The Supply Chain Concept Paper

Essay by halfdidCollege, UndergraduateA-, May 2008

download word file, 4 pages 0.0

Advances in information technology have brought many advantages to businesses today. For example, the Internet has enable organizations to expand its markets, reduce costs, and most important, increase profits. As a result of the Internet technology, a competitive global market exists that presents many challenges for the business owner. One challenge is the management of a business's supply chain. Globalization, price deflation, supply chain competitiveness, and customer service are well known trends in the supply chain industry. Dynamic markets, changing consumer demands, lower, costs, and reduced margins are reasons that organizations should effectively manage or revamp their supply chain processes to remain competitive (about.com, 2007). This paper compares three pet stores, Lucky Dog, Muttropolis, and Petcock, and how it manages its supply chain through the use of the Internet.

A supply chain is a link to every aspect involved with the delivery of products or services to a customer.

The connection of all components of a supply chain ensures that products are received by the consumer at the right place, time, quantity, and acceptable price. The supply chain of an organization should be viewed as an extensive, highly networked value chain driven by customer demand. The efficient management of the supply chain involves overseeing relationships with suppliers and customers, controlling inventory, and forecasting demand in addition to obtaining feedback regarding every link of the chain (Bearing Point, 2007). Effectively managing an integrated value chain can improve product and service quality that will in turn increase company sales (Bearing Point, 2007). Organizations should actively pursue cooperation and long-term relationships with suppliers and customers that will allow a network among all members of the supply chain. These relationships will enable organizations to keep pace with competition in addition to reducing costs and obtaining the greatest value from...