Ups and Hp Case Study

Introduction

Supply chain outsourcing is tightly connected with the concept of a partnership not just another vendor relationship. It involves two companies striving for the same goal in mind - higher business performance. In this case study Hewlett Packard (hereinafter HP) needed to find a supplier that had the logistical capabilities that would provide a varied range of transportation alternatives to deal with a hi-tech company and the short-life cycle that comes with it as well as always changing international complexities . HP found the desired capabilities in United Parcel Service (hereinafter UPS) to create a partnership.

Business Strategy

While HP and UPS may strive for a similar goal in mind - higher business performance their business strategies are slightly different. HP is looking to offer hi-tech products at a low cost and deliver the best possible customer service. While UPS offers a vast array of services and solutions leveraged by customers to create and sustain a competitive edge.

The partnership of these two companies strategically makes sense and they mesh well together. On one hand you have the customer (HP) who needs to get their products to their customers quickly and efficiently but supply chain is not one of their core capabilities so the solution was to outsource. Well who better to outsource than to a company whose business strategy to help their customers create a competitive edge. However a partnership at this level can be risky and takes a lot of trust, which will be discussed later on.

Supply Chain Integration

Trust and Risk Sharing

This kind of partnership is a huge risk on HP's part because they are losing control over their supply chain and a process they have in place in their current organization. However you say they are losing control, but this particular partnership, its just that, a partnership where HP will probably still have just as much involvement. Also you picked UPS as your partner because of their __. There is also a major trust that UPS must uphold which is HP's well known commitment to customer service. To cultivate a relationship like this, the biggest way to do that is communication. If there is going to be a mishap somewhere in the process and UPS can forsee it, they nees to communicate that as soon as they know along with the solution.

Is there a future for the HP & UPS Partnership?

I am writing UPS Management today to discuss with you my viewpoint of how UPS and HP's relationship should continue or if it should continue.

From HP point of view, they want ne innovation, thinking outside of the box.

From UPS's point of view can use HP to help build