Advantages and Disadvantages of Supply chain management (2024)

Contents

Advantages of Supply Chain Management

Cost efficiency

Supply chain management assist in attaining cost efficiency within the organization. It aims at optimizing all process of business which bring down the production cost, packaging cost, warehousing and transportation cost and avoids any wastage of goods by facilitating timely delivery. It minimizes the overall operating expenses and enhances the overall profitability.

Enhance output

The concept of supply chain management aims at maximizing the overall productivity of business. Supply managers monitor all production processes and ensure that all resources are efficiently utilized. Any wastage of resources is avoided which lead to maximize the overall output.

Avoids delay in process

Preventing any delays of business process is one of the major advantage of supply change management. Supply chain manager ensure that all materials are timely acquired for facilitating uninterrupted production of products. Also, they regulate all delivery and logistics services of business which promote delivery at right time at right location thereby avoiding any delays.

Easily identify problem areas

Supply chain management enable business in recognizing its issue that are adversely affecting its reputation and profitability. Managers can easily track the performance of every department and identify which one is lacking in delivering its duties. In absence of this concept, it will be difficult to detect the issue and every department will blame each other for any problem that erupts.

Better collaboration

Process of supply chain management bring better collaboration among distinct parties of business. It focuses on developing a proper communication channel within the business for avoiding any confusion or disputes. Smooth flow of information among all stakeholders like employees, customers, suppliers and distribution enhance understanding which leads to create a better collaboration.

Disadvantages of Supply Chain Management

Expensive to implement

Major limitation of process of supply chain management is that it is quite expensive to implement. It requires large investment in terms of time, money and other resources that become unaffordable for small businesses.

Complicated

Process of supply chain management involves numerous complexities as it involves several departments within the organization. It may lead to create confusion and hamper the normal functioning of business. Employees may feel hesitant and demotivated to accept this concept as it is new to them thereby giving rise to several other difficulties.

Lack of co-ordination among departments

The concept of supply chain management functions properly only if there is better coordination among departments of departments. Establishing a coordination among several departments within big corporate is a quite difficult task where this concept may eventually fail to perform.

Requires trained and personalized staff

Supply chain management requires qualified and trained human resources for its effective executive within the company. Company need to incurs heavy expenses for acquiring such taskforce that is professional and highly skilled. Small companies may find it unfavorable for their implementation.

Lack of reliability

Supply chain management lacks of reliability as it is completely dependent upon the mode of information exchange among several departments. If there is any instance of inaccurate information sharing by any of the department, then it will have adverse effects on performance of whole supply chain.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Supply chain management (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 advantages of effective supply chain management? ›

Important benefits of supply chain management
  • Better collaboration with suppliers.
  • Better quality control.
  • Shipping optimisation.
  • Reduced inventory and overhead costs.
  • Improved risk mitigation.
  • Stronger cash flow.
  • A more agile business.
  • Better visibility and data analytics.
Jan 26, 2022

What are the 3 disadvantages of SCM? ›

Mismanaged Implementation – Changing a supply chain management system takes financial investment, time, and human resources. If not implemented properly, there will be wasted labor, service redundancy, and missed deadlines that result in significant costs.

What is the advantages of supply chain management? ›

SCM helps design effective best practices to facilitate different types of supply chain information that usually come in different formats and structures. SCM also enables accurate, timely, complete, and relevant information flow to avoid missed opportunities and possible risks.

What are the disadvantages of working in supply chain? ›

What are the disadvantages of supply chains?
  • Longer delivery times. ...
  • Reputational risks of connected supply chains. ...
  • Currency exchange rates. ...
  • Loss of quality control. ...
  • Higher exposure to supply chain risks. ...
  • (Mis)-communication challenges.
Jul 9, 2022

What are the three C's of good supply chain management? ›

Companies, especially those in healthcare and hospitality, buy a wide range of items and want to streamline procurement for a leaner, more manageable inventory. The right GPO can support an organization's buying or sourcing team to achieve the three Cs: control, consolidation and cost savings.

