For your company, what is one example of a project?
An example of a big project that Wal-mart was doing in August of 2003 was getting suppliers to purchase and install a new special software to help meet requirements of doing business with Wal-mart. This software was designed to transfer back and forth daily flow of electronic purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices between companies. The difference between this software and the one they had before is they used private networks that Wal-mart and its supplier had to pay for each year. This new software will allow Wal-mart to do it over the internet. Wal-mart and its suppliers are eager to use the technology to save millions of dollars they use to pay each year to owners of private networks.

What are the task?
There are many companies that are stepping up to the task from all over the software market. Application integration companies such as Tibco and WebMethods are one of them. E- commerce companies such as General Electric derive off Global Exchange Services. The companies that are selling their services and product around the concept is IBM and Hewlett-Packard.


Does your company use Gantt charts or network diagrams?
Wal-mart is fond of the Gantt Charts. They use it for marketing purposes and they also used it when they were installing this software. The Gantt Chart is very easy to use because it shows the activities that need to be done, and when and how long they should take. Their suppliers must of used either the Gantt charts or network diagram to schedule this project. Wal-mart gave suppliers an October deadline. Black & Decker the major power tool company and Drug maker Abbott Laboratories are one of the first hand full of companies that put this software to use.

What software do they use?
For this project Wal-mart used different software. They mostly use application integration software.

What are your recommendations?
My recommendation would be communication within the supply chain. In order for this project to be successful there must be communication and helpfulness within the supply chain. Walmart should really give a hand to any suppliers that may need any kind of help to get this program going because this will only benefit Wal-mart and the supplier.