Supply chains encompass the companies and the business activities needed to design, make, deliver, and use a product or service. Businesses depend on their supply chains to provide them with what they need to survive and thrive. Every business fits into one or more supply chains and has a role to play in each of them. The pace of change and the uncertainty about how markets will evolve has made it increasingly important for companies to be aware of the supply chains they participate in and to understand the roles that they play.
BUILDING A SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION STRATEGY Whether you are a manufacturer, distributor, or service provider, every organization has a supply chain that needs to be managed. For many, the overall benefit of supply chain management software (SCM) is not difficult to understand. However, considering all the business processes that comprise the supply chain and the numerous SCM tools available, the basic question is where to start. The following are the critical first steps that manufacturers should take