INCEPTION:

Before digging down into the vast subject of the procedures linked with supply chain management, it is imperative to understand the core concept of it. The supply chain is a concept of the field of business which can be defined as a distribution channel for goods, starting from the supplier of raw materials or ingredients, goes through an operational process to the distributor and retailer and finally delivered to the consumer.

Now the concept of supply chain management is easy to understand. It is a concept of governing the circulation of goods and services from the raw material to the final step of consumption by the end user. In case of any difficulty in understanding this core concept, a student of business or the management may consult various academic help services available online who have their research based in logistics, manufacturing, purchasing, customer service, and supply chain management in a wide variety of industries (Copacino, 2019)

BASIC PROCEDURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT:

Supply chain management includes such a wide range of tasks that it often seems overwhelming even for the most experienced international businessman. Nonetheless this process can be effectively patterned by disintegrating it into several key strategic areas.

A common and very effective model is the Supply Chain Operations Reference Model (SCOR).This model is developed by the Supply Chain Council. It enables the managers to effectively decide, improve and communicate supply chain management functions at macro as well as micro level. A student can buy assignment online containing the detailed account of this model as their professionals dive into the explanation through developing themes to identify the main concerns and information in regards to the research questions (dissertationwritinghelp, 2021)

COMPONENTS OF THE PROCEDURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT:

It can be said that supply chain management has 5 characteristics or components that should be considered to encourage sustainability and effectiveness. So the key components of successful supply chain management strategy are given as under.

PHASE ONE INVOLVES PLANNING:

The planning process is essential for supply chains to operate at peak efficiency. Good planning allows for both inventory and reconciliation of operational resources. Control of supply through supply planning and demand management through demand planning enable an organization to better manage cash flow and meet customer requirements. The data generated from the planning process further allows companies to integrate inventory to improve economies of scale and even use predictive analytics to make more accurate forecasts for the future.

• In this phase a company formulates its strategy regarding the decision in terms of the purchasing or producing the product.
• In case of manufacturing the product, further planning involves the decision of choosing the foreign market or to produce it domestically.
• In case of purchasing the product, planning is oriented towards the choice of foreign or domestic supplier.

PHASE TWO INVOLVES SOURCING:

This step is one of the most important in the entire supply chain, as it is where the greatest savings can be achieved. Success is entangled with the fact that a right supplier that offers the perfect price and is able to deliver the required quantities on time, is found. It is always feasible to work with suppliers who are not only efficient but also able to adapt to the preferences of customers.

COMPETENCY OF THE SOURCE:

Picking an incompetent one leads to the suffering of an entire supply chain, as he might be expecting the fulfillment of orders during seasonal breaks. Hence the real need is not only to find suppliers, but to evaluate their worth as well. Suppliers must also be able to supply consistently in demand, especially during seasonal peaks.

Of course, the supplier must also meet the specifications required by the customer and be able to see the deviation from the norms before the product is shipped to the customer. So it is best to discuss the concerns with the supplier in order to ensure clear performance expectations.

PHASE THREE INVOLVES MANUFACTURING:

The manufacturing process may include the use of actual raw materials for the manufacture of finished products. It may include reconditioning, repair, furnishing, packaging, finishing, or design. This process must be developed to create minimal deviations in results as it enhances the predictability of the whole process in its true potential.

These considerations will minimize the non-conformities to the requirement of the customer. The production process is ever open to offer some space for continuous improvement. This struggle for improvement is almost the same for even the most advanced automated assembly lines. However the feedback from the end users is necessary for this improvement process to keep going.

PHASE FOUR INVOLVES DELIVERING:

The delivery phase includes all phases, from handling customer requests to choosing distribution strategies and transportation recourse. Businesses also need to manage storage and inventory or pay a service provider to handle these tasks in compliance with their expertise. It is related to the assimilation with the customer whether a direct or indirect one.

The delivery phase also includes the period of trial. Further the customer stores need paid, and companies need to manage the import and export requirements of the final product. The business make sure the competency of their logistic services in this step. The product is then delivered through rail, air or whatever way accessible.

PHASE FIVE INVOLVES RETURNING:

It is certain that the customer will return the product due to a variety of reasons, including damage, failure to meet quality specifications, faulty product, near or outdated product, or incorrect product or the quantity shipped. The return process is a crucial part of the customer experience and is closely linked to the refund process. It is a client service process which is also referred to as reversed logistics and is as much crucial as the above phase because it is closely linked to the manipulation of relationship with the customers.

These are the key components of supply chain management which play an important role in making calculated decisions. With the technological advancements some of the steps involved in supply chain management are also digitalized through strategic digital initiatives.

CONCLUSION:

So these are the steps involved in supply chain management related to the movement of physical products. The evaluation of these steps leads to an assessment of the capabilities of the company.

References

Copacino, W. C. (2019). Supply Chain Management The Basics and Beyond. New York. doi:https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203737859

dissertationwritinghelp. (2021, september 14). What is Thematic Analysis? https://dissertationwritinghelp.uk/thematic-analysis/.