It is important for companies dealing in the production and distribution of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) to have a solid operations/ supply chain strategic plan. This helps to establish viable connections and communication between a firms internal and external process that facilitate business effectiveness . The underlying intention of the operations/ supply chain strategic plan is to increase revenue while decreasing revenue related costs. This document outlines the development of an operations/ supply chain strategic plan for a company in the fast moving consumer goods industry dealing in the production and supply of 10 oz cans of tomato soup. The plan is line with the company’s 5-10 years corporate strategic plan.
The development of the firm’s operations/ supply chain strategic plan involves the utilization of processes or concepts. These processes are embedded in three broad approaches, namely coordination, monitoring, and control . These three pillars aim to achieve effectiveness in the three corporate strategic areas of a business linked to the supply and operation chain. The first of the three strategic areas of a business is the business information system that involves the business information and business finances . The second is that of business inventory which involves product and raw materials processes and finally the link between the business and its external stakeholders . In other words, the aim of the operations/ supply chain strategic plan is to allow the business run all its business in an integrated approach rather than to run them singly . To be able to run these processes effectively, it is important to establish the following elements: the involvement of the customers, the flexibility of the resources involved and whether it is capital intensive or not .
As earlier mentioned, one of the best approach of establishing an effective operations/ supply chain strategic plan is though the identification of all the stakeholders and collaborators that will either be involved in its implementation or those that will influence its implementation. This requires the heavy involvement of the operation and supply chain executive team because of their involvement in the implementation of the plan. The operation and supply chain executive team will also need to co-work with the company’s executive team directly for the purpose of consultations in the making of key decisions involving the entire process of operations/ supply chain strategic plan development.
Works Cited
Cetinkaya, Balkan. "Developing a Sustainable Supply Chain Strategy." al, C. Tyssen et. Sustainable Supply Chain Management. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2011. 17-55.
Krajewski, Lee J., Larry P. Ritzman and Manoj K. Malhotra. Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chain. 11 Edition. Pearson Education, 2015.
Power, Damien. "Supply chain management integration and implementation: a literature review." Supply Chain Management 10.4 (2005): 252–263.
