Due to the rapid advancement of technology such as pervasive or ubiquitous wireless and internet networks, connective product marking technologies like RFID and emerging standards for the use of these defining specific locations using Global Location Number(s), the basic supply chain is rapidly evolving into what is known as a Supply Chain Network.

One of the first references to this term and concept was in the book "The Supply Chain Network @Internet Speed: Preparing Your Company for the E-Commerce Revolution" by Fred A.; Rosenbaum, Barbara A. Kuglin (Hardcover - 2000).

The book "Supply Chain Architecture" by William T. Walker (2004) was the first to integrate APICS concepts with inter-enterprise business processes.

All organizations have or can purchase the components to build a supply chain network, it is the collection of physical locations, transportation vehicles and supporting systems through which the products and services your firm markets are managed and ultimately delivered.

Physical locations included in a Supply Chain Network can be manufacturing plants, storage warehouses, carrier crossdocks, major distribution centres, ports, intermodal terminals whether owned by your company, your suppliers, your transport carrier, a third-party logistics provider, a retail store or your end customer.

Transportation modes that operate within a Supply Chain Network can include the many different types of trucks, trains for boxcar or intermodal unit movement, container ships or cargo planes.

The many systems which can be utilized to manage and improve a Supply Chain Network include Order Management Systems, Warehouse Management System, Transportation Management Systems, Strategic Logistics Modeling, Inventory Management Systems, Replenishment Systems, Supply Chain Visibility, Optimization Tools and more.

Emerging technologies and standards such as the RFID and the GS1 Global Standards are now making it possible to automate these Supply Chain Networks in a real time manner making them more efficient than the simple supply chain of the past.

Optimizing a company's supply chain network for carbon emissions is an effective way for business to assist in combatting Global Warming.

External links

• Supply Chain Network Search Results from Google
• Supply Chain Network Risk from CSCMP
• Building a Flexible Supply Chain Network from SC Digest
• Supply Chain Network Optimization

Wikify: date=September 2007