Next Generation Supply Chain Management: Issues, Challenges and Scenario Planning

I had the opportunity to meet Prof Chandra S Lalwani and attend his public lecture at RMIT, on the 25th Aug 2010, where he discussed the above topic. Prof.Lawani holds a Chair in Supply Chain Management in Business School at University of Hull, UK and is Co-Editor in Chief for the International Journal of Logistics Management.

I found the lecture interesting and decided to share it with the APICS Blog readers. The lecture addressed issues and challenges identified during research carried out in the UK, India, China and Thailand in 2009-2010. Further, the discussion was based on how to design the next-generation supply chain, based on scenario planning, where satisfying the customer is of utmost importance and higher demands are placed on:

• Stock Availability.
• Delivery Frequency.
• Order to Delivery Lead time.
• Time Delivery Slot.
• Supply Chain Inventory.

Next-Gen SC Issues and Challenges:

• Cost effective Green Supply Chain.
• New management models dealing with skills, collaboration and outsourcing.
• Demand Management and Mass Customization.
• New Technology and ICT.
• Managing SC uncertainty, complexity, customer responsiveness and risk.
• Emerging economies

It is quite evident that designing next generation supply chains requires attention to dimensions such as configuring the right logistics network, engaging the right alliances and partnerships, developing contingency plans against uncertainties and selecting appropriate production, inventory and distribution strategies. Increasing level of international trade is usually directly proportional to increase in uncertainty and thus the need to identify underlying causes and strategies to protect against potential disruptions. Digital economy and information technologies in the form of E-supply chain solutions have the potential to directly contribute to measurable parameters, such as compressing cycle time, lowering inventories, decision-making quality, reduced overhead costs etc.

Scenario Planning by means of trend analysis as base, will facilitate the development of long term plans, illuminate the drivers of change and give organisations flexibility to deal with supply chain volatility.

The ultimate question is how will you employ resources to achieve the result most suitable to your industry? Please feel free to answer the questions below based on your industry experience.

Your Thinking and Experience:

1. Do you agree with the identified issues?
2. Which issue interest you the most?
3. What are your ideas for the next generation SC issues?

Share: