Link final Feb 2016 | Page 42

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