Analysis of Supply Chain Variability and Agile Characteristics

This report delves into the complexities of supply chain management, examining the factors that contribute to variability within the supply chain, such as increased coordination and integration, and the complexities of customer demand. The report emphasizes the importance of strategic planning to mitigate these challenges and maintain efficient operations. Furthermore, the report analyzes the characteristics of an agile supply chain, focusing on market sensitivity, virtual supply chain capabilities, process integration, and the importance of networked supply chains. The report highlights how each of these dimensions contributes to creating a responsive and adaptable supply chain capable of meeting evolving market demands and optimizing resource allocation. The report utilizes insights from various sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

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Table of Contents
2.) The factors that could increase the variability in the supply chain .......................................1
3.) The characteristics of an agile supply chain..........................................................................1

2.) The factors that could increase the variability in the supply chain
The factors that could increase the variability in the supply chain
1. Having huge information related to the sharing and visibility in the supply chain
2. Due to increase in the supply chain co-ordination and integration.
3. Further the complexness of the demand which may occur from customers
4. Due to modification in the leas times at the production unit and in customers.
After identifying the factors related to variability in the supply chain it is important that
new strategies prepared so that variability in supply chain management can be reduced. It is not
easy to forecast the demand from customers sides and the inventory can be maintained and
foreseen as per the demand (Snyder, Atan and Sinsoysal 2016). For reducing the variability it is
important to control all the department activity through proper planning
3.) The characteristics of an agile supply chain
The characteristics of an agile supply chain has four major dimension that are as follows:
 Market sensitive: To become market sensitive means an organisation can easily read and
interpret the demand in the market and easily respond to it.
 Virtual supply chain: Through the help of supply chain company can easily find out the right
quantity and the right place to store (Christopher, 2016). It is basically inventory based approach
while the virtual supply chain is information based.
 Process intergeneration: Use of an integrated process and relationship in betwixt the supplier and
buyer is cannot be possible without having access to the information.
 Network: It is important to have networked between supply changes which can be stated as
network competitions. For an organisation to accomplish success it is important to empower all
the parties in the supply chain (Mangan and Lalwani, 2016).
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References
Christopher, M., 2016. Logistics & supply chain management. Pearson UK.
Snyder, L.V., Atan, Z., Peng, P., Rong, Y., Schmitt, A.J. and Sinsoysal, B., 2016. OR/MS
models for supply chain disruptions: A review. IIE Transactions, 48(2), pp.89-109.
Mangan, J. and Lalwani, C., 2016. Global logistics and supply chain management. John Wiley &
Sons.
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