by Judd Da Cruz – Probe Group SCM
A supply chain is more than a set of business divisions along a straight path from raw material/product sourcing to end consumer use. A supply chain is a very complex network through which materials, information, and money flow between key stakeholders. Highly integrated supply chains draw on the capabilities and resources of multiple organisations to ensure the timely and efficient fulfilment of customer requirements.
An organisation must make supply chain management a strategic priority. This includes assembling the right talent, building key relationships, and investing in essential technological capabilities. These efforts support the development and coordination of interdependent processes in planning, procurement, conversion, and logistics. All are needed to achieve supply chain excellence.
At Probe Group we operate according to best-practice strategies to ensure flexibility in our service to our clients, thus ensuring superior customer service.
Supply chain management, however, is not strictly an in-house function. Even the largest manufacturers rely on the expertise of external entities to provide essential resources and capacity. These key role players include retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers who have a financial interest in the products flowing through the supply chain. In addition, key facilitators such as logistics services providers, technology companies, indirect materials, service and equipment suppliers, enable the key flows and facilitate the safe, efficient execution of supply chain activities.
The trade-offs from investing in supply chain processes and cross-chain relationships are many. Moving from a functional excellence focus toward integration, collaboration, and synchronisation, the supply chain becomes more dynamic and capable of achieving key organisational goals. As supply chain capabilities mature, the organisation can achieve efficient fulfilment, meet customer requirements, respond more effectively to change, become more resilient to disruptions, and improve financial performance.
Ultimately, these capabilities translate to greater customer utility, performance versus goals, and shareholder value. These benefits fuel the growing interest in supply chain management among CEOs and corporate boards.
As well-known international supply chain leader, Wael Safwat, says, “In this competitive business world, it’s not the organisations that are competing. It’s the supply chains that are competing.” With this in mind, Probe is committed to continuous refinements of management processes because this will keep us ahead of the pack in delivering the service excellence and product quality that our customers have come to expect.
