Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos (SCM)

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Supply chain management (SCM) is the process of managing the flow of goods and services to and from a business. It involves every step involved in turning raw materials and components into final products and getting them to the ultimate consumer. Effective SCM can help streamline a company's activities to eliminate waste, maximize customer value, and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Key Takeaways

• SCM is the centralized management of the flow of goods and services to and from a company.
• By managing the supply chain, companies can cut excess costs and deliver products to the consumer faster and more efficiently.
• Good SCM can help prevent expensive product recalls and lawsuits, as well as bad publicity.
• The five most critical phases of SCM are planning, sourcing, production, distribution, and returns.
• A supply chain manager is tasked with controlling and reducing costs and avoiding supply shortages.

How SCM Works

Supply chain management represents an ongoing effort by companies to make their supply chains as efficient and economical as possible. Typically, SCM attempts to centrally control or link the production, shipment, and distribution of a product. By managing the supply chain, companies can cut excess costs and needless steps, delivering products to the consumer faster.

5 Phases of SCM

The SCM process consists of five phases:

1. Planning: This involves matching supply with customer and manufacturing demands, predicting future needs, and coordinating the process with ERP software.
2. Sourcing: Effective SCM processes rely heavily on strong relationships with suppliers. Companies must find ways to increase efficiency and reduce waste in the sourcing process.
3. Production: This phase involves managing the manufacturing process to improve product quality and avoid recalls and lawsuits.
4. Distribution: Control over shipping procedures can improve customer service by avoiding shortages or periods of inventory oversupply.
5. Returns: A well-run SCM program can increase a company's revenues, decrease its costs, and bolster its bottom line.

Ethics and SCM

Ethics has become an increasingly important aspect of SCM. Many investors want to know how companies produce their products, treat their workforce, and protect the environment. As a result, companies respond by instituting measures to reduce waste, improve working conditions, and lessen their impact on the environment, all of which can involve SCM.

Importance of SCM

SCM is important because it can help achieve several business objectives, including controlling manufacturing processes to improve product quality and reducing the risk of recalls and lawsuits while helping to build a strong consumer brand.

Jobs in SCM

The average salary for a supply chain manager in the United States ranges from $109,645 to $140,513, according to the website Salary.com.

Bottom Line

A supply chain starts with the ordering of raw materials or components from a supplier and ends with the delivery of a product to the consumer. Every link in that chain may offer an opportunity to add value or reduce inefficiency. A well-run SCM program can increase a company's revenues, decrease its costs, and bolster its bottom line.