Management

Week 1 Discussion Forum: ” Supply Chain Network”

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Week 1 Forum
After reading the lesson material, briefly explain in three paragraphs the (a) stages, (b) activities and (c) organization functions important to a successful supply change network.

Supply Chain Network

ANSWER

Supply Chain Network

The supply chain network describes the flow of information and materials through linking organizations to offering services to the end customers effectively (Prajogo, Oke, and Olhager, 2016). For instance, this can include the movement of products from the production process to the end-user. The five major stages are essential in the development of a successful supply chain network. The Supply chain network model operates with five supply chain phases, which include Plan, source, make, deliver, and return.

Planning involves developing a strategy or plan to meet the necessities of consumers. Developing involves building strong relationships with suppliers, planning methods for delivery, shipping, and payment. Making entails the process of manufacturing products that are demanded by the consumers. Delivery involves offering the products to the consumers and setting up an invoice system for payments. The last stage is returning damaged, and defective goods are returned to the supplier by the consumers.

Activities of the supply chain are categorized into the tactical level and operational level of activities (Yildiz, Yoon, Talluri & Ho, 2016). These include a strategic partnership with suppliers, distributors, and consumers, creating communication channels for essential information, and coordination of product design and operational improvements. For instance, tactical activities include transportation strategy, production decisions, sourcing contracts, and inventory decisions. On the other hand, operational activities include production scheduling, daily production and distribution planning, production operations such as the consumption and flow of raw materials, and demand forecasting and planning.

Organizations play important functions, including operation, implementation management, and re-engineering of the supply chain networks. The organization collaborates and functions to enhance the supply chain network with varying technology platforms to manage the flow of goods and information. Considerably, the organization’s management has facilitated an integrated supply chain management system.

In conclusion, every stage, activity, and organization function has a mission that supports the supply chain network. The supply chain network involves different people, activities, resources, and information that form a process that links to serve the end customer. Therefore, supply chain networks have been established to facilitate effective and efficient product and information flow within organizations.

References

Prajogo, D., Oke, A., & Olhager, J. (2016). Supply chain processes. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.

Yildiz, H., Yoon, J., Talluri, S., & Ho, W. (2016). Reliable supply chain network design. Decision Sciences, 47(4), 661-698.