Feature
Feature
IT IS ORGANIZATION BEFORE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
F
irms have realised that adopting the supply-chain as a strategic competitive advantage tool
has early payoffs. But it is unfortunate that much of this effort is
not effectively directed or fully understood. The result is a growing
gap between firms that truly understand and implement the concept of effective, forward-looking
supply chain management and
those that simply follow the trend,
and withdraw after initials gains.
Now the disruptive technology
has altered the landscape in a
big way. The Internet of the things
which will now help firm collect
real data and further increase
visibility and traceability and 3D
which is expected to improve accuracy, lower concept to product
cycle time and increase flexibility
is going to transform the supply
chain further and force the firms
to become more agile and responsive. I believe that this is next
stage of evolution of supply chain
and as in past firms which learn
to align organisational architecture to the requirement post
these disruptive technology are
like past going to be the winners.
important role. They realise that
early efforts cannot be maximised without the technology that
accurately links supply with demand. But this is not as easy a
process as it sounds. If the supply chain really is the mechanism
of fulfilling demand, then an uninhibited flow of information across
the supply chain is mandatory.
their operations in terms of a
pipeline that manages the flow of
materials from the source to the
ultimate consumer. Though not
entirely new, the pipeline idea is
perceived as an analytical concept that transcends the internal political boundary of the firm