Companies around the world understand the need for an effective business process that would establish their competitive advantage. Before discussing the process, one should first understand the definition of Supply Chain and its proponents. Supply Chain is collectively the flow of materials, cash and information within a business network starting from the supplier down to the customer. It is basically the way products move from one point to another and the pit stops that it has to take before it reaches the finish line, which are the consumers (Croker, 2003, p. 1). On the other hand, process can be defined based on different business models, but the most basic and simple description is the flow of business from start to finish. Supply chain process has three components namely, materials, cash and information (Croker, 2003, p. 2).
Materials can be a form of raw materials obtained from suppliers passed on to production and operation. This is when the materials are being transformed into a finished product that can be passed on to the customers. After the materials have reached the customers, the process will return to the business in a form of cash. Meaning the customers is now the starting point of the process, but this time it will be the cash that will pass through operation in exchange for the finished products. After which, the cash will pass through the supplier to pay for another batch of materials that will signal the start another cycle. Information is the third proponent of supply chain process, which moves simultaneously in both directions. The flow of information has to be constantly flowing within the three points of process to sustain a continuous flow of cash and materials. Therefore, the supply chain process can be categorized into four areas namely source, make, plan and deliver. Planning involves forecasting, production scheduling and inventory. The source is the procurement of materials, which will transition into production and warehousing. The last stage is delivered, which includes ordering, dispatch, transport and invoicing.
Mission Statement and Benefits
Every organization has their own unique mission statements, these statements are tied together with the company's vision of how they see the company upon adhering to their mission. It is important that every organization not only limited in the corporate environment have to have mission statements. This is because mission statements articulate the purpose of the company and the sole reason they exist (Center for African Refugees and Immigrants, 2008, p. 1). Some organizations include what they are doing and put emphasis on their corporate values. This way, people would recognize the company because of their core purpose and will not identify the company for the things that they are not engaged with. Mission statements are usually short and concise just to describe the things that the company is doing at the present time.
Having a mission statement in an organization regardless of size has its own benefits. One of which is that mission statements resemble the guiding principles and values of the business. It provides a sense of direction and purpose to the people working in a company and uplifts the spirit and teamwork within their respective departments (Strickland, Web). Another benefit of having a mission statement is that it provides the foundation for the company's vision. The relationship between mission and vision is crucial to the organization as it defines the main objectives of the company. It creates a common atmosphere in the entire organization that encourages the stakeholders, executives and employees to embrace commitment. Lastly, mission statement creates a promise to the company as whole and of the public consumer, a promise of excellence and quality in all aspects of the business from the products and services to the attitude of the people in the organization. The amount of commitment given to the promise made by the mission statement can make or break the company. It is important that mission statements should be then treated as the heart and soul of every organization.
References
Center for African Refugees and Immigrants (2008). The Importance of Organizational Mission and Vision. Capacity Development Fact sheet, 1.
Croker, J. (2003). The Supply Chain Increasing Value through Process Improvement. Presentation, 1-2.
Strickland, N. (n.d.). The Key Benefits in Having a Vision, Mission and Objectives For Your Business. Ezine Articles. Retrieved October 5, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Key-Benefits-in-Having-a-Vision,-Mission-and-Objectives-For-Your-Business&id=2823375
