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Supply chain management is an integral part to many businesses of all sizes, it is an important cog in ensuring customer satisfaction and plays a big part in the company’s success. It involves anything from obtaining the raw materials to manufacturing goods and delivering those products to the customer which will hopefully be the final step in the process unless any goods are returned. A good and well organised supply chain will be optimised to ensure a fast and efficient system.  

Supply chain management is part of a wider ecosystem which is designed to create an efficient operational system as well as reducing costs from efficiency. Modern supply chain management incorporates strategic alignment to realise the economic and market value as well as giving the company a competitive advantage over other businesses. In recent years the digital age has brought about many changes and the way companies operate their businesses has had to transform along with the world. The high speed processes and automated systems have led the way for supply chain management and the increased demand it has seen.

Enhancing customer service

·       When a customer has ordered a product or service, they will firstly expect to receive the correct item(s) as well as the correct quantity that they have paid for. In addition to this, all items should be of the quality they were expecting.

·       Products should be in the right place at the right time to avoid delay and customer dissatisfaction.

·       Items should be delivered within the agreed time frame. Customers will have an expectation once an order is put through and this should be met to ensure satisfaction.

·       Support after sale. The customer may need added assistance after they have made their purchase. There could be many reasons why a consumer may need help but for whatever reason they should be able to receive the help and support needed.

Reduce operating costs

·       Decreasing the purchasing costs is important as retailors depend on the supply chains to deliver expensive goods quickly. This prevents retailors from sitting on expensive inventories any longer than absolutely necessary.

·       Decreasing the production costs is vital in the flow of manufacturing including delivering parts and products. Any delay could cost a company thousands of pounds and create a backlog or even a shutdown in production. This is one of the prominent reasons why supply chain management is important.

·       Decreasing the total supply chain management costs play a big part in meeting customer service goals at the least total cost as retailers and manufacturers depend on a competent supply chain management to design efficient networks to meet these needs and expectations. An efficient supply chain management will provide a good platform for businesses to provide a competitive edge within the marketplace.        

Improve financial position

·       Decreasing and controlling the supply chain expenses is valued amongst businesses as this can increase the profit leverage with the company.

·       Supply chain managers can decrease fixed assets including the likes of vehicle transportation, warehouses and plants which is greatly valued with firms as it can aid in shrinking costs.

·       Supply chain management is valued among firms as it increases the cash flow by speeding up the product stream to customers.  

Supply chain management can be summarised as the overall management of supply chain activities in order to maximize the customer value. Having your supply chain correctly managed will also grant an organisation competitive advantage compared to an unmanaged supply chain. It is evident when a supply chain is well managed as good overall management will lead to smooth and efficient operations.

Supply chain management covers a huge range of activities, including product development, production, outsourcing, and logistics. And if you can improve the efficiency in each of these areas, you will find that your supply chain’s overall efficiency increases too. A supply chain is made up of a network of businesses and individuals that all work together to change raw goods into finished goods to be sent to the end-user. The supply chain can be either directly or indirectly responsible for fulfilling the needs of consumers.

Benefits of an effective supply chain

It is important to have a strong supply chain behind your business. Without that strength, it will be hard for your business to succeed. The whole approach of supply chain management is cross-functional, meaning that each team with different areas of expertise are working toward a common goal. It takes each step being completed, started internally to have the external outcome. Sometimes it is more cost effective to outsource some things from within your business. This is where supply chain management comes into play.

Having a supply chain can also be beneficial to the overall organisation of your company. It has been proven that organizations with more extensive supply chains are far more productive overall. While a supply chain can be on a large scale, smaller supply chains can be just as efficient, if not more. Although both are possible, you may find that a larger scale is far more beneficial, depending on your organisation.

When it comes to having a successful supply chain, networking is going to be key to making it work as it should. Each link of the chain needs to run smoothly to produce your desired results. Networking will also allow you to find new contacts that will be helpful along the way.

A better supply chain means better business