Supply chain

Supply chain management professionals control the delivery and removal of goods to and from a factory. This consists of various activities such as:

• Forecasting
• Inventory management
• Distribution planning
• Scheduling
• Production planning

Forecasting
Predicting the anticipated future market demand for a particular product based on calculation and prediction methods. Based on the forecast, the required raw materials can be ordered or manufactured to meet this anticipated future demand.

Inventory management
Carrying out any activities necessary to keep stocks (from raw materials to final product) at a desired level, or to bring them up to this level. In addition, inventory management involves being able to handle different stock strategies and calculate optimal (order) series sizes, order limits and safety reserves.

Distribution Planning
Working out the best location and number of products to be stocked and determining the optimal balance of the central and decentralised inventory.

Scheduling
Determining the optimal sequence of orders at the various processing sites and calculating (internal) delivery times.

Production planning
Production planning in the medium term. Such as calculating release times and amounts (material requirements planning or MRP).

Software packages used

• SAP

 
Supply chain functions

• Supply chain planners
• Production planners
• Customer Service coordinators
• Warehouse supervisors