Supply Management Evolution

The processes of supply‐source, make, and deliver‐have all undergone significant changes over the past three decades. Leaders such as Dow Chemical, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, and Seagate have focused on making the transition by addressing these basic principles: Are we shaping or just shifting demand, Get to know your own DNA, It is easier to run downhill than uphill, and Go slow to go fast. An area of opportunity for most companies is cycle stock. While most companies talk of safety stock, cycle stock‐the inventory that is necessary to cycle through products or from manufacturing to distribution cycles‐ is often a missed opportunity. However, Focus, vision, and design go hand in hand. There is no substitute for leadership and wisdom. This chapter provides an overview of supply management evolution of the company and how this principle evolution has helped evolve company.