This guide distills the essential supply chain concepts into a convenient reference that helps executives achieve rapid results. It seeks to clarify the myriad ambiguities and inconsistencies surrounding the concept of supply chain management (SCM) and its relationship to the functions from which it stems. It is designed to avoid bias towards the viewpoint of logistics, manufacturing or any other related function, to highlight the most important concepts that are essential to getting shareholder value from SCM, and to focus on the most effective methods for achieving significant financial results.
Guide to Supply Chain Management:
- Defines a framework for formulating a supply chain strategy—it ensures focused supply chain efforts that contribute significantly to the corporate strategy and goals, rather than what can end up being a multitude of diffuse operational initiatives.
- Provides reference tables of performance metrics that support each strategy—focuses efforts on key metrics that help achieve strategic goals rather than relying on a plethora of lower-level metrics that are often used but rarely affect the company’s competitive positioning.
- Provides industry-specific performance targets for each strategy—allows practitioners to gauge whether their company’s supply chain is actively improving corporate competitive advantage.
