A supply chain is a network of all the organizations, individuals, information, technologies, activities, and resources involved in the entire process of supplying materials, manufacturing and sale of a product or providing a service to the costumer. Supply chains are developed in companies in order to reduce overall costs, increase efficiency, fast delivery of products and services and as a result, to develop the fundamental basis of the business and remain competitive inside the market.
In general, the fundamental steps of a supply chain are as follows:
1. Planning
2. Sourcing raw materials and storage
3. Operations and produce development
4. Inventory and logistics
5. Order fulfillment/Sales
6. Distribution and transportation
7. Financial performance
8. Customer service and return
Reference
1. Stadtler H. (2008) Supply Chain Management — An Overview. In: Stadtler H., Kilger C. (eds.) Supply Chain Management and Advanced Planning. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.