A Year to Launch Date: Microsoft Plots Global Rollout of Xbox 360

Source: www.dhl-usa.com
Topic: Xbox 360

Short Desciption:
longawaited Xbox 360. Microsoft Corp. seemed determined to. make things even more difficult than usual. For the first time ever Microsoft plotted ...

 

Content Inside:
A Year to Launch Date: Microsoft Plots Global Rollout of Xbox 360Page 1he release of any new computergaming system carries with it ahuge number of logistical challenges. But for the launch of itslongawaited Xbox 360Microsoft Corp. seemed determined tomake things even more difficult than usual.For the first time ever Microsoft plottedthe nearsimultaneous rollout of Xbox 360on three continents: Nov. 22 in the U.S.Dec. 2 in Europe and Dec. 10 in Japan. Allproduct would flow from factories in SouthChina to distribution centers close to retailers. Microsoft would rely on air ocean railtruck and barge to get the job done.Tight coordination of all supply chainpartners would be required. But firstMicrosoft needed to get around somepotential stumbling blocks. It was all tooaware of disruptions that had plagued theU.S. transportation system in recent years.Congestion at ports and inland points alockout of West Coast dockworkers servicesnags all along the line: a whole series offailures had brought a new level of unpredictability to global supply chains. Therecurrence of any one could wreak havocwith Microsofts bestlaid plans.The company sought an expert logisticsprovider to help it navigate the hazards. Itdidnt have to look far. DHL had been aMicrosoft service partner for 15 years; it wasinvolved in the rollout of the first Xbox console in 2001. The two reunited to plot logistics strategy for Xbox 360.Job one was creating enough flexibilityso that product flow wouldnt be halted byglitches in the supply chain. The complexity of the task called for lengthy detailedplanning. In fact DHL and Microsoft startedmore than a year before launch. Information systems were an area of intense focus.Factories in China would be required torelay electronic data interchange (EDI)messages which provided both partnerswith crucial status information at the manufacturing stage. From there product couldbe tracked electronically all the way to destination. Advance ship notices alerted theDCs abou ...

 

 

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