What is the most significant advantage of the supply chain management structure? ›

One of the main benefits of supply chain management is its ability to decrease costs by improving inventories, adapt according to customer requirements, stabilizing relationships with distributors and vendors.

What are the 5 challenges of supply chain management? ›

The strains on supply chains are far more intense, and management requires a strong plan and constant measuring for weak links.
  • Customer Service. Customer service still remains the center of supply chain management. ...
  • Cost Control. ...
  • Planning & Risk Management. ...
  • Supplier/Partner Relationship Management. ...
  • Talent.

What are the 4 primary risks in SCM? ›

Most of the risks that could disrupt your operations fall into four broad categories: economic, environmental, political and ethical.

What are the five key issues of supply chain management? ›

By knowing the activities involved in the scope of supply chain management, we can also identify the possible challenges and provide solutions to them.
  • 1.Quality Customer Service. ...
  • 3.Risk Management. ...
  • 5.Qualified Personnel. ...
  • 6.Unforeseen Delays. ...
  • 7.Fast-Changing Markets.
Feb 5, 2019

What are the advantages and disadvantages of lean supply chain? ›

  • Advantage: Eliminates Waste. ...
  • Advantage: Worker Satisfaction. ...
  • Advantage: Just in Time. ...
  • Advantage: Competitive Advantage. ...
  • Disadvantage: New Inefficiencies. ...
  • Disadvantage: Low Margin for Error. ...
  • Disadvantage: Worker Frustration.

What is the disadvantage of e supply chain management? ›

What is the disadvantage of e-supply chain management? While the implementation of e-supply chain management can provide efficiency improvements, it also suffers from several weaknesses ranging from cyber attacks and reliability of access to uncertain return on investment.

What is the advantage and disadvantages? ›

As nouns, the difference between disadvantage and advantage is that disadvantage is a weakness or undesirable characteristic; a con while the advantage is any condition, circ*mstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or any desired end.

Which is the major problem of supply chain? ›

Rising price of fuel to transport goods by road, sea or air. Increasing commodity prices raising the cost of raw materials. Higher labor costs from suppliers and manufacturers. Complex international logistics leading to higher charges for storage, transfer and management of products.

What are the three supply chain challenges? ›

What Are the 7 Biggest Supply Chain Challenges?
  • Material Shortages. ...
  • Lack of Supply Chain Visibility. ...
  • Demand Forecasting Complexity. ...
  • Supply Chain Fragmentation. ...
  • Congestion at Critical Ports. ...
  • Increasing Transportation and Freight Costs. ...
  • Digital Transformation and Integration.

What are three goals of supply chain management? ›

If you are looking to improve your operations and implement supply chain management strategies, it is important to explore some of the main goals of supply chain management. These strategic goals include ensuring efficiency, improving quality, and optimizing transportation.

What are main supply chain management principles? ›

Supply chain management (SCM) is the process of handling the flow of goods or services. The activities involved from acquiring raw materials to the final delivery of the product to consumers come under SCM. Supply chain management minimize the waste, cost and time consumed in the production process.

What is the most important part of supply chain management? ›

The five most critical elements of SCM are developing a strategy, sourcing raw materials, production, distribution, and returns. A supply chain manager is tasked with controlling and reducing costs and avoiding supply shortages.

What are the 4 supply chain strategies? ›

Integration, operations, purchasing and distribution are the four elements of the supply chain that work together to establish a path to competition that is both cost-effective and competitive.

What is the most important purpose of supply chain management? ›

The goal of supply chain management is to provide customers with the right bundle of time, place, form, and possession utilities. Meeting this goal efficiently, effectively, and sustainably is a challenge. Managers employ a variety of approaches to maximize capabilities and create network synergies.

What are the 7 R's of supply chain management? ›

So, what are the 7 Rs? The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport UK (2019) defines them as: Getting the Right product, in the Right quantity, in the Right condition, at the Right place, at the Right time, to the Right customer, at the Right price.

