied to different species and partly because axolotls do resemble other animals. Animals confused with axolotls include: Waterdog: A waterdog is the name of the larval stage of the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum and A. mavotium). The tiger salamander and axolotl are related, but the axolotl never metamorphosizes into a terrestrial salamander. However, its possible to force an axolotl to undergo metamorphosis. This animal looks like a tiger salamander, but the metamorphosis is unnatural and shortens the animals lifespan. Mudpuppy: Like the axolotl, the mudpuppy (Necturus spp.) is a fully aquatic salamander. However, the two species are not closely related. Unlike the axolotl, the common mudpuppy (N. maculosus) is not endangered. Habitat and Distribution The lake Lago Acitlalin in the Ecological Park (Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco) is a vast nature reserve in the wetlands of Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City, Mexico. stockcam / Getty Images In the wild, axolotls only live in the Xochimilco lake complex, which is located near Mexico City. The salamanders may be found on the bottom of the lake and its canals. Neoteny The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) exhibits neoteny, meaning it remains in its larval form throughout life. Quentin Martinez / Getty Images The axolotl is a neotenic salamander, which means it doesnt mature into an air-breathing adult form. Neoteny is favored in cool, high-altitude environments because metamorphosis requires a huge energy expenditure. Axolotls can be induced to metamorphose by injection of iodine or thyroxine or by ingesting iodine-rich food. Diet This captive axolotl is eating a piece of meat. Argument / Getty Images Axolotls are carnivores. In the wild, they eat worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, and mollusks. The salamanders hunt by smell, snapping at prey and sucking it in like a vacuum cleaner. Within the lake, axolotls  had no real predators. Predatory birds were the biggest threat. Large fish were introduced into Lake Xochimilco, which ate the young salamanders. Reproduction and Offspring This is a newt in its egg sac. Like newts, salamander larvae are recognizable within their eggs. Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images Much of what we know about axolotl reproduction comes from observing them in captivity. Captive axolotls become mature in their larval stage between 6 and 12 months of age. Females typically mature later than males. The increasing temperature and light of spring signal  the start of the axolotl breeding season. Males expel spermatophores into the water and try to lure a female over them. The female picks up the sperm packet with her cloaca, leading to internal fertilization. Females release between 400 and 1000 eggs during spawning. She lays each egg individually, attaching it to a plant or rock. A female may breed several times during a season. The tail and gills of the larvae are visible within the egg. Hatching occurs after 2 to 3 weeks. Larger, earlier-hatching larvae eat smaller, younger ones. Regeneration Starfish regenerate lost arms, but they are invertebrates. Salamanders regenerate, plus they are vertebrates (like humans). Jeff Rotman / Getty Images The axolotl is a model genetic organism for regeneration. Salamanders and newts have the highest regenerative ability of any tetrapod (4-legged) vertebrates. The incredible healing ability extends well beyond replacing a lost tail or limbs. Axolotls can even replace some parts of their brains. In addition, they freely accept transplants (including eyes and brain portions) from other axolotls. Conservation Status Tilapia added to the lake near Mexico City are one of the main threats to axolotl survival. darkside26 / Getty Images Wild axolotls are headed to extinction. They are listed as critically endangered by IUCN. In 2013, no surviving axolotls were found in the Lake Xochimilco habitat, but then two individuals were found in the canals leading from the lake. The decline of axolotls is due to multiple factors. Water pollution, urbanization (loss of habitat), and introduction of invasive species (tilapia and perch) may be more than the species can withstand. Keeping an Axolotl in Captivity An axolotl will eat anything small enough to fit into its mouth. Argument / Getty Images However, the axolotl wont vanish! Axolotls are important research animals and fairly common exotic pets. They are uncommon at pet stores because they require a cool temperature, but may be obtained from hobbyists and scientific supply houses. A single axolotl needs at least a 10-gallon aquarium, filled (no exposed land, like for a frog), and supplied with a lid (because axolotls jump). Axolotls cannot tolerate chlorine or chloramine, so tap water must be treated prior to use. A water filter is a necessity, but the salamanders cannot tolerate flowing water. They do not require light, so in an aquarium with plants, its important to have large rocks or other hiding places. Pebbles, sand, or gravel (anything smaller than the axolotls head) pose a risk because axolotls will ingest them and may die from gastrointestinal blockage. Axolotls need a year-round temperature in the low to mid-60s (Fahrenheit) and will die if exposed to prolonged temperature about 74  °F. They need an aquarium chiller to maintain the proper temperature range. Feeding is the easy part of axolotl care. They will eat bloodworm cubes, earthworms, shrimp, and lean chicken or beef. While they will eat feeder fish, experts recommend avoiding them because salamanders are susceptible to parasites and diseases carried by fish. Sources   Luis Zambrano; Paola Mosig Reidl; Jeanne McKay; Richard Griffiths; Brad Shaffer; Oscar Flores-Villela; Gabriela Parra-Olea; David Wake. Ambystoma mexicanum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2010. IUCN. 2010: e.T1095A3229615. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T1095A3229615.enMalacinski, George M. The Mexican Axolotl,  Ambystoma mexicanum: Its Biology and Developmental Genetics, and Its Autonomous Cell-Lethal Genes.  American Zoologist. Oxford University Press.  18: 195–206, Spring 1978.Pough, F. H. Recommendations for the Care of Amphibians and Reptiles in Academic Institutions. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1992.