What is a supply chain?
A supply chain is a network of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in the production and delivery of goods or services from supplier to customer. It includes all steps taken to get a product or service from its raw material state to the end user. The main purpose of a supply chain is to ensure that products are delivered on time and at an acceptable cost while meeting customer requirements for quality. Supply chains can be complex due to their global nature as well as the number of stakeholders involved in each step along the way.
The components of a typical supply chain include suppliers who provide materials; manufacturers who turn those materials into finished products; distributors who move those products around; retailers who sell them directly to customers; and finally customers themselves. Each component has different roles within the overall process but they must work together efficiently if it’s going to be successful. This means having effective communication between all parties so that everyone knows what needs doing when, where and how much it will cost – this helps keep costs down while ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction with timely deliveries.