| Over the past decade the role of Supply Chain | | | | Industry leading experts seem to agree that the key |
| Management in a business has been heavily focused | | | | element to success in the current market conditions |
| on reducing costs. However in today's market, | | | | is the company's ability to ADAPT and RESPOND to |
| increased sophistication in customer requirements and | | | | change. The power today is tipped to the customer |
| greater competition have brought about a change in | | | | instead of the manufacturer and they must focus |
| the way companies view the role of supply chain | | | | more time and money on responding to changing |
| management and many are realizing that the function | | | | customer requirements rather than plowing funding |
| of supply chain management can be more strategic | | | | into trying to effectively predict customer's needs. |
| thus giving businesses a heads up over competitors. | | | | If we consider an organization's top line, it seems |
| "A company that fails to manage its supply chain at | | | | clear that a company who is responsive to customer |
| strategic level is unlikely to meet its business | | | | needs and services will inevitably increase confidence, |
| objectives effectively" | | | | and aid them in achieving retained and new business. |
| There is no question that the supply chain function is | | | | If we look at the bottom line, an ability to respond |
| becoming more global and there has been an increase | | | | quickly and effectively will increase the manufacturing |
| in the pace of demand. However for a company the | | | | process; shorten lead times, a reduction in inventory |
| end objective is still as clear - get the right product, in | | | | as well as others. This ability to react to change and |
| the right place at the right time. Therefore it seems | | | | respond clearly has a knock on effect in the supply |
| fair to suggest that for individual companies in today's | | | | chain from a strategic point of view and companies |
| market the argument is whether they are going to | | | | that have recognized the relationship between |
| provide the industry with the performance | | | | corporate objectives and supply chain and the ability |
| improvements it seeks or whether a new approach is | | | | to respond are witnessing an impact on top and |
| needed which takes into account the whole supply | | | | bottom line figures. |
| chain. | | | | |