Improving Supply Chain Relationship and Mitigating Risk in Marks and Spencer

PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY......................................................................................................................................3
Ways to improve supply chain relationship................................................................................3
How does the M&S mitigate supply chain risk and reduce supply chain costs?........................5
Improving supply chain sustainability by Marks and Spencer....................................................8
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Supply chain management refers to management of flow through which goods and
services through which raw material is transformed into final products. This involves
streamlining supply side of business activities through which value for customers is increased
and competitive advantage for business is gained. In this report, supply chain management in
terms of conceiving, supported and delivered and developed in organization. For the purpose of
this discussion Marks and Spencer will be contextualized. It is a British multinational retailer
that was founded in 1884 in Leeds, UK and is headquartered at London, England, UK. Marks and
Spencer operates in 62 countries through 1519 stores and 44 websites. In this report
relationship, information systems, procurement and sustainability of supply chain will be
discussed. This will be discussed through ways of improving supply chain relationships,
mitigation of supply chain risk and reducing supply chain cost and through improving supply
chain sustainability.
MAIN BODY
Supply Chain relationship in Marks and Spencer.
The supply chain relationship is important for every organization to build the effective
relations so that the supply of the goods or services can be done effectively and efficiently. The
supply chain relations of the Marks and Spencer are very strong and have a good relations and
terms with the suppliers (Xu, 2020). Marks and Spencer use the strategic relations with their
suppliers. They develop the supply chain relations with the supply chain networks. To increase
the overall supply chain performance they have developed the strategic alliance with their main
suppliers. With the strategic alliance used by the Marks and Spencer helps to maintain the good
relations with their suppliers so that the goods are to be supplied with the good quality and on
time. This strategic alliance helps to maintain the good relations with the suppliers all over the
globe.
3

How collaboration with the supply chain relationship and how they deploy the IT systems for
collaboration.
By building the supply chain relationship helps to integrated and the collaboration with
the different suppliers. By maintain the relationship with the suppliers helps the company to be
more effective with their goods by supply the good quality of the products to their customers.
Having the relationship with the suppliers helps to Marks and Spencer to deliver the goods on
time so that the customers can get their products on time and increases the reputation of the
firm (Marnewick, 2017). The company like Marks and Spencer that multinational company and
have lots of suppliers for the supply of their products, for that company uses the IT systems to
maintain the records of the suppliers that helps to maintain the good relations with their
suppliers.
Ways to improve supply chain relationship.
Every organisation has to build a good relation with their suppliers as they are the one who
manage the entire inventory for the firm. Company has to develop the successful relations with
the supply chain
Found suppliers with common goals
Company can find those suppliers only goals are same as of the firm. Having a same goal
to achieve the supplier also work effectively and innovatively for Marks and Spencer. Reliable
supplier done its work effectively by purchasing order within the time and shipping orders on
time. Having a same goal to achieved the supplier also can do their work effectively which able
to complete the orders.
Analyze supply chain strategy
Successful supply chains are cost effective, dependable and lean. To ensure that supply
chain cost is to be low and the process is to be reliable supply chain goals and strategies are to
be reevaluating to ensure that best possible plan is used by the Marks and Spencer. With the
effect of the covid supply chain management get disrupted for that company did partnership
with the backup vendors and logistics companies that take over their suppliers and shipping
needs if needed. To work with the as a partners in a long run build a stronger trust. With the
4