THE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT CONCEPT 1. Discuss the differences between supply chain and supply chain management.
A supply chain refers to the activities associated with the flow and transformation of goods from the raw material stage, through to the end user, as well as the associated information flows. Supply chains are not a new concept in the sense that through the years organizations have been dependent on suppliers and organizations have served customers. Although any organization can be part of a supply chain, supply chain management requires overt management efforts by the organizations in the supply chain. Moreover, supply chain management cannot be successful unless the participating companies adopt an enterprise-to-enterprise perspective. 2. Discuss the SCOR and GSCF models of supply chain management.
The SCOR model identifies five key processes—plan, source, make, deliver, and return—associated with supply chain management. Each of the five processes indicates the important role of logistics in supply chain management. There are eight relevant processes in the GSCF model—customer relationship management, customer service management, demand management, order fulfillment, manufacturing flow management, supplier relationship management, product development management, and returns management. Logistics also plays an important role in the supply chain processes in the GSCF model. 3. What are four key attributes of supply chain management?
The chapter discussed six key attributes of supply chain management: customer power; a long-term orientation; leveraging technology; enhanced communication across organizations; inventory control; interorganizational coordination. 4. Why do contemporary supply chains need to be fast and agile? “fast” encompasses a time/speed component, while “agile” focuses on an organization’s ability to