Question: 1. You are making your weekly trip to your local grocery story. Use a process flow diagram chart to describe your decision-making process about what to buy and where to buy it. What inputs did you use in helping you make these weekly decisions? How could an advanced consumer information system have made your process easier?
2. Your eyeglass frame-making firm is considering one of two distribution alternatives. The first is to make all shipments from your Chicago plant to one of three regional warehouses located in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Reno. All orders from eyeglass retailers would be shipped from these sites. The second alternative would be to create one warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee, and ship all orders via Federal Express.
a. Prepare a process flow diagram of each alternative.
b. What additional information would you need to ascertain which alternative will provide the best value to your customers?
c. Is this different from a lower cost solution? Why?