Building Agile Supply Chains / Craig Seidelson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Seidelson, Craig, author.

Series:

SAGE skills: Business.

SAGE skills: Business

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Supply chain management.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Los Angeles, CA : SAGE Publications, Inc., 2024.

Summary:

In a fast-paced business environment, companies must be agile to remain competitive. In this section, students will learn how to build agile supply chains. It all starts with being flexible, collaborative, and data driven. These skills are fundamental to creating supplier networks that are capable of quickly adapting to changing market conditions and supply-chain disruptions. By the end of this unit, students will understand how agile supply chains ensure that the right products are delivered in the right quantity, in the right condition, at the right place, at the right time, to the right customer, and at the right price. To make these learning goals more concrete, they are presented from the standpoint of EaziBikes. EaziBikes is a Chinese bicycle manufacturer that exports its products to the United States. The company offers a wide range of bicycles for adults, young adults, and children. Most of the bicycle parts suppliers for EaziBikes are located in China, except for tires, imported from Malaysia. A single wholesaler in Chicago imports the bikes and sells them to retail outlets across the United States. To remain competitive, EaziBikes needs to develop an agile supply chain. With an agile supply chain, EaziBikes can quickly respond to changes in customer demand, market conditions, and supply-chain disruptions. Flexibility is an essential element of an agile supply chain (see Figure 1). EaziBikes can achieve flexibility by creating a supply chain that can adapt to changes in customer demand. For example, if the demand for a particular type of bicycle increases, EaziBikes can quickly adjust its production to meet that demand. This flexibility in production is possible when the company has an accurate forecast of customer demand for bikes and a supply chain that can respond quickly to changes in the number of bikes desired. Collaboration is another critical element of an agile supply chain. EaziBikes can work collaboratively with its suppliers to ensure that it has the right amount of inventory at the right time. This collaboration can lead to a more efficient supply chain, which can help EaziBikes reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. By working with suppliers to manage inventory levels, EaziBikes can minimize the risk of stockouts (e.g., running out of a product) and reduce the need for excess inventory. Data-driven decision making is also crucial for building an agile supply chain. EaziBikes can use data to identify trends in customer demand, track inventory levels, and monitor supplier performance. By using data to make decisions, EaziBikes can reduce the risk of errors and make more informed decisions. Adaptability is yet another essential element of an agile supply chain. EaziBikes can adapt its supply chain to changes in market conditions and supply-chain disruptions. For example, if a supplier experiences a disruption, EaziBikes can quickly find an alternative supplier to ensure that production is not interrupted. This adaptability can help EaziBikes reduce the risk of disruptions to its supply chain and ensure that the company can continue to deliver products to customers. Risk identification, assessment, and mitigation are also cornerstones of an agile supply chain. EaziBikes can identify potential risks in its supply chain and assess their likelihood and impact. By doing so, the company can develop mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of those events occurring. For example, EaziBikes could work with multiple suppliers for critical components to ensure that it has a backup source in case of a disruption.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-0719-4190-9

9781071941904

OCLC:

1456885934