CHAPTER 10

EXTENDING THE ORGANIZATION - SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

In this chapter, we learned about :

• List and describe the components of a typical supply chain
• Define the relationship between decision making and supply chain management
• Describe the four changes resulting from advances in IT that are driving supply chains
• Summarize the best practices for implementing a successful supply chain management system

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

• The average company spends nearly half of every dollar that it earns on production
• In the past, companies focused primarily on manufacturing and quality improvements to influence their supply chains

BASIC OF SUPPLY CHAIN

• The supply chain has three main links : 

1. Materials flow from suppliers and their "upstream" suppliers at all levels 
2. Transformation of materials into semifinished and finished products through the organization's own production process
3. Distribution of products to customers and their "downstream" customers at all levels

• Organizations must embrace technologies that can effectively manage supply chains

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY'S ROLE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• It's primary role is to create integrations or tight process and information linkages between functions within a firm

• Factors driving SCM

VISIBILTY

• Supply chain visibilty : The ability to view all areas up and down the supply chain
• Bullwhip effect : Occurs when distorted product demand information passes from one entity to the next through out the supply chain

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

• Companies can respond faster and more effectively to consumer demands through supply chain enhances
• Demand planning software : Generates demand forecasts using statistical tools and forecasting techniques

COMPETITION

• Supply chain planning (SCP) software : uses advanced mathematical algorithms to improve the flow and efficiency of the supply chain
• Supply chain execution (SCE) software : automates the different steps and stages of the supply chain
• SCP and SCE in the supply chain

SPEED

• Three factors fostering speed

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SUCCESS FACTORS

 

• SCM industry best practices include :

1. Make the sale to suppliers
2. Wean employees of traditional business practices
3. Ensure the SCM system supports the organizational goals
4. Deploy in incremental phases and measure and communicate success
5. Be future oriented

SCM SUCCESS STORIES

• Top reasons why more and more executives are turning to SCM to manage their extended enterprises

• Numerous decision support systems (DSSs) are being built to assist decision makers in the design and operation of integrated supply chains
• DSSs allow managers to examine performance and relationships over the supply chain and among :

- Suppliers

- Manufacturers

- Distributors

- Other factors that optimize supply chain performance