Supply Chain: Definition and Best Practices

8 December 2023

Have you ever wondered how a product manufactured thousands of miles away miraculously finds its way to your door? The supply chain is much more than a simple logistical concept: it’s an essential link in the global economy, and yet it remains a mystery to many people.

Globex Worldwide Courier is an expert in both international shipping and same-day delivery. As experienced professionals with knowledge of supply chain management, we’re well equipped to explain how a supply chain works.

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of supply chains and logistics, where every choice affects a product’s journey, from its manufacturing location right to your doorstep.

How does the supply chain work?

The supply chain covers the entire process from product manufacturing to delivery. It is made up of a series of operations and techniques that can be organized into three main flows: physical, informational, and financial. Each of these flows plays an important role in a logistics company’s success.

Every supply chain involves numerous players, resources, activities, and technologies, each making an essential contribution at different levels:

Raw Materials Procurement and Purchasing: This key stage involves the selection of suppliers and the purchase of quality raw materials, the foundation of successful production.
Manufacturing and Production: This stage includes everything from receiving raw materials to quality control and preparing finished products for shipment. Effective management at this point is crucial, to maintain product quality and avoid delayed deliveries.
Inventory management: This area of the supply chain is focussed on finding a balance between making finished products available and reducing storage costs, so that companies can respond rapidly to market demands.
Delivery and Logistics: This phase involves coordinating orders, planning transport and reducing delivery times. It also involves managing payments to guarantee efficient and cost-effective product distribution.
Returns management and after-sales customer service: This area of the supply chain is often overlooked, but it is essential. Product returns play an important role in maintaining customer satisfaction and brand reputation.

All elements of the supply chain are interdependent, and one weak area can impact the efficiency of the entire system.

Supply chain and logistics management are inseparable

Supply chain and logistics are two different things, and they work hand in hand to keep companies performing efficiently. In fact, logistics and transport careers reveal how collaboration between supply chain and logistics is vital to maintaining a continuous and efficient flow of products, from manufacturing to delivery.

Shipping management

A logistics director plays a crucial role in coordinating and managing shipping. This includes selecting modes of transport, planning routes, and managing transport costs. Efficient transport management is vital to making timely, cost-effective deliveries, and has a direct influence on the overall success of the supply chain.

Inventory management

Inventory management is also vital to a successful supply chain, by ensuring that stock levels are adjusted to meet market needs, while minimizing storage costs. Usually overseen by a dispatch logistician, the goal of inventory management is to manage product availability and cost-efficient stock procurement.

Information management

Collecting, analyzing, and distributing accurate information is crucial in logistics. This includes tracking shipments, updating inventory, and communicating effectively with suppliers and customers. Good information management makes it possible to make informed decisions, plan accurately and respond rapidly to variations in demand or disruptions in the supply chain.

Technology and innovation

Technology plays a key role in modernizing logistics. The integration of advanced systems, such as GPS shipment tracking and warehouse automation, improves efficiency, reduces errors and makes processes visible across the supply chain.

Flexibility

The ability to adapt quickly to market changes or logistical emergencies is a crucial aspect of logistics. This flexibility allows a company to maintain its operations despite challenges, and offer consistent, reliable customer service.

Supply chain challenges

Managing a supply chain is complex as the various components are constantly evolving. Supply chain challenges include unpredictable elements related to logistics, changes in consumer needs, and the need for effective inventory management.

Challenges can emerge at different levels of the supply chain, from issues choosing a plant size and location, to difficulties managing orders and balancing supply and demand. When looking for solutions, a company’s commercial and ethical objectives must always be taken into consideration.

In a changing global market, optimizing the supply chain is an important element of any company’s import and export or international freight forwarding strategy . An efficient supply chain makes it possible for a business to stay competitive and respond to various customer needs.

To overcome supply chain challenges, companies can implement any number of optimization strategies, such as:

Diversifying suppliers and transport routes: Important for international shipping, for example.
Using advanced technologies: Using AI and data analysis to forecast changes in demand and to optimize inventories.
Accurately forecasting demand: To avoid stock-outs or overstocking, while maintaining strategic reserves.

The above strategies improve supply chain efficiency and go beyond mere cost reduction to guarantee cost-effective manufacturing and product delivery.

Partner with Globex for logistics strategy in Canada and worldwide

The supply chain is vital to any successful business, and optimal supply chain management is an art!

At Globex, we understand the supply chain challenges you face and have developed strategies to overcome them. More than just a shipping company, Globex offers you the opportunity to become a trusted partner so we can propel your business to new heights of efficiency and success. Don’t let your supply chain be a source of stress. Instead, make Globex your strategic ally. Contact us today and take the next step toward optimizing your supply chain