Supply-Chain Management Essentials

Determining what logistics tools and materials are used in a supply-chain is important for selecting logistics providers to develop an effective logistics process. You can click here for an overview of the types of platforms you’d be dealing with if you’re part of the technical supply-chain management team of your organization. Every logistics management system (LCMS) supports interoperation, but most do not provide interoperation with supply-chain management tools. That means business managers in supply-chain operations are unable to use the warehouse data and warehouse management systems to set freight rates for distribution in their own warehouses.

Most LCMS provide tools to set warehouse charge rates, but many LCMS do not provide tools for that interoperation with the supply-chain logistics management tools. Most logistics management systems also provide tools to enter warehouse information for inventory status, but most do not provide that information for interoperation with supply-chain logistics tools.

This list highlights supply-chain management essentials in supply-chain management applications.

Knowledge Management (MCM)

Supply-chain managers are in the field in more complex, more distributed environments, like requiring knowledge of how something like a hand dynamometer works and how it fits into the operation’s technicalities. This often requires employees to manage and report information in different contexts, including those without paper or electronic storage or tracking systems. This means they must interact more frequently with suppliers, customers and the manufacturers’ engineering and operations teams. This interoperation is needed to develop flexible solutions.

Knowledge management is important in supply-chain operations for interoperation of data and interoperation with supply-chain logistics tools. The following is an example of the importance of knowledge management in a supply-chain operation.

When a product leaves a manufacturer’s manufacturing plant, that product is based on information about previous orders, production data and costs. That information is used to make decisions about pricing and profitability. At the same time, companies are developing processes to deliver the inventory in the most cost-efficient manner. For this interoperation to be effective, the manufacturing plant has to be able to coordinate the logistic process and set shipment rates to the warehouse and to the distribution center.

Customized Logistics Management (CLM)

Many supply-chain operations are not interdependent and have no interoperation between a warehouse and other supply-chain operations. Logistic management tools that connect logistics tools are needed, but for interoperation with warehouse inventory information and interoperation with supply-chain logistics tools.

Larger businesses often lack adequate knowledge of how to connect their supply-chain logistics systems. These organizations may not know how to set freight rates for transportation in their own warehouses or they may not know how to report the status of items in their warehouses.

Larger businesses also may not have reliable transportation systems. When drivers do not show up, this interoperation can lead to lost orders or poor logistics performance. Supply-chain operations that have transportation performance that is less than those that have interoperation with supply-chain logistics tools should consider the following resources to provide more effective logistics management.

Supply Chain Workforce Development (SCWDP)

Supply-chain management professionals are in demand as businesses move toward interoperation between supply-chain management tools and interoperation between supply-chain logistics tools and warehouse inventory information. You might want to learn more about the legal groundwork that forms somewhat of an invisible layer of supply-chain management.

In addition, most supply-chain management professionals are in demand to provide workforce development to supply-chain operations.