Week 1: Supply Chain Management - Assignment Example

Running header; Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management This is delineated as various approaches adopted to integrate suppliers, stores, manufactures efficiently with the view of producing and distributing merchandise at right quantity, locations, and time so as to minimize costs at the same time meeting the requirements. It is supplier’s representation to ensure that they develop and implement cost effective and efficient supply chains. The chain starts from production, development of the product and even various systems that will be used in various daily activities. 2. List and describe the components of supply chain management.

Plan- The firm requires a well documented strategy on the management of user’s resources so as to efficiently meet customers’ demands. This component entails a developed metric to trace supply chain.Source- The senior management should develop a delivering system and set pricing within the supply chain to ensure that raw materials supplied are economic and are of good quality.Make- the management should ensure that all activities required in production, packaging, testing and preparation for delivery are put in place.

Deliver-This is usually referred to as the logistics. It is the coordination of receipt of various orders, pick right carriers to ensure that products reach customers and have a well developed network linking all the warehouses. Return-The management should create a network that is responsible and efficient in receiving products sent to them. 3. Challenges facing today’s supply chainSome of the issues and challenges facing supply chain today includeThe need to reduce the fees charged while at the same time improving customer service and expansion to need areasDistribution network configuration- This is related to issues on how management should select number of warehouses, capacities and locations, focuses on optimization.

Inventory control, which deal with the changing inventory needs of the customer because of uncertainty.Production sourcing, mainly concerned with the balancing the costs of manufacturing and transportation. Another issue is the supply contracts given that each party focuses on making its profits. Distribution strategies, concerned with the amount of work to be centralized. There is also supply chain integration and strategic partnering given the complex nature of supply chain management.Outsourcing and off shoring strategies given the difficult decision involved on what to get internally and others to outsource.

Information Technology and Decision-Support Systems is another one given that the management must adopt the best systems to ensure that reasonable decisions are taken to support operations. ReferenceLevi, D., & Kaminsky, P. (2000). Designing and managing the supply chain: Concepts, strategies, and case studies. Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill.