Supply Chain Management: A Reflection

This assignment delves into the importance of supply chain management within the grocery industry. The author reflects on various aspects, including key issues like supply chain strategies, outsourcing, and the integration of e-commerce and information systems. The paper highlights how effective supply chain management can lead to a competitive advantage by ensuring quality products at competitive prices. Theories such as Total Quality Management (TQM), Material Requirement Planning, and Resource Based View are discussed in relation to supply chain strategy.

Running head: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Supply Chain Management
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
I have been able to gain a lot of information about supply chain management through
the help of this paper. Supply chain management is a process which has to be incorporated by
mostly all business organisations to ensure that they provide best quality services and
products to the customers so that there needs can be met at the lowest possible cost for the
purpose of making profits. There are various activities which are involved in supply chain
management which include product Sourcing product development production and the proper
coordination of such processes. The paper provided me that through the incorporation of a
proper supply chain management process a company can gain competitive advantage over the
other. Competitive advantage is a necessity for all organisations in the modern day market
were competition is fierce. Through the paper I got to know that in relation to the supply
chain of glossary industry the key issues are strategies related to supply chain management,
the process of outsourcing and incorporation of e-commerce and information system.
The consumers in the present day do not really have a favourite brand and opt to avail
the products and services of the company which provide them best quality at the lowest
possible cost. Therefore the companies have to provide good quality product to the
consumers at a cost which is lower than that of other companies in the industry. This process
mostly leaves too aggressive price cutting by the companies and subsequently makes them in
curd severe short term losses. There are several theories which has been identified by me and
relation to supply chain management strategies. These theories are Total Quality
Management Theory as provided by doc in and Auckland, the material requirement planning
theory as provided by Frederick Taylor and the resource based view as provided by Brown.
The TQM theory suggest an approach towards improving the performance and quality of the
organisations to ensure consumer satisfaction. This can be achieved through the process of
lowering price and providing good quality. The resource base theory provides to strive for a
competitive advantage in relation to the other companies in the industry.

2
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Another problem which is faced by the supply chain management within grocery industry as
that of e-commerce. As technology is growing and people are becoming more and more used
to it shopping has also become online. Even though grocery shopping is not as famous as
other products such as clothes and electronics companies like Aldi had been able to gain
popularity by a e-commerce.
For the purpose of promoting good quality supply chain management companies can also and
does in the process of outsourcing. Outsourcing is the process through which an activity of a
company is provided to another company in return of payment. The process not only helps
the companies to concentrate on core subject but also to ensure transparency in the cost
incurred and to eliminate any hidden cost with respect to production or transportation of
goods.
I would conclude my reflection by stating that I have been provided with the knowledge that
supply chain management is very essential when it comes to any industry. The process has to
be integrated into the management system so as to gain competitive advantage in the
industry. This can be done through following the different relevant theories regarding the
system.