Abstract
In past years, ERP systems have been proven to be invaluable to manufacturers by reducing cost structures, improving transparency, and increasing the speed by which business processes get performed. These improvements have led to improved customer satisfactions and company profitability. With globalization of the supply chain, will ERP systems continue to help organizations maintain a competitive edge?
ERP Systems Redefining Supply Chain Management
Past
As consumers, we are all playing, an active part in the end goal of the supply chain process. Every product that is purchased, either for business or personal use, has been subjected to supply chain process in one form or another. Some processes have worked better than others, and improvements are being made continuously in an effort to improve product development, manufacturing, delivery, and sales. Organizations who implement information systems benefit through improvements in increased revenue while consumers benefit through lower cost. The supply chains can become very complex. They encompass every company that contributes to every aspect of particular product or service before reaching the consumer. This includes, manufacturing parts for the products, assembly, delivery, and sales. In effect, practically every product that reaches the end users represents the combined effort of multiple organizations. Supply chain management actively manages the supply chain activities in an effort to maximize sustainable competitive advantage, as well as customer value. This represents a conscious effort for organizations to operate in the most efficient and effective ways possible. This includes linking together both the physical flows and informational flows between organizations that make up the supply chain, and are critical to coordinate long-term plans,
