IMPROVING ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN AGILITY
Organizations are constantly searching for alternatives that allow them to achieve solutions to the increasing challenges they face in a highly competitive environment.
There are many problems to face, and globalization and technological advances are some of them.
In this sense, each organization needs to develop a structure and processes adjusted to the demands of the markets, understanding that the goods or services must result from high-quality standards to achieve greater competitiveness and participation.
Thus, it is important to highlight the Supply chain as the necessary structure to develop and enhance the production and marketing of goods and services in any economy.
The supply chain includes the manufacturer and the supplier, the carriers, stocklists, retailers, and even the customers themselves.
Supply chain agility is how quickly the supply chain can respond to change, whether in customer demands, competition, or supply outages. Modern supply chains must be agile to remain competitive in the marketplace.
In this way, agility in the supply chain can be considered a:
DYNAMIC ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGES AND PROVIDE A RAPID RESPONSE.
The most common components of agility are Sensitivity and response to the market:
- Respond to wide ranges of quantities demand.
- Short delivery periods.
- Handle a wide variety of products and handle supply uncertainty, among others.
Process integration:
The objective of supply chain integration is to synchronize customer requirements with material flows from suppliers in order to strike a balance between customer service, inventory investment and unit cost of the product.
The high-impact links within the chain, which must be perfectly integrated, are the supply plan, the production-manufacturing plan, and the distribution and delivery plan for finished products.
Cooperative relationships:
Different agents are involved in the supply chain: suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, carriers, retailers, customers, and consumers.
Given that synchronization is one of the keys that define the cost efficiency of a chain and its ability to provide products and services with value for customers, collaboration between the different participants is one of the most important strategies.
The information that must be handled within the chain must be about future demand estimates, inventory status, capacity plans and/or production programs, production forecasts or estimates, innovations, new product launches, and special promotions for consumers, among others.
Information Integration:
The success of an organization depends on the effective flow of communication or information that occurs between internal and external stakeholders of the organization.
The flow of information must travel in both directions of the chain since the objective is to increase the capacity of the participants to formulate plans and implement a series of actions aimed at improving the productivity of the operational system, decision making, increase of customer service levels, development of lasting relationships with suppliers and key customers in the supply chain.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, supply chain agility is key to success in today’s ever-changing marketplace. By being able to quickly adapt to customer demands, competition, and supply disruptions, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge. Implementing strategies that promote agility can be difficult, but the benefits are well worth the effort. By following these tips, businesses can ensure that their supply chains are as agile as possible and ready to face whatever challenges come their way.