Wednesday 3 October 2012

Improving Flexibility And Reducing Risk In Supply Chain

Excess inventory, increased net debt, lowering share prices- these are every investor's worst nightmare, and the key to resolving them, in many SMEs, lies in having an effective supply chain management system in place. The significance of such a system to business growth in the dynamic market that exists in the business world cannot be emphasized enough. A single overlooked issue in the supply chain can be catastrophic to the success of your business, and in some cases, can even shake its very foundation. Key goal of supply chain experts remains to improve flexibility and reduce risk, ultimately leading to better performance and higher ROIs.

The principle concern posed by a rigid supply chain is its inability to adapt to the constantly changing market scenario, as well as the fluid legal requirements imposed on supply chains. By improving the flexibility in supply chain, it becomes easier to adhere by the stringent compliance laws, hence eliminating the risk that accompanies a failure to do so. The most efficient way to achieve this increase in flexibility is through a supply chain management system that helps to boost the structural as well as functional parameters of your supply chain, resulting in the mitigation of risks and optimal utilization of human resources.

The first area that needs to be modulated is the structural aspect of the supply chain. The most important consideration here is to ensure that the framework at each stage of the supply chain is designed in a manner that accommodates tentative changes. By ensuring that the supply chain is not constrained in its capacity, product availability is optimized, and the end result is satisfied customers. In the absence of a supply chain management system that actuates this, manufacturers may be forced to remodel their products and suppliers may suffer from product shortages, while distributors can be crippled by transportation and logistics challenges.

Talking of the technological aspects of a supply chain, companies can benefit greatly from web-based solutions which enable real-time updating of data, resulting in a more agile and accessible system. Supply chain management software powered by this seamless data transfer promotes communication at the different levels of the supply chain, resulting in a system that is flexible, responsive, intuitive, and result-oriented. By achieving a high level of structural and functional integrity in the supply chain, business owners can significantly cut down on labor costs, while also eliminating the high risk involved in a manual supply chain.

McLane Logistics Technology provides cost effective software solutions to improve flexibility and reduce risk in supply chain. To learn more about their services, visit them at 4001, Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504. They can also be contacted at 1-800-989-7568.