Quality performance in a global supply chain
A supply chain is required to be one of the most effective departments in any organisation if the organisation is to meet its objectives. However, from time to time, there are issues that emerge which hinder the smooth and the effective performance of the supply chain. These problems are quite detrimental in that they reduce the quality of the supply chain (Adobor and McMullen, 2007). The rationale of this paper is to fully examine some of these weak leaks in the supply chain and identify their causes. In addition, focus will be put on the ways in which the leadership of the plant should engage with the buyers to ensure that the most prominent buyers becomes their partners through continued cooperation, while motivating their buyers with the aim of making them more loyal to the supply chain..
With regard to several researches that have been carried out, there are several problems that have been dominant and they are believed to interfere with the quality of the supply chain. One of the major problems is the research methodology that has been adopted (Adobor and McMullen, 2007). The research methodology in place has no capacity to qualitatively investigate the existing dynamic with regard to quality management of the supply chain. The methods in place for instance dominant quantitative methods are known to be suited poorly such that collecting data from both the downstream as well as the upstream with regard to the supply chain have been a problem (Benton, 2005).
The other problem that can be associated with the low quality of the supply chain is the theoretical approach that has been adopted. The theoretical approach does not provide wisdom that is provocative to the supply chain management arena. They have been challenged on the basis that they fail to analyse and explore quality management of the supply chain directly (Adobor and McMullen, 2007).
The other issue that is said to be among the problem is the context and the scope of the research. It is worth noting that the existing researches concentrate much on the relationship between the key partners of the supply chain within the national context boundaries. As a result they have undermined the complexities that are involved with regard to the off-shoring practises globally.
Several recommendations with regard to how the local firm should select the most suitable partners. In addition to that, it has been advocated for that the cooperation between the partners and the supply chain be fostered and the partners with the supply chain be motivated to increase their loyalty to the supply chain. To achieve these recommendations, it shall require that the supply chain engages in several activities. Among the activities that have to be carried out include increasing the coordination level between the customers, producers, and networks of supply (Adobor and McMullen, 2007).
Several changes require to be done on the supplier’s contract if the supply chain will be successful. Among the thing that call for changes in the supplier’s contract is that there is need to work with suppliers who are honest. This will help keep off suppliers with opportunistic behaviours who are likely to compromise the quality of the supply chain. Therefore, some conditions for the suppliers will be done on the suppliers contract to ensure that only the best suppliers who will not compromise quality to the disadvantage of the final consumer will be chosen (Benton,2005).
Conditions shall also be included in the supplier’s contract with the aim of ensuring that suppliers don’t engage in cut throat competition with suppliers of other firms as witnessed between h-case and m-case. These conditions will also help in preventing the suppliers from collaborating so that they can make huge profits at the expense of the consumers. With these changes in the supplier’s contract, with certainty the supply chain is set to succeed (Beheshti, 2007).
In conclusion, the paper has examined the possible causes low quality supply chain. In addition to that, the paper suggested ways that will help find good customers and how their relation with the supply chain will be enhanced as well as their motivation. Finally the paper has covered the possible changes in the suppliers contract to ensure supply chain succeeds.
References
Adobor, H. and McMullen, R., (2007). Supplier diversity and supply chain management: a strategicapproach. Business Horizons, 50 (3), 219–229.
Beheshti, H.M., et al., (2007). Electronic supply chain management applications by Swedish SMEs. Enterprise Information Systems, 1 (2), 255–268.
Benton, W.C. and Maloni, M.,(2005). The influence of power driven buyer/seller relationships onsupply chain satisfaction. Journal of Operations Management, 23 (1), 1–22.
