Supply Chain Structure 

Businesses and companies are gaining key insight, analyzing data, and implementing analytics to the SC operations; whether it is the distribution of food and beverage or the high tech products. Today, we’ll discuss the supply chain structure; its definition, and key elements.

What is Supply Chain Structure? 

Businesses and companies purchase and sell raw supplies and materials from each other to establish a supply chain system. The leading company develops a series of relationship with every company, and deal with the process of processing and issuing purchase order on demand.

However, the supply chain structure comprises raw material suppliers, services, and materials that the company requires to distribute and manufacture its products and goods to the end consumers and intermediaries.

The supply chain employs various structures that would reflect collaboration and business relationships among companies in the SC network. The structure could be a little informal relationship, where companies procure material occasionally from diverse segments of suppliers and vendors. It could be in the form of a strong partnership in an integrated supply chain or joint venture, where there is a high degree of dependency or collaboration.

Top leading companies have got access to suppliers and vendors, and they deal with issues like fluctuation in quality, reliability, delivery, or supply capacity.

Elements of Supply Chain Structure 

Some of the main elements of the supply chain structure are as follows;

Focus on Internal Processes

The goal is to establish a connection between planning and implementation across the value chain and promote the value proposition of the company both internally and externally. After establishing the managerial focus, businesses and companies could employ this focus to outline and execute the internal process for the managerial strategy. However, it answers the following questions;

• Establishes a connection between the company’s industry position and SC structure
• Best strategies for the decision-making process
• Know various departments and parties responsible and involved in the decision-making process

Unique Value Proposition

It comes in the form of an in-depth comprehension of the company’s goals and objectives relevant to developing and managing SC processes. The managers and planners of the company should comprehend and beware of their unique assets and attributes on how they could gain a competitive edge for growth and profitability. However, many companies employ automated SC processes and they have got a limited understanding of what makes their products, goals, objectives, and services unique.

Industry Framework

It requires connection among technological development, customers, suppliers, and manufacturers; factors that drive the industry framework design and the supply design. Some of those factors are as follows;

• Demand Variation: impact product lifecycle, cost, and production efficiency and it has become limited with tech development by forcing manufacturers to amplify the production timeline
• Market Mediation Cost: it starts from the imbalance between supply and demand

Purchasing and Procurement

Procurement is the method of buying raw supplies, materials, and software from suppliers or vendors to meet the internal and external demands of the company. After recognizing the need, the purchasing department has the obligation of managing legal concerns, negotiate payment terms and conditions, choose suppliers, and conduct the screening process. The procuring team has the obligation of analyzing the performance of the company relevant to the terms and conditions of the company.

Managing Material

As the name implies, it comprises of managing the movement of material from the suppliers to the production processes. The main objective is to manage and organize the material and supplies at the right time in the right place. However, it decreases the transportation cost while moving goods from one place to another, from suppliers to the production facility.

Data Management

The obligation of a data management manager is to manage the usage of data, quality, and structure for both internal and external users. Often they employ the following database tools;

• Architecture or management system
• Internal data storage
• GUI-based user interface

The function of data management heavily depends on the company’s tech infrastructure and the IT team to analyze, export, and store data from various sources.

Production

Production or manufacturing is the method of converting input like data, information, partially finished goods, or raw supplies and convert them into finished goods or services.

Order Management

The obligation of the order management function is to send, validate, and gather all the relevant and required information to rightly satisfy the customer’s order. The function of order management is to bridge the gap between the distribution, production, and sales department of the company. However, a successful customer order requires coordination and collaboration among various departments of the company and they’re as follows;

• Shipping group
• Packaging
• Production
• Inventory tracking
• Quotation and pricing
• Sales
• Marketing

Distribution

As the name implies, it deals with the outward flow of goods to the end consumers. The objective of distribution is to manage and organize necessary supplies and materials before sending them to the customers. The distribution team should make sure the safety of delivery and take precautionary measures by paying heed to the timely shipment and transportation costs.

Conclusion: Supply Chain Structure 

Today, we’ll discuss the supply chain structure; we have realized that the SC structure is different for different organizations and companies. If you are learning about the SC structure, then you should keep in mind the abovementioned elements.