This definition creates 3 degrees of complexity in a supply chain. A direct supply chain consists of a company, customer and supplier involved in up/downstream of flows. An extended supply chain includes suppliers of the supplier and customers of the customer, in addition to the …show more content…
These drivers are not isolated but interact with each other and have to be optimized to achieve a strategic fit as per the needs of the company.(Chopra and Meindl,2001). Another way to target the performance of a supply chain is to use the balance scorecard approach instead of focusing on the objective model of drivers.(Brewer, 2000) This approach aims to synchronize the performance of an organization and the performance of the supply chain by linking the objectives and goals of the various entities relevant to both and obtaining a strategic fit from that.Thus, it achieves a balance between short term and long term goals as well as financial and non-financial objectives(Bhagwat, …show more content…
One way to do this is to create three methods in which a supply chain can be designed. Using network design distribution, rough cut methods and simulation design methods(Ganesan, 1995). Network distribution design plays a major role in deciding the framework for the supply chain of a company. This decides the performance of a supply chain(Sunil Chopra, 2007) by evaluating the customer needs that are met and the cost of meeting those customer needs.(Cohen and Lee, 1989) Network models are made by creating a conceptual framework for manufacturing analysis and using heuristics to optimize the models created. Finally, a comprehensive list of factors(Arntzen et al, 1995) was achieved by minimizing the cost and time factors. This leads us to arrive at the objective to optimize 6 factors,i.e., response time, product variety, product availability, customer experience, returnability and order visibility affect the costs for inventory, transportation, information and facilities/handling which in turn, decides the profitability of the supply chain. On the other hand, rough cut methods involve making operational or short term decisions as a multi-level model. Simulation methods are different from the other two because they can only be used to test the effectiveness of existing