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Technical Management : Topics

A guide to online technical management research for APUS faculty and students.

Technical Management Overview: Supply Chain Management

What Is Supply Chain Management (SCM)?

Supply chain management is the management of the flow of goods and services and includes all processes that transform raw materials into final products. It involves the active streamlining of a business's supply-side activities to maximize customer value and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

SCM represents an effort by suppliers to develop and implement supply chains that are as efficient and economical as possible. Supply chains cover everything from production to product development to the information systems needed to direct these undertakings.

How Supply Chain Management Works

Typically, SCM attempts to centrally control or link the production, shipment, and distribution of a product. By managing the supply chain, companies are able to cut excess costs and deliver products to the consumer faster. This is done by keeping tighter control of internal inventories, internal production, distribution, sales, and the inventories of company vendors.

SCM is based on the idea that nearly every product that comes to market results from the efforts of various organizations that make up a supply chain. Although supply chains have existed for ages, most companies have only recently paid attention to them as a value-add to their operations.

In SCM, the supply chain manager coordinates the logistics of all aspects of the supply chain which consists of five parts:he plan or strategy

  • The source (of raw materials or services)
  • Manufacturing (focused on productivity and efficiency)
  • Delivery and logistics
  • The return system (for defective or unwanted products)

The supply chain manager tries to minimize shortages and keep costs down. The job is not only about logistics and purchasing inventory.

From:  Investopedia:  Business Essentials

 

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