Global
Supply
Chain

Are you looking for ways to increase your business growth? If so, don't overlook the power of global supply chains. It is important that you are aware of how your product or service will be made and delivered to customers. 

Global Supply Chains can help companies grow by providing an international perspective on their operations through sourcing, production management and logistics. These services will allow you to reduce risks associated with currency fluctuations, political unrest in specific markets. As well as the potential for natural disasters which could disrupt your supply chain at any time. 

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These are just some of the many issues that global supply chains can help address. While providing world-class customer service delivery worldwide.

 

How can supply chains be improved?

Good supply chain processes means that the needs of customers and suppliers are met. This can be achieved by inventory levels (ensuring there is enough product in stock for when the customer wants it). And demand (making sure we know what our customer wants). 

By reducing waste, we can make sure products don't go to waste - this will help us to minimise operating costs too. The more efficient a supply chain is, the more profit is generated: it's a win-win situation!

 

How can you achieve complete supply chain visibility?

There are many ways to achieve complete supply chain visibility. One of the most common methods is by implementing inventory management software. If your business relies on managing and tracking large inventories. This includes the quantity, location, shipment date, etc., of all their merchandise. 

After gaining data with the help of software, it's often possible to monitor shipment progress easily for oversight or reporting activities. From there you'll be able to track each item as it moves through your supply chain. And pinpoint exactly what needs attention. Know when potential problems arise – before they do!

 

How can you reduce lead times in a supply chain?

Lead time is the amount of time between when an order is placed and it's complete fulfilment. That can be influenced by both:

• order processing (the number of days before fulfilling an order) 
• and vendor management (the number of days vendors take to process orders). 

Between those two, it's possible to reduce lead times for large volumes of products that are ordered more often.

Order Fulfilment refers to the staff on hand to handle tasks like production, packing, packing & shipping.

 

How do we design a supply chain network?

One of the most critical decisions in designing a supply chain network is where to provide key elements of the system. With just one distribution center, for example, delivery times are reduced but costs increase. The decision to build or lease facilities means factoring in availability and inflation considerations for land use. Upstream options like design trade-offs (ranging from how many to few products per lot) will also affect warehouse availability downstream.

One can strategically develop product pallets with an eye towards timing travel distance between distribution centres and delivering cargo. Using shorter delivery routes that rely less heavily on management expenditures like fuel cost (truck-line system). Supply chain efficiency involves determining what type of pricing scheme will maximize profit margins for the chain.

 

How do you implement a real-time visibility supply chain?

Establish visibility in your supply chain by using inventory management that can deliver information in real-time. Developing an end-to-end visibility platform will enable you to see what's happening at any point in the whole process. This can even help forecast the necessary material stock levels.

There are several benefits for implementing a real-time visibility supply chain, including:

Increased Security: Real-time information ensures more accurate inventory control (decreasing the risk of not having enough materials). Reduced Transportation Costs: Quicker delivery means less carbon emissions from transportation. 

Improved Supply Chain Efficiency: Optimized allocation of resources reduces extra activities. Such as hunting for stocks or managing production line stoppages due to inventory shortage.

More accurate inventory management provides important security benefits since inventory can be managed to deter disruptions in production or transportation. For instance, companies experience an average inventory loss of 5% to 15%. Inventory management that is visible at every point along the supply chain helps to:

• reduce inventory loss 
• and increase inventory turn rates, 

which are certain factors for successful inventory management.

As inventory is situated in multiple warehouses or inventory sites. It can be difficult to keep track of inventory levels at every point. This is due to the lack of information flow. 

Visibility solutions are more beneficial when they are available across departments, inventory sites, branches, and countries. This way you will get access to real-time inventory information, even if your inventory is situated in different regions.

 

How does a supply chain affect an operations manager?

An operations manager has to manage the supply chain within his or her organization. To provide effective and efficient support for customer service. A supply chain is a series of organizations, people, activities, and resources that work together to produce an item or service. 

The process starts when a supplier makes and delivers raw materials and components to a manufacturer. Who converts them into finished goods for the customer. These are then shipped through distribution centres before reaching retail outlets where customers can purchase them. 

 

The

• sequencing, 
• timing, 
• quality standards, 
• transportation coordination, 
• inventory control techniques, 

are all functions of an operations manager managing his or her company's supply chain. 

 

Demand planning helps set:

• targets for items ordered from suppliers to meet the demand; 
• production planning determines when and where the orders will be manufactured, 

and customer service management determines when and how to distribute products to retail outlets to meet customer expectations. 

 

How important is supply chain to a business model?

A business will be limited in what it can do if they are negatively impacted by:

• low-quality raw materials, 
• scarce key resources, 
• or lack of key activities. 

Businesses will need to have strong supply chain management practices. That ensures their needs are met on schedule and at the desired quality. 

Failure to do this may result in lost sales or diminished customer satisfaction. A company that leverages its supply chain well and proactively manages their resources (staffing and capital). This can significantly enhance potential opportunities and benefit for both itself and its customers over time.

 

Is supply chain management important?

Supply chain management is the focal point of a firm's "trade business" activities. Where goods and services are transformed into product flows to satisfy customer needs. Business processes in supply chain management span across these transformation activities.

Supply Chain Management is important because:

•  it has a direct impact on inventory management, 
• sourcing, 
• supplier selection coordination, 
• warehousing operations, 
• transportation, 
• logistics 
• and more importantly - customer service levels. 

A company that maintains supply chain efficiency is able to deliver products when they need to be delivered. Supply with demand (they'll never overstock with too much production). This in turn reduces costs or "inventory carrying cost". 

 

What are the 5 basic steps of supply chain management?

o Transforming raw materials (supply) 

o Manufacturing processes (manufacturing) 

o Finished product (distribution) 

o Promotional strategy to increase demand 

o Promotions incentives to drive purchase behaviour in consumers.

 

What are the global supply chain network strategies?

A supply chain is typically a network of processes and organizations, typically involving:

• sourcing inputs such as materials, 
• parts or labour from suppliers, 
• purchasing these items; 
• bargaining with sellers; 
• transporting the items to company owned inventory; 
• assembling them into more complex products and delivering them to customers. 

Wholesale trade companies rely on their "supply chains" in order to remain in business. They will go through great lengths in order to ensure that their supply chains do not disrupt production.

Distributed ledgers: 

- blockchain technologies for example 

- will be useful when it comes time for reconciling discrepant data between parties 

comprising a supply chain.  

There are different solutions for different internet of things (IoT) use cases.

 

What is a supply chain?

A supply chain strategy carries out the company's business and marketing strategies. It is a plan to execute manufacturing and production as well as deliver the end products or services to customers.

The customer demands that generate this need can be due to:

• changes in the market, 
• changes in customer needs 
• or demands for new features and functions. 

The factory process will create these finished products and services through raw materials sourced from:

 suppliers and other manufacturers (internal and external),

• production processes composed of machines, tools, chemicals treatment, etc., 
• logistics throughout the factory involving storage space at warehouse(s)

for finished goods inventory or at final destination locations such as retail stores for sales channels.

 

What is meant by inventory reduction in the supply chain?

The supply chain is the process of moving goods from supplier to customer. The inventory items that companies maintain in between these stages are called "stock." A company should anticipate demand for their product and carry only the right amount of stock at all times. Otherwise risk excess wasted space and inefficient use of funds. 

Inventory reduction concepts such as demand forecasting and different approaches towards obsolete inventory can be used to reduce the necessary levels. With a successful approach, an appropriate level will be attained. Stocks will disappear quicker than before because they carry less stock (sunk costs).

 

What is meant by upstream and downstream Supply Chain?

An upstream supply chain refers to any activity that takes place before the finished product reaches the consumer. This includes raw materials, production cycle, and supply chain activities.

The downstream phase of a supply-chain is with distribution and sales of goods or services, usually in the retail market.

 

What is the competitive advantage in the supply chain?

In the supply chain, there are four main competitive advantages that can be difficult to achieve. These competitive advantages are:

• quality of goods and services, 
• Low cost production through economies of scale, 
• speed in order fulfilment through innovation or responsiveness, 
• and consideration for customer satisfaction including options for custom products.

 

What is the difficulty to work in supply chain management (SCM)?

Generally, the difficulty of SCM is relationship management. There are many people working in manufacturing facilities with products you either need to buy or are selling. Getting them on board with your strategy can be tricky. 

Things like supply chain professionals, supply chain planners who specialize in making new orders for suppliers and manufacturers. As well as people on the ground at vendors to make sure facilities are running efficiently for everyone's benefit. It's key not to leave anyone out of the equation because everyone plays a role within the supply chain! 

 

What is the hub and spoke model in a supply chain?

Supply networks in a hub-and-spoke distribution system share a common central point. Some companies rely on a central organization or a single person to orchestrate the supply network. While others have self coordinating supply networks. 

The hub and spoke model has been used by firms to create economies of scale. When there are certain inventory management efficiencies gained from stocking an entire warehouse with one product type. 

It is advantageous for transportation needs because products from all over the world come to one place for delivery. Rather than being required to ship each item individually from its area of origin. 

In this way hub and spoke distribution systems can take advantage of larger production runs that drive down supply cost. And inventory carrying costs. As well as take advantage of bulk delivery and large storage facilities.

 

What is the role of technology in supply chain management?

Supply chain management is the process of managing all aspects of the process that:

• takes raw materials, 
• transforms them into product(s) or service(s), 
• and delivers them to customers. 

Technology has a very strong role in this process as it makes it safer, more efficient, and more data driven.

Technology has made supply-chain management much simpler by giving managers access to detailed production data. So they are able to better understand their inventories and forecasts. 

This information can be used to improve demand planning for improved customer service levels while maximizing asset usage rates. This helps ensure higher profit margins on key items by reducing land developmental costs upstream or handling faster spoilage downstream.  That may have otherwise gone overlooked without advanced analytics being employed.

 

Conclusion 

It is important that you are aware of how your product or service will be made and delivered to customers. Global Supply Chains can help companies grow by providing an international perspective on their operations through sourcing, production management and logistics. 

Consider building your company system accordingly to allow for the inclusion of these supply chains into your marketing plan! We'll be happy to work with you on developing new systems. So contact us today if this has sparked any interest in you.