Creating a stable supply chain is vital for meeting demand, reducing costs and maintaining customer satisfaction.
If you are looking to develop skills in managing supply chains, consider participating in the Supply Chain Management Training Course offered by pdtraining in Auckland and other cities in New Zealand.
Companies often do not optimise their supply chain, which leads to the wastage of resources and the unpredictability of meeting demand in the future. Using some simple methods, companies can strengthen their supply chain. Every element of a supply chain is linked, and fluctuations in one element impact the others. The key elements of a supply chain are:
- Customers
- Planning
- Suppliers
- Inventory and Storage
- Tracking and Monitoring
- Management
Customers
The prime purpose of supply is to meet demand. Judging from the demand, supply is adjusted. To effectively manage a supply chain, studying customer behaviour and expectations is important. Fluctuations in demand must be predicted, and planning done accordingly to manage storage. Without achieving the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction where the good or service customers want to purchase is available to them, a supply chain cannot be said to be running efficiently.
Planning
Supply chain planning is done at various levels, including strategic, tactical and operational level. Planning helps to predict future problems such as inefficiency of suppliers, delay due to transportation, storage difficulties, market influences, and changes in customer behaviour. Identification of possible problems helps in the development of systems that are stronger and more flexible to changes.
Suppliers
Without support from suppliers, a supply chain cannot run efficiently. Suppliers must provide the part(s) or the raw material(s) on time, retaining the quality and the quantity of the supplied materials. It is very important that suppliers be reliable. They must also be able to adjust the supply if there are any major fluctuations in the demand.
Inventory and Storage
Management of inventory and effective utilisation of the storage space helps to make supply chains work smoothly. When planning, the storage space available and possible changes in the demand, and thereby the supply, must be taken into account. Lack of planning, and management of inventory and storage can lead to wastage.
Tracking and Monitoring
Tracking and monitoring of the entire chain of supply is important to ensure its efficiency. It also helps to study patterns, identify errors and problems, and fix issues before they adversely affect the supply chain. It is important to create a simple yet effective method of tracking and monitoring.
Management
Management of the materials supplied, human resources, transportation, storage, and the end product is essential for running an optimised supply chain. All the elements that influence supply chains need to be managed at all times so that they remain effectual.
Pdtraining delivers 1000’s of professional development courses each year in Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin and Tauranga, so you can be assured your training will be delivered by a qualified and experienced trainer.
All public Supply Chain Management Training courses include am/pm tea, lunch, printed courseware and a certificate of completion. Customised courses are available upon request so please contact pdtraining on 1300 121 400 to learn more.