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Plant Designs That Maximize Efficiency Aids In Manufacturing Productivity ...

The just-in-time process focuses on frequent deliveries in smaller quantities as a means to meet immediate demands, its drawback is that the methodology with regard to re-order is based upon historical demand, thus is demand rises above this factor as a result of say peak levels their could be an inventory depletion problem (Koletic, 2005).

Strategic Partnership

An alliance formed between two companies or associations to accomplish a specific goal, task or outcome represents a strategic partnership. In the context of supply chain it generally entails a larger firm that represents the capital, product development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution abilities linking with a smaller company which provides specialized creative and or technical expertise.

Achieving the foregoing, having items in the supply chain system in the right place, in the right quantity, at the right time calls for management decisions in the orchestration of the supply chain on three levels:

Strategic aspects in supply chain management signify the area where long term decisions are made, representing location, inventory, production and transportation (Bidgoli, 2001, pp. 181-188). In terms of location, decisions representing this aspect are the number, size, as well as geographic location with respect to supply chain plants, distribution centers and inventory. Inventory refers to the decisions in managing them within the supply chain in order to have the right materials and or components on hand when needed without over or under stocking and managed to meet peak, normal and slack demand. Decisions concerning production entail which products and or product types to produce, where they should be produced, the suppliers to utilize in this process, the plants selected to supply distribution centers and related decisions. And lastly, transportation decisions entail the types of transport to utilize.

The information age has aided in the development of integrated supply chain management, which has impacted upon theory. A key aspect of this theoretical change is the shift from manufacturer based markets to retailer markets. Evidence of this is found in Wal-Mart which has caused a host of manufacturers to bring about an improvement in the way they manage inventories because of the firm's market presence (Chandran, 2003, pp. 6-12). Information technology, integration and the power of retail companies have helped to create a surge in the interest in supply chains, and the promise offered by eBusiness has created even stronger excitement as a result of the potentials offered.

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