Supply Chains and Inventory Management

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Supply Chain and Inventory Management

December 6, 2008

Supply Chain and Inventory Management

With the increased globalization, competition and complexity in global supply chains, more companies have realized that supply chain management is critical to the optimal organizations overall operation. It is no longer just the responsibility of the warehouse manager and logistics director (Pundir, 2008 and Wharton). In the past, many organizations didn’t manage their supply chains they left that up to the suppliers. Usually the supply chain planning, marketing production and inventory management in most organizations operated as separate departments (Stevenson, 2007). Businesses have recognized the strategic importance and the need for effective and efficient supply chains in operations management (Stevenson, 2007). This paper will deal with quality issues, the importance of operations management collaborating with supply chain, and inventory management.

Coordinating the transport of supplies, information technology, services and products between suppliers and partnering businesses within an organization is what supply chain management is all about (Alade, 2004). In today’s world the customers are more demanding and businesses are working hard to meet those demands. The customers want more styles, better quality and longer lasting products and they want them fast. The only way that organizations can delivery is by insuring that their supply chains are aligned with the operations of the organizations.

In order to align the supply chain with the organizations operation they must first make sure the supply chain is included in the strategic decisions process along with the senior executives in the organization (Rees...

... middle of paper ...

...ategies. Supply Chain Management Review, 11(8), 44-50. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from Business Source Complete database.

Pundir, A. K. (2008, November). Increasing importance of supply chain. The Financial Express, Retrieved December 6, 2008, from Business Source Complete database.

Reese, A. (2006, December). Making supply chain matter. Supply & Demand Chain Executive, 1(8), 25-27. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from Business Source Complete database.

Stevenson, W. J., (2007). Operations management (9th ed.). New York. McGraw-Hill Companies

You can’t manage what you can’t measure’: Maximizing Supply Chain wharton.universia.net/index.cfm?fa=viewArticle&id=124language=English&specialld=

Quinn, Q. (2000, January). Quantifying the benefits of SCM. Logistics Management & Distribution Report, 39(1), 30. Retrieved December 6, 2008, from Business Source Complete database.

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