What are the six barriers of supply chain management? ›

Barriers to Supply Chain Integration
  • Lack of IT solutions.
  • Lack of knowledge.
  • Poor working relationship.
  • Lack of communication.
  • Cost of integration.
  • Conflicting goals.
Oct 18, 2022

What are the 7 different types of supply chain risks? ›

7 Basic Types of Supply Chain Risks
  • About Supply Disruptions. ...
  • Financial risks. ...
  • Scope of schedule risk. ...
  • Legal risks. ...
  • Environmental risk. ...
  • Sociopolitical risk. ...
  • Project organization risk. ...
  • Human behavior risk.
Jan 9, 2019

What is supply chain in simple words? ›

A supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product. A supply chain encompasses everything from the delivery of source materials from the supplier to the manufacturer through to its eventual delivery to the end user.

What are the biggest barriers to SCM implementation? ›

2.2. Barriers to SCM
  • Lack of top management commitment and support.
  • Unclear organisational objective.
  • Resistance to change.
  • Lack of motivation and employee empowerment.
  • Poor corporate culture.
  • Mistrust among employee and SC partners.
  • Lack of education and training to employee and supplier.
Jun 27, 2018

What are the five supply chain strategies? ›

The Top-level of this model has five different processes which are also known as components of Supply Chain Management – Plan, Source, Make, Deliver and Return.

What are the benefits and challenges of supply chain management? ›

Here's a look at eight of the most important benefits of effective supply chain management.
  • Better collaboration. ...
  • Improved quality control. ...
  • Higher efficiency rate. ...
  • Keeping up with demand. ...
  • Shipping optimization. ...
  • Reduced overhead costs. ...
  • Improved risk mitigation. ...
  • Improved cash flow.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of push supply chain? ›

The main advantages of this strategy include enabling long-term planning, readily available stock, economies of scale, and allows for more planning and control. However, the main weakness of a push strategy is that it takes a long time to react to changes in the marketplace.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of just in time? ›

Advantages and disadvantages of just-in-time production
  • preventing over-production.
  • minimising waiting times and transport costs.
  • saving resources by streamlining your production systems.
  • reducing the capital you have tied up in stock.
  • dispensing with the need for inventory operations.
  • decreasing product defects.

Why do supply chain management fail? ›

Inaccurate Forecasting and Planning

Last but not least, miscalculated planning and forecasting is a major cause of supply chain disruption. When enterprises fail to plan for future demand, they make themselves vulnerable to supply chain failure.

What are the disadvantages of product management? ›

Monotony. While product managers do have multiple responsibilities to handle, they tend to work more or less on the same product in the long term, rather than transitioning from assignment to assignment as a project manager does. This makes the job monotonous at times, with the risk of losing interest in the role.

What is an example of a disadvantage and advantage? ›

For example, there are many advantages to travelling by private jet, but there is one huge disadvantage (the cost) that stops most people from flying that way, and therefore the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

What are pros and cons advantages and disadvantages? ›

The pros and cons of something are its advantages and disadvantages, which you consider carefully so that you can make a sensible decision.

How do you answer advantages and disadvantages? ›

Advantage / Disadvantage Essay Tips
  1. spend time planning the benefits and drawbacks of the statement given.
  2. make sure you have relevant supporting points.
  3. put your advantages together in one body paragraph and the same with the disadvantages.
  4. follow a safe advantage disadvantage essay model.

What are the top 3 causes of supply chain disruptions? ›

The following are the typical factors that may create these interruptions:
  • Pandemics.
  • Natural Disasters.
  • Logistics Delays and Failures.
  • Price Fluctuations.
  • Cyberattacks.
  • Product Problems.
Dec 27, 2022

Why are supply chain issues a problem? ›

Supply chain problems emerged during COVID-10 lockdowns due to shifts in demand, labor shortages and structural factors. Evolving geopolitical factors are now causing new risks and pockets of stress. Affected sectors include metals and mining, chemicals, automotives, semiconductors and technology. A possible solution?

