PRDV304: Introduction to Supply Chain Management

LO1. apply the principles of supply chain management to various organizational settings

• Why are there conflicting objectives in the supply chain process?
• What are some of the challenges in today's global supply chain?
• How can an organization maximize the benefits of an efficient supply chain?

Supply Chain Management addresses the integration of suppliers, manufacturers, storage facilities and retailers to produce and distribute goods and services to consumers in the desired quantities at the desired times.

While this might imply that all players have the same or similar goals, there are actually situations where those goals may not be consistent. For example, while a purchasing department might want flexible delivery times, warehousing operators will likely want to keep low inventory. Customers may want a large variety of merchandise from which to choose, but manufacturers may not have the capacity to deliver.

Very long lead times in a global supply chain system can result in merchandise that is no longer desired once it arrives. Additionally, shifting customer expectations, coupled with an increase in labor costs in developing nations can impact pricing and logistics costs. Further, sustainability has become more important to consumers, resulting in the need for greater oversight and new manufacturing practices.

Organizational expectations can also impact the ways in which a company responds to their suppliers and customers. An increase in outsourcing, with suppliers having goals that differ from the organization, can cause conflict. An awareness of these differences can lead to better supply chain management and more reasonable expectations.

By streamlining the logistics system, companies can realize higher levels of profitability, while also better meeting customer needs. Companies can also better match supply to demand, while recognizing that this is not the only area of uncertainty on which to focus. By addressing a shorter product life cycle, the impact of eCommerce, and the emergence of a more-informed customer base, companies can adapt their supply chain systems to ensure a more effective and efficient process.

Advances in technology have enabled all players in the supply chain to communicate throughout the process. For example, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can all be aware of the flow of goods and information, leading to improved relationships and inventory management.

To review, read Introduction to Supply Chain Management and Critical Factors Affecting Supply Chain Management.

LO2. explain the "bullwhip effect" and evaluate strategies to limit variation

• What is the cause of the bullwhip effect?
• What are the elements of the bullwhip effect?
• How can the bullwhip effect factors be mitigated?

The bullwhip effect is caused by demand forecast updating, order batching, price fluctuation, and rationing and gaming.

Demand forecast updating occurs when all members of a supply chain individually revise their forecasts based on orders they have received. As more individuals in the chain update their forecasts, the less the forecast will reflect actual demand. This problem can be mitigated by having departments share critical information and optimize inventory levels.

Order batching is the result of all members of the supply chain rounding their orders up or down depending on the constraints of their individual departments. Much like the issues with demand forecast updating, the more people in the process, the more the quantities actually needed becomes distorted. Again, communication across departments is essential, as is the need for a program and algorithm that measures accurate quantities needed.

Price fluctuations occur as a result of quantity discounts that encourage customers to make larger purchases than they require. This creates additional uncertain when forecasting demand. Offering discounts only to customers with a history of making large purchases would enable companies to better plan for the future.

Rationing and gaming is when a seller limits quantities by only delivering a partial order. The buying responds by increasing the order quantity, which results in a distortion of what is being bought and sold. Honest business practices between buyer and selling, and a relationship that is built on mutual trust, can help to mitigate this practice.

To review, read Causes of the Bullwhip Effect.

LO3. apply appropriate criteria in choosing suppliers

• How do lean and agile practices impact supplier relations?
• What are some of the questions an operations manager asks before selecting a supplier?
• What are some of the methods companies use for inventory control?

Lean practices are suitable for products that have a low variety and high volume. Agile practices, however, enable a company to respond quickly to changes in market demand. These variations require companies to determine how they choose to make trade-offs between being able to respond to market changes or being efficient.

However, in spite of these differences, both practices need to collaborate with all departments across the supply chain. The relationship with suppliers is essential and communication, common goals, and shared philosophies are needed throughout the process.

When choosing a supplier, an operations manager must determine if that supplier can deliver the quantities needed at an acceptable price. Of course, the quality of the merchandise must meet organizational standards, and the supplier must be deemed as reliable. The reputation of the organization, and how they are work with, are also factors in the decision-making process.

Threats to productivity include losing production time due to a shortage of materials and losing money due to too much inventory. Just-in-time (JIT) production is when materials arrive at the production facility at the exact time they are needed. In this way, materials are not unused and inventory costs are reduced. Materials requirement planning (MRP) uses computerized systems to determine how much is needed for product and when those materials are needed.

To review, read Lean and Agile in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises: Complementary or Incompatible?, Managing the Production Process in a Manufacturing Company, and Enhancing Pharmaceutical Procurement.

LO4. describe the two main areas of distribution management

• What are the benefits of supply chain optimization?
• How can an organization forecast demand to create an effective distribution plan?

Supply chain optimization ensures that manufacturing and distribution processes are operating at their optimal levels. Company's must continually update and invest in their distribution channels to ensure that goods are delivered efficiency, while also optimizing profits for the organization. This requires a balance of inventory, transportation costs, manufacturing, and supply chain management for all industries.

Companies can use statistical data to track trends and predict future demand. They can also manage unpredictability by setting safety stocks and and levels. These strategies enable a company to determine how much merchandise is manufactured, where re-stocks are needed, and how to transport goods to replenish supply.

To review, read Investment in Operations.

Course Vocabulary

This vocabulary list includes terms that might help you with the review items above and some terms you should be familiar with to be successful in completing the final exam for the course.

Try to think of the reason why each term is included.

• Agile
• Batch ordering
• Bullwhip effect
• Demand forecast updating
• Distribution efficiency
• Inventory management
• Just-in-time
• lean
• logistics
• manufacturers
• manufacturing resource planning
• price fluctuations
• procurement
• rationing and gaming
• safety stocks
• suppliers
• supply chain optimization
• sustainability
• warehousing