What Is Supply Chain Management? “Business Processes”

Module 9 of the excellent “What is Supply Chain Management” series, produced by ASU and the W. P. Carey School of Business, stresses the importance of good business process design in achieving commercial and entrepreneurial success.

I was personally drawn to one assertion in particular that was made in the video: that good business processes are easily understood, managed and monitored. Too often, to the detriment of the business as a whole, processes become exceedingly complex and understood by a select few. Indeed, processes can become so outrageously complicated that no one within the company really understands ow things work, and why. This is a recipe for disaster.

Good process design, and consistent focus upon process improvement, prevents a firm from having to devote disproportionate resources to monitoring, system administration, and repair. Within the context of inventory control, for example, establishing excellent procedures at control points such as inbound receipt, outbound shipping, and stock location minimizes the requirement for laborious cycle counting and physical stock-taking.

The moment a customer places an order through a simple business process dozens if not hundreds of other business processes are set into action. Like miniature cells that make up the entire body, business processes are the small working pieces that together encompass the supply chain. Thus supply chain managers are tasked with making every business process within a supply chain effective, efficient, and adaptable. Through this video youll begin to learn why companies and supply chains are dependent on well-designed and well-managed business processes to expand and grow in a healthy manner.

This is the 9th installment in Arizona State University’s twelve-part introduction to supply chain management video series developed by Eddie Davila, Jeff Hough, Randy Cates, Dawn Feldman, Dan Ichikawa, Ian Schmoel, and Matt Hardy. ASU, the W. P. Carey School of Business, and the Supply Chain Management Department are proud and happy to share this video series with supply chain management departments, supply chain instructors, career specialists in high schools and universities, as well as industry leaders in an effort to inspire a new generation of supply chain management professionals across the country and around the world.

For more information, visit W. P. Carey’s SCM Web site at http://wpcarey.asu.edu/scm or send an e-mail to wpcarey.scm@asu.edu.

Supply Chain Almanac is now on Facebook. “Like” us on Facebook, or become a friend, to stay up-to-date on all of our posts, our Quote of the Day, Events, and more!

Also, do not forget to visit our Supply Chain Daily newspaper, for the latest news and views on matters concerning practitioners in the supply chain, logistics, operations, and business.

Your comments are welcome.

Related posts:

1. What Is Supply Chain Management? “Social Responsibility” Module 8 of the excellent “What is Supply Chain Management” series, produced by ASU and the W. P. Carey School of Business, discusses the topic...
2. What Is Supply Chain Management? “Move It: Transportation and Logistics” – ASU’s Video Series: Part 4 Module 4 of the excellent “What is Supply Chain Management” series, produced by ASU and the W. P. Carey School of Business, introduces the components...
3. What Is Supply Chain Management? “Supply Chain Integration” – ASU’s Video Series: Part 6 Rowing has been called the ultimate team sport. It has earned this reputation because it demands that the team be built on integrated team goals...
4. What Is Supply Chain Management? “Global SCM” – ASU’s Video Series: Part 7 Module 7 of the excellent “What is Supply Chain Management” series, produced by ASU and the W. P. Carey School of Business, discusses the topic...
5. What Is Supply Chain Management? “Sell it and Service It: Retail Considerations” – ASU’s Video Series: Part 5 Module 5 of the excellent “What is Supply Chain Management” series, produced by ASU and the W. P. Carey School of Business, discusses the relevance...