If you're looking for information on supply chains, and how you can manage your supply chain to leverage more profits, then you will want to read this article. In it, I will offer you some information on successful supply chains, and give you some tips on how to improve the links in your own, to enjoy greater efficiency in business.

The supply chain is all the people, information and resources involved from the creation of the product to the time it gets into the hands of the customer. It can start as far back as transforming the raw materials into certain manufactured goods, which are then delivered to suppliers, who sell them to retailers, who then sell them to customers.

In between, you also have to factor in how the goods are transported into the supply chain, through the vendors you order from.

The supply chain is typically measured with the SCOR model. The SCOR model (which stands for supply chain operations reference) is meant to measure the performance of the supply chain as a whole. It often will measure fulfillment performance, delivery, flexibility, production, returns, inventory, and every other factor involved with the overall performance of the supply chain.

To manage the supply chain, you systematically go through the process of monitoring various procedures in the supply chain, measuring their performance, and then planning and implementing strategies to improve on those performances. The end goal is to increase the level of satisfaction the customer has with your service and goods.

You want to have a picture on both the operational procedures, as well as long-term strategy for the supply chain in your business. The operational procedures typically deal with the day-to-day affairs in your supply chain, such as how you deliver and receive goods, your process of managing your inventory, etc.

Long-term strategy may involve centralizing locations to better develop the supply chain, observing different trends in advance and making a plan to meet those trends, observing technological alternatives, etc.

Areas you should look at to improve your supply chain management include distribution, integrating systems and processes involved in your supply chain to better access and utilize information, and improving the management of your inventory, to better meet consumer demand.

In conclusion, I've given you some things to consider to start looking at your own supply chain and to try to enhance it. Take this general guide as a first step in the process, and research the topic more heavily to see how you can improve your supply chain, and reward your customers with a better experience. If you do that, you'll enjoy higher profit margins.