Question

Role of supply chain management in creating competitive advantage

Answer 1

A supply chain is an interconnected network of many suppliers, producers, wholesalers, distributors, transporters and retailers through which materials are obtained, transformed, produced to finish goods and delivered to the end customer. Supply chain is consisting of activities concerned with the flow and conversion of goods from raw material to finish goods and to the delivery of finish goods to final customer, as well as the associated information flow back in the chain. ICT (Information and communication Technology) including hardware and software has lead to massive opportunities to supply chain and fostering it to grow at even more speed. In SCM, information plays an important role as it drives the whole supply chain system. It has become evident that a supply chain that transfer materials and information smoothly can become a market differentiator and the ultimate winner in competition. IT based supply chain management systems improves supply chain integration and make efficient flow of market information and goods throughout the chain. This study reviews the modern technology and use of emerging supply chain software solutions provided by software manufacturing vendors. In this article, traditional approaches to supply chain operations, current development of information technology and examples of world’s famous organization’s supply chains are discussed. A theoretical model for supply chain management is also recommended which make use of information and communication technology as competitive advantage

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