Trends in Supply Management
For this paper, the writer will address 2 critical questions , and it is important that the writer pays attention
to all details and address the questions accordingly clearly indicating the two main questions. I will also
upload the article mentioned in question 2 to facilitate the writer. the writer must properly cite the paper in
APA 6th Edition.
Relationships with suppliers have become critical to the success of businesses competing in the global
market. Lateral integration, the free flow of information, and the formation of collaborative partnerships
with suppliers have become key steps for improving performance. For this paper, respond to the following
questions:
� What competitive advantages can a lean supply strategy confer on the manufacturing industry?
Explain in detail how these advantages are secured and maintained.
� How can the supplier relationship be used to secure broader objectives for the organization than purely
the supply of materials? Base your answer on ideas in the journal article “Use the Supply Relationship to
Develop Lean and Green Suppliers.”
Resources.
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Introduction
Any organization that strives to become more sufficient and lean should incorporate the
lean supply chain approach. This strategy intrigues a well-designed chain of supply that operates
in delivering products in the shortest time possible to clients. Organizations that are within a lean
supply chain can influence their lean journey more efficiently by delivering a better value for
customers quickly and predictably to meet the needs of clients.
This structure, for this reason, facilitates the quick operation of the lean supply chain,
founding a worthy cycle that benefits an organizations financial performance. Organizations
motivated to incorporate this approach are susceptible to benefit from a systematic structural
approach that enables them create effective foundations in managing their supply chain.
Competitive advantages of a lean supply strategy and how it confers on the manufacturing
industry
The Lean strategy has significantly enabled many organizations globally to address the
growing customer demands while maintaining high production volumes. The advantage of the
lean supply chain is that it creates a closer connection between the client’s demands and the
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production rates (González, Lannelongue, & Alfaro-Tanco, 2013). The customers’ demands are
believed to pull inventory through a chain; an approach that can be achieved when quantities
produced are restricted to match the quantities ordered by clients. Creating such a link helps
eliminate the wasteful inventory and overproduction leading to an increase in costs.
A lean supply chain, on the other hand, uses the kanban system in managing inventory
levels. This kanban is referred to as a two-bin system. Two bins are maintained in stock, and
when the first is emptied, the employee handling the stock takes another card that notes the item
and quantity needed by a client. While the clients consume the materials in this bin, the company
gets the opportunity to replenish the first bin. Quantities in both the bins are in capacity to
provide and meet the needs of clients while the company initiates an addition of stock (Rimiene,
& Bernatonyte, 2013). This approach keeps inventory low, and purchases are made only when
the bin has been emptied.
This approach is also known for its elimination of waste. Waste in this method is
described as that which a client is not willing to purchase. Lean supply strategy for this reason
eliminates the wastes, functions and activities that a client is not in positions to consume.
Employees are therefore engaged in rooting out waste and make improvements in production. It
also prevents mistakes before they occur.
The supplier relationship usage as a means to secure broader objectives for the
organization
A well-designed supply relationship between a customer and a company is an integral
part that incorporates a joint approach to solving problems well in advance in order to reduce
costs and improve the quality of production. Through this, the manufacturing functions of an
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organization are to produce a major proportion of the costs associated while facilitating
environmental management activities that dwell on waste elimination, energy efficiency, and
innovation (Leveroni, 2014). It is, therefore, imperative that a joint coalition between clients and
the supplier be initiated with the objective of managing the environment.
Through the use of the lean manufacturing systems, companies can prevent pollution.
Pollution prevention reduces the costs of production when materials used are reduced or when
wastes are managed (Schoenherr, Modi, Benton, Carter, Larson, Wagner, 2012). This can be
achieved when the supply chains are integrated, and the gains are shared from mutual
investments and performance improvement between suppliers and their customers.
Conclusion
Lean production method is an integrated approach that companies should embrace. It
involves a number of activities that are beneficial in reducing the production costs in a company.
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Works Cited
González-Benito, J., Lannelongue, G., & Alfaro-Tanco, J. A. (2013). Study of supply-chain
management in the automotive industry: a bibliometric analysis. International Journal Of
Production Research, 51(13), 3849-3863. doi:10.1080/00207543.2012.752586
Rimiene, K., & Bernatonyte, D. (2013). Supply Chain Management Trends in the Context of
Change. Economics & Management, 18(3), 596-606. doi:10.5755/j01.em.18.3.3799
Leveroni, T. (2014). Collateral management: Factors affecting the supply and demand for
collateral and emerging trends and developments in the market. Journal Of Securities
Operations & Custody, 6(4), 334-341.
