Defining supply chain management: a historical perspective and practical guidelines

Abstract

Interest in supply chain management has steadily increased since the 1980s when firms saw the benefits of collaborative relationships within and beyond their own organization. Firms are finding that they can no longer compete effectively in isolation of their suppliers or other entities in the supply chain. A number of definitions of supply chain management have been proposed in the literature and in practice. This paper defines the concept of supply chain management and discusses its historical evolution. The term does not replace supplier partnerships, nor is it a description of the logistics function. The competitive importance of linking a firm’s supply chain strategy to its overall business strategy and some practical guidelines are offered for successful supply chain management.

A guide for supply chain integration in SMEs

“…Accomplish both common and specific goals with the aim of improving long-run performance, both for each business unit and for the chain as a whole (Lummus and Vokurka 1999). These aims will vary according to the area in which they are being contemplated.…”

Supply chain integration framework using literature review

“…Lummus and Vokurka (1999) use very similar terms when they state that SCM coordinates and integrates into a seamless process of all the activities involved in delivering a product from raw material to the customers, including sourcing raw materials and parts, manufacturing and assembly, warehousing and inventory tracking, order entry and order management, distribution across all channels, delivery to the customer and manage information systems necessary to monitor all of these activities. According to Lambert and Cooper (2000), SCM is the integration of key business processes from end user through original suppliers that provides products, services and information that add value for customers and other stakeholders.…”

Organizational learning in construction supply chains

“…However, a rudimentary classification of supply chain management understanding discloses two very distinctive schools of thought; a functional school (Spekman et al, 1998) and a philosophical school (Cooper and Ellram, 1993). The functional school of thought maintains strong links with the founding principles of supply chain management and its close affiliation with purchasing, logistics and operations management (Lummus and Vokurka, 1999).…”