Supply Chain Management
Prashant R.Nair, Vice-Chairman – Information Technology, Amrita University, Coimbatore, India;
Venkitaswamy Raju, Director – Science and Engineering Programs, State University of New York at
Farmingdale, USA and Anbudayashankar S P, Assistant Professor – Mechanical Engineering, Amrita University
ABSTRACT
Information Technology (IT) and its use in organizations and across the supply chain has become a determinant of competitive advantage for many corporations. This paper focuses the usage of IT tools for Supply Chain
Management (SCM). It also highlights the contribution of
IT in helping to restructure the entire distribution set up to achieve higher service levels and lower inventory and lower supply chain costs.
An overview and tangible benefits of the existing IT tools that are widely deployed is also provided with focus on existing configurations considerations, available applications. The role of existing communication technologies in making IT an enabler of SCM is highlighted by addressing a range of different point and enterprise solutions in a variety of supply chain settings.
Critical IT demonstrations and implementations in SCM are discussed. Fundamental changes have occurred in today 's economy. These changes alter the relationship we have with our customers, our suppliers, our business partners and our colleagues. Reflection on the evolving and emerging Information Technology trends like Software
Agents, RFID, Web Services, Virtual Supply Chains,
Electronic Commerce and Decision Support Systems further highlights the importance of IT in the context of increasingly global competition. The rapid adoption of the
Internet for communication with all stake-holders seems to reflect the potential of the new-age communication media.
1. INTRODUCTION TO SUPPLY CHAIN
MANAGEMENT
Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of a network of interconnected
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