Supply Chain Management

ALSO CALLED: Supply-Chain Management, Supply Chain Optimization, Supply Chain Planning, SCM, Managing Supply Chain, Supply Chain Logistics
DEFINITION: Supply chain management (SCM) is the oversight of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer. Supply chain management involves coordinating and integrating these flows both within and among companies. It is said that the ultimate goal of any effective supply chain management system is to reduce inventory (with  … 
Definition continues below.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT DEFINITION (continued): …  the assumption that products are available when needed). As a solution for successful supply chain management, sophisticated software systems with Web interfaces are competing with Web-based application service providers (ASP) who promise to provide part or all of the SCM service for companies who rent their service.Supply chain management flows can be divided into three main flows:The product flowThe information flowThe finances flowThe product flow includes the movement of goods from a supplier to a customer, as well as any customer returns or service needs. The information flow involves transmitting … 
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