Information Technologies Support Global Supply Chain An efficient and effective supply chain plays a major role in the success of a multinational corporation (MNC). MNC's deal with a myriad of issues, including quality of raw materials, scarcity of materials, the locations where the materials ingredients or components are grown or manufactured, and the counterfeiting of materials (especially in the pharmaceutical industry). MNCs also face environmental challenges such as tsunamis in the Philippines, monsoons in Thailand and volcanoes in Indonesia. Piracy and thefts of intellectual properties are yet another set of issues that MNCs must deal with. Because supply chains in many cases are outsourced and subcontracted, controlling each point of the supply chain becomes a challenge. Although IT cannot solve all these problems, it can provide timely information that executives in MNCs can use data warehouses and analytics to analyse, pinpoint and quickly deliver key information related to parts of the supply chain. RFIDs, GPSs and QR codes have significantly improved the efficiency of these supply chains. Ports America, for example, uses optical character recognition cameras to scan each container, RFID tags to match the contents with the trucks, and GPS sensors to identify equipment locations and cargo movements. Computer networks and the internet have created unparalleled connections throughout the world. Major logistics companies such as UPS and FedEx are using state of-the-art information technologies to efficiently deliver products and services around the globe. 1. What are the challenges that MNCs face in terms of intellectual properties? (2.5 marks). 2. 3. What are the environmental challenges faced by MNCs? (2.5 marks). How counterfeit problems can be solved by Information Technology? (2.5 marks). 4. How can information technology support logistics? (2.5 marks).