Corporate, Business, and Operations of GameStop

The company operates 1,746 retail stores throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Ireland, primarily under the GameStop brand. In addition, the company owns a commerce-enabled Web property, GameStop.com, and Game Informer magazine, a leading video and computer game publication.

GameStop Corp. sells the most popular new software, hardware and game accessories for the PC and next generation video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, and is also the industry's largest reseller of used video games. In addition, the company sells computer and video game magazines and strategy guides, action figures, and other related merchandise to more than 30 million customers. This is all made possible because each department has its own manager and its own set of guidelines that it must follow on a daily basis in order to meet the requirements of the company.

Project Scheduling of GameStop

Every time before a new game comes out, GameStop would set up a list of plans on the upcoming schedule. GameStop has an event every time a new game comes out, the event called Night Opening. That is, GameStop will open again after the regular closing time on that particular day. The first thing they would do is to make orders to the game producers.
When GameStop does the scheduling for the Night Opening event a month ahead from the actual event date. first they would estimate the amount of inventory they will need on the date that the new game comes out. For example, when Halo 3 came out, GameStop had to order the game from the game producers a month ahead in an estimated amount. Second they would do the preparation on decorating the store for the upcoming event, the programs include game demos, explanations and game tournaments. Lastly, GameStop would communicate with other stores around itself to join the Night Opening on the event date, those stores include some food stores restaurants otr Starbucks. And if the GameStop is in a mall, they would need to contact the mall and get the permission to open the mall after the closing time.
During the event, GameStop would open again at 12am. the customers are ready to purchase.

Supply Chain Management of gameStop

GameStop is the world's largest video game retailer. With over 4,400 stores located throughout the United States and 15 countries, they are the retail destination for gamers around the world. GameStop, EB Games and Electronics Boutique retail locations set them apart in the industry. Everything that they offer the customers—from an expansive selection of new products, to thier knowledgeable associates and a value-added pre-owned product—is geared to deliver customer satisfaction.

Its inventories include new games, used games, new game accessories, old game accessories, and game magazines. Those inventories are divided into 3 ranks. Rank A includes the New games, Rank B includes the accessories and game magazines, and Rank C includes the used games and accessories. All those inventories come from different supply chain. The A ranked and B ranked inventory come directly from the game factories or the manufacturing companies which constantly supply and corporate with GameStop. The A ranked inventory is very limited. Each time GameStop only orders a very small amount of rank A inventory until they need more, then they have to predict how many more they need so they can order a certain number of that particular thing. Rank C inventories come from either customers or other game retail companies. Mostly GameStop would buy used games from customers who try to sell the games back to the store. Then the store will sell the games to other customers.

QUALITY CONTOL AND IMPROVEMENT

Gamestop has always used a form of quality management called process quality control. It utilizes inspection (or testing) of the product being produced while it is still in the process of production. Every so often a sample of the product that are being produced are taken out and examined and put through certain tests. For Gamestop, the games that are produced are randomly selected and tested to see if there are any flaws with the game and if it runs properly before they distribute the game.

Gamestop is on a daily basis trying to continuously improve upon both its products and reduction of the variability of its products that is being supplied to its consumers. In order for them to do this , they use a form of continuous improvement called a cause-and-effect diagram. Which shows the potential causes of the defective products. Basically what it does is identifies one major problem and breaks it down into more detailed problems, therefore easier to solve.

Other ways that Gamestop can decrease its defects and improve upon its quality of products is by gathering more customers responses and comments on its products. From that they will know what needs attention and what doesn't.

Dimensions of Quality

Quality of Design- Before GameStop put out their games, they do research on what type of games customers most prefer to, what games are the best sellers in the market, what games that they should not sell because not a lot of customers buying them, what type of games the kids would like and type of games adults would like and what type of games that could make them money. So when GameStop decide to put their games at their stores, they pretty much knew that those games are going to sell instead buying all kind of games from the manufactory.

Quality of Conformance – GameStop always do their best to make sure the product and service meets specifications. GameStop’s workers check every game case before they put the games out in the store to make sure that the right game is in the right game case. That way when customer buys the game and gets home open the game case it won’t be a different game that they were buying. The GameStop workers will always help customers out to the fullest; they won’t get impatient when the customers keeping ask them similar questions.

Availability, Reliability and Maintainability – Most of the games in the GameStop will last forever; it will not stop working until the customer’s scratch it or damage the surface of the disc. If customers keep good care of the game disc, the game will last forever without broking or other failures. The GameStop could not repair the game if its surface is damaged, but the GameStop could do a refine; give the customer another game or the same game if it’s within the game frame of the receipt.

Field Service - If the game stop working for any reasons, all the customers have to do is take the game back to the GameStop with their receipts, the customers either get a refine, get a new game that is in the same price range or the GameStop will pull the same game out of the storage room and give to the customers, that only apply within certain time frame like a week or two. GameStop will not try to repair the game disc because if the disc’s surface is damaged, the game is basically done meaning it cannot be use anymore. All of the GameStop’s games have warranty, but it does not last very long, it has its own time frame. Customers could only get refine or switch games only within that time frame.

The quality system that GameStop currently use all four of the dimension of the quality that mentioned at the top. They will make sure the used games that they sell are usable, and it won’t damage the game system and all new games are in perfect condition.

Buy enough new games when they just come out, because it might be a hot seller like the Halo3. It will be gone in a day or two, if they buy more of that game, they could make a lot more money off the new games that just come out.

technology choice

GameStop uses CAD and CAD as technology choices. As we know, GameStop not only sells video game accessories for other parties, but also manufactors its own products such as controllers, av cables, system cases, and so on. Let's take controller as an example. GameStop uses CAD technology to design its own ps3 controllers, which has a different looking than sony's but has the same function. Then GameStop uses the CAM to make those controllers as a batch flow process. those "home made" controllers are much cheaper and are very attractive to customers.
For those used games, they take in as "trade in"s, put every single game disk in a separate evenlope, and file them away behind the register. then they label price ids on the cases, and display them on the wall. we call the process "gutting", usually takes at least 2 mins for each game. When a customer comes in to buy a use game, he has to find the case on the wall, bring to the register, and the cashier has to find the game from thousands of guts. sometime if a person files the game in the wrong place, the other person won't be able to find it, and that usually causes a lot of customer complains. if the company can find a way to automate the whole gutting process, it will not only reduce the labor cost, but will also decrease the waiting time for customers.
GameStop uses ERP system, because everty store in the district can check each other's sales comp. trade comp. reverses, and subscriptions. They also get an email from corporate every day regarding which store has the best sales number, which store needs to catch up. GameStop has more than 3000 stores in the United States, but by using the ERP system, they are able to share informations anytime and anywhere.
gamestop.com and ebgames.com are the two major websites for the company. customers can review the upcoming new games, new releases, hot titles, and used games on those websites. they can also buy gams online, and it's easy and simple. All they have to pay extra is the shipping. after they got the game, if they don't like it, within 7 days, they can even return to a store!

PROCESS SELECTIONS

Unlike other stores Gamestop does not produce many different kinds of products. They produce mainly games, gaming systems and accessories. In other words they use a Batch flow system; where each type of product goes through a different process in order to achieve a finished product.

The best way to puchase a game at Gamestop is to preorder it, because they only have a limited quantity of each particular product or game at the store; in other words its first come first serve. All their products are Made-to-Stock (MTS.

Gamestop standerdizes itself in the product-process matrix as a high volume, low variety, and high priced.

Factors that influence thier process selection depends upon the demand of the customers and the popularity of the products that they produce. Other factors depend upon the costs of producing the product or good.

Mass Customization is not possible for Gamestop, due to its low variety of products and the fact that thier products cannot be customized in any way.