The seamless supply chain - the predator's strategic advantage
by Denis R. Towill
International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), Vol. 13, No. 1, 1997

Abstract: It is no longer sufficient for a winning organisation to operate in isolation, however effective it may be in performing its core business. To survive, let alone win, it must be part of one or more supply chains producing world class performance. Each company in the chain must be internally ''lean'' but additionally must operate in a ''seamless'' environment in which all information relevant to the efficient operation of the total system is available on time and in an undistorted form. The term ''predator'' has been coined in the literature to describe the supply chain leader with the vision, drive, and determination to re-engineer the entire supply chain so as to satisfy end-customer needs. The paper reviews the techniques available to ''predators'' seeking to gain competitive advantage for their supply chains, including industrial engineering, operations engineering, production engineering, and information technology. Not all conceivable improvements can be implemented overnight, however desirable they might appear, hence the advocacy of simulation models within a decision support system so that top management can prioritise proposed Improvement Programmes against the relevant performance metric. In the example used to indicate the approach, the technological, organisational, and attitudinal problems to be solved by top management in achieving the seamless supply chain are all highlighted.

Online publication date: Fri, 15-Aug-2003

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

    Username:        Password:         

Forgotten your password?


Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com