What are the ethical issues in supply chain? ›

When talking about ethics in the supply chain, experts generally focus on:
  • Freedom of employment and association.
  • The eradication of child labour.
  • Safe and hygienic working conditions.
  • Appropriate pay and working hours.
  • Humane and non-discriminatory treatment.
  • Anti-bribery and corruption.
  • Environmental awareness.

What are the keys to effective supply chain management? ›

6 keys to successful supply chain management
  • Find the right people. ...
  • Establish alliances with key suppliers. ...
  • Match supply chain and business line. ...
  • Improve the flow of information. ...
  • Make technology work for you. ...
  • Get outside help.

What is an effective and efficient supply chain management? ›

Supply chain efficiency is about how effectively a company gets its products to the right place at the right time and at the lowest possible cost and how well it uses resources to produce and deliver goods. Improving supply chain efficiency is a key part of any business' overall supply chain management practice.

What are three important aspects effective supply chains? ›

Generally the key aspects of Supply Chain management are Purchasing (sourcing), Planning (scheduling) and Logistics (delivery). Sometimes logistics is separate, and procurement may be included with Purchasing, depending upon how location specific the procurement activities are.

What factors make a supply chain effective and efficient? ›

List of 5 Factors To Achieve Supply Chain Efficiency
  • Invest In Employee Development.
  • Leverage New Technologies.
  • Dependable Suppliers.
  • Continuous Improvement.
  • Improve Returns Management.
Sep 24, 2020

What are the 4 C's of supply chain management? ›

Introduction to the four Cs of supply chain management : chain structure, competition, capacity and coordination.

What are the five key elements of a strong supply chain strategy? ›

Supply chain management has five key elements—planning, sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, delivery, and returns.

What are the 7 C's of supply chain management? ›

We identify, based on the literature, the '7 Cs of supply chain management': Connect, Create, Customise, Coordinate, Consolidate, Collaborate and Contribute.

How do managers improve supply chain efficiency? ›

Improving Supply Chain Efficiency with Best Practices

Enhance forecasting accuracy. Measure and optimize inventory levels. Ensure route optimization. Increase collaboration with all stakeholders.

How can we improve supply chain management? ›

7 STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN
  1. OPTIMIZE COMPANY-OWNED INVENTORY. Check the quantity of the company-owned inventory. ...
  2. IMPROVE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. ...
  3. MAKE A SUPPLY CHAIN COUNCIL. ...
  4. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY. ...
  5. BUILD HEALTHY SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS. ...
  6. REVIEW PROCEDURES REGULARLY. ...
  7. ESTABLISH GREEN INITIATIVES.

What is the most important factor in supply chain management? ›

Since Supply Chain Management consists of managing the flow of information, products and services across a network of supply chain partners, manufacturing plants, and customers, the most challenging key factor would be an accurate communication.

What are the three most common problems with supply chains? ›

Carriers' Top Supply Chain Challenges
  • Keeping maintenance and operational costs down.
  • Keeping up with customer/industry demands (better, faster, cheaper)
  • Unexpected time delay.
  • Keeping up with the latest government regulations.
  • Access to a person when I have transportation/logistics issues.
Sep 30, 2022

What is the most important element of supply chain management? ›

Integration is at the heart of the supply chain and is considered as the brains and heart of the supply chain process.” says Rachael. “As with any project, planning is essential to long-term success. Integration is the process of technology which closely coordinates with supply chain functions and elements.

What factors make supply chain strong? ›

Here are five factors to consider when optimizing supply chain operations:
  • Important Supply Chain Metrics. Data drives good decision-making. ...
  • Inventory Automation Solutions. ...
  • High-Dollar Products and Procedural Costs. ...
  • Industry Standards. ...
  • Human Supply Chains.
Jan 30, 2023

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