Supply Chain Management
The supply chain consists of all the producers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers, who process raw materials into finished goods and services and deliver them to consumers. Even the simplest of products, such as bread, may have a long supply chain. In the case of bread this consists of the farmers who grow wheat to the grain millers, transport firms, bakeries, retailers, advertising and branding agencies, and packaging businesses that are involved in transforming grain into a loaf of bread. The supply chain extends from the initial producer (a farmer in the case of bread) to the ultimate consumer (the person who buys the bread). The idea of a supply chain dates back to the 1950s, while the concept of supply chain management was developed in the 1980s and involves managing the flow of information, materials, services, and money across any activity in order to maximize efficiency. Poor supply chain management can cause waste, increase costs, and, by failing to deliver a product or service on time or in a good condition, can alienate customers and ultimately may threaten a company’s existence.
Best Practice- Best-Practice Working Capital Management: Techniques for Optimizing Inventories, Receivables, and Payables
- Cash Flow Best Practice for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Countering Supply Chain Risk
- How to Better Manage Your Financial Supply Chain
- Payment Factories: How to Streamline Financial Flows
- Reducing Costs through Production and Supply Chain Management
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