Lakshmi M
MBA(FT) Semester III Roll No.19 School of Management Studies CUSAT, KOchi-22 Email: mahadevan.lakshmi@yahoo.com
Abstract: Modern day business is beset with changing governance paradigms. The recent surge in business literature has veered the way corporations are getting flatter and flatter. A key concern of global manufactures today is reducing inventory and inventory driven costs across their supply and distribution networks. With todays emphasize on cutting costs and streamlining expenses, many companies are looking to improve their bottom lines with more effective supply chains. Unfortunately, many people involved with companies don't have a clear understanding of what a supply chain is or how it fits into the company’s overall strategy. 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.
Key Words: Supply chain management, EDI, RFID
INTRODUCTION
1 General Information
Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers (Harland, 1996).
The term was coined by Keith Oliver, a Booz Allen Hamilton executive in 1982. Supply Chain Management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of consumption (supply chain). Supply Chain Management encompasses the planning and management of all activities involved in sourcing, procurement, conversion, and logistics management