1) Read the cases and answer the questions.

Not long ago, logistics executives at Procter & Gamble (P&G) examined the order patterns for one of their best selling products, Pampers. Its sales at retail stores were fluctuating, but the variability was certainly not excessive. However, as they examined the distributors' orders, the executives were surprised by the degree of variability. When they looked at P&G's orders of materials to their suppliers, such as 3M, they discovered that the swings were even greater. At first glance, the variability did not make sense. While the consumers, in this case, the babies, consumed diapers at a steady rate, the demand order variability in the supply chain were amplified as they moved up the supply chain.

When Hewlett Packard (HP) executives examined the sales of one of its printers at a major reseller, they found that there were, as expected, some fluctuations over time. However, when they examined the orders from the reseller, they observed much bigger swings. Also, to their surprise, they discovered that the orders from the printer division to the company's integrated circuit division had even greater fluctuations.

2) Discuss any two distribution networks with appropriate examle?