Supply Chain – Meaning, Benefits, Process, Needs, and Management

Meaning of Supply Chain

Supply Chain is a network connecting the company and its suppliers for producing and distributing the final product to the end-user. This network would include various activities, information, entities, and resources. Therefore, we can say that the supply chain involves the entire process from procuring raw material to sending the end product to the customer.

Functions

It includes the following:

  • Developing a product,
  • Managing operations
  • Managing distribution
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Customer service

What is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management, or SCM basically means managing all things in the supply chain. It is a very broad term encompassing planning, sourcing the raw material, production stage, inventory management, logistics, etc.  As clear from the name, it incorporates the activities, plans, control, and execution of the whole supply chain. These activities are taken care of from the pre-production stage and go on until the product or service reaches the last customer.

With the advent of technology, it has become much easier for companies to integrate the supply chain with the business to get an edge over other companies. SCM is so important for a business that educational institutions now offer specialized courses to help professionals improve their expertise in the area.

Need for Supply Chain Management

For delivering goods and services to the buyers, companies need to ensure a smooth supply chain. This, in turn, helps to make the product and company successful. The process of managing the supply chain becomes crucial if a company wants to be at the top of the competition.

Process of Supply Chain Management

These are the main processes of SCM.

Demand Planning

The SCM process starts with demand planning. For planning demand, the management uses past data, information from suppliers, statistical modeling, and more.

Optimization of Resources

The next step is production planning, where the company plans how to optimize the resources for production purposes.

Material Requirement Planning

After that, the company goes for material requirements planning (MRP). Under this, the company ensures that it has enough materials and components for the production to complete on time. Once the production completes, the company goes for distribution. Under this, the company aims to make available the products in time to the end-user, the distributor, or the retailer.

Other Processes

Apart from these, there are a few more processes, such as

Supply Chain

Benefits of Efficient Supply Chain

Reducing Cost

An efficient supply chain ensures that throughout the process, right from procuring the raw materials to delivering the final product, the f is in control. In fact, supply chain management is all about cutting costs in different areas throughout the product life cycle. Moreover, it helps in taking inventory management a notch higher as well. Further, proper management of the supply chain ensures there is enough space for finished goods. This helps to bring down the damage or spoilage to a minimum.

Boost Efficiency and Output

The feedback and information from the personnel in the supply chain assist management in forecasting the demand and then planning accordingly. Additionally, an efficient and active network makes it easier for the management to make changes as per the fluctuations in the economy, markets, and changing customer preferences. Moreover, it ensures better coordination and collaboration between shipping, transporting companies, suppliers, as well as vendors.

Cutting Down on Process delays

Since SCM is all about streamlining processes at all stages of the product life cycle, it automatically cuts down on delays and fixes the loopholes. Since there is clear communication, every participant in the process is clearly aware of their responsibilities and dependencies. Further, each participant is also aware of what to expect from others in the network. This minimizes the delays and logistical errors in the whole process.

Better Cooperation

Communication is the key to a successful business, and a lack of communication might disturb the whole process. If there is no proper communication between the management or between the vendors, no one will have any information on what stage the product is at. Technology has made the SCM much easier by streamlining the processes. Also, communicating and coordinating with people throughout the supply chain has become easier, thereby making the whole SCM process smooth.

Flexibility

Different customers have different requirements, and proper SCM guarantees that customers get what they want. Further, SCM improves the relationship of the company with both the distributors and the vendors, thereby allowing the company to communicate changes, if any, to suppliers quickly.

How is Supply Chain Management Important for Society?

Along with being important for the company, SCM is crucial for society as well. We can say it assists in human survival as we all depend on the supply chain for the supply of necessities, such as food, medicine, and more. In fact, the supply chain plays a part in almost every aspect of our daily life, including the delivery of electricity and the internet.

A proper supply chain infrastructure is a must for every country. This infrastructure includes interstate highways, massive rail networks, airports, and seaports. Proper coordination among all these helps a nation to make necessary items available to the public at lower costs and, in turn, raise their standard of living. Additionally, it contributes to economic growth by increasing employment opportunities.

Supply Chain and Logistic Management

In a business environment, we often use the term SCM and business logistics management interchangeably. However, both concepts have minor differences between them.

Meaning of Logistics Management

Logistics is all about planning, coordinating, and controlling the transporting and warehousing of goods and services from start to the final destination. The final destination, in this case, means delivery of the product to either a retailer or distributor or the end-user. We can say, logistics management stretches from procuring raw materials until the delivery of the product to the user.

Differences: Supply Chain vs. Logistics Management

Companies make efforts to have a full-proof logistics system. This ensures that the delivery is on schedule and in turn, helps the company to keep costs in control. On the other hand, the supply chain ensures that at no point in the entire chain of products and services there is mismanagement or break in the information.

Separately, business logistics management ensures that the product or service is delivered where it is supposed to be. On the other hand, the supply chain involves keeping an account of everything and preparing for any contingencies that might occur during the delivery of the product.

Final Words

From the above information, it is very clear that Supply Chain Management is very crucial for a company to be successful. Companies nowadays use both specialized software and business strategy for SCM. This, in turn, helps them to get an edge over others.



Sanjay Borad

Sanjay Bulaki Borad

MBA-Finance, CMA, CS, Insolvency Professional, B'Com

Sanjay Borad, Founder of eFinanceManagement, is a Management Consultant with 7 years of MNC experience and 11 years in Consultancy. He caters to clients with turnovers from 200 Million to 12,000 Million, including listed entities, and has vast industry experience in over 20 sectors. Additionally, he serves as a visiting faculty for Finance and Costing in MBA Colleges and CA, CMA Coaching Classes.

1 thought on “Supply Chain – Meaning, Benefits, Process, Needs, and Management”

  1. I must say your article is the ultimate guide to supply chain management. I really like the way you have explained in great detail the meaning and benefits of the supply chain to us. It was a real pleasure reading your article. I really appreciate the efforts made by you to write this article. I will definitely share this article as much as possible. Thank you